Senior Director, Public Grants and Partnerships

Goodwill is one of the leading non-profit brands in the world and one of the largest non-profits in Southern California. We are a rapidly evolving organization and yet we have never been more focused on our Mission, on our people, and on our future. It’s always a GOOD day in SoCal! 

The Senior Director of Public Grants and Partnerships develops and executes a plan to ensure the organization secures public grant funding from federal, state, county, and local governmental agencies and public-private partnership sources to support the start-up, expansion, and operations of Goodwill Southern California’s 85+ social impact programs across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Senior Director of Public Grants and Partnerships will be responsible for GSC’s overall public grant management and compliance efforts. This senior leader will collaborate with the Development Team and GSC’s workforce WCD program leaders to directly prepare $500K-$5M funding proposals, manage the extensive schedule of public grant submissions for the organization, and build relationships with public representatives and governmental funding agencies.  This is a hybrid position, based at Goodwill Southern California’s Los Angeles Campus.

continues to increase its social impact through innovative workforce development programs, customized support services, and pathways to equitable economic empowerment across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. With an annual operating budget over $170 million and a mission of transforming lives through the power of work, GSC has respectfully assisted the “hardest to serve” populations prepare for job placements or thrive in high-growth career opportunities since 1916. Striving to create equitable upward mobility through economic self-sufficiency for all, GSC specifically partners with unique populations including individuals experiencing homelessness, those involved with the justice-system, at-risk and opportunity youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and low income individuals through our network of 10 employment centers and a large social enterprise consisting of retail stores, donation centers, e-commerce, training enclaves, and several business lines throughout Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Our community impact continues to grow and GSC provided services to 32,616 jobseekers of which 8,054 received career exploration and/or job readiness services, 1,715 accessed occupational skills training and 7,835 secured employment in 2023.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

1. Develops, consolidates, and executes a strategic plan to ensure the organization secures public grant funding from federal, state, county, and local governmental agencies and public-private partnership sources to support the start-up, expansion, and operations of Goodwill Southern California’s 85+ social impact programs across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.
2. Researches funding opportunities, governmental agency portals, and other sources to identify grant opportunities, RFP’s, NOFA’s, and other governmental consortium resources to fund workforce and career development initiatives, social services, and economic empowerment programs.
3. Tracks and manages grant application deadlines, submission requirements, and reporting deadlines for a portfolio ranging from $10M-25M annually. Prepares and submits timely performance reports and annual outcomes reports with specific attention to each funder’s reporting requirements.
4. Completes proactive grant analyses and recommends strategy, timing, deployment, and viability of funding opportunities. Substantiates the need for identified programs and services in the community that the funding source would target.
5. Directly writes and leads the preparation process of $500K-$5M proposals in collaboration with WCD department subject matter experts to develop data-driven, compelling, and viable programs and initiatives. Develops solid work plan and timeline for each grant proposal, including Requests for Qualification and Statements of Qualification.
6. Writes template proposals and “letters of intent” for the workforce and career development (WCD) programs and adapts for the unique specifications of the funders, as described in their guidelines.
7. Performs technical and analytical analyses, with particular emphasis on the collection, interpretation, aggregation, and evaluation of data, and the incorporation of data into proposal.
8. Determines the proposed measurable goals, objectives, and precise procedures for delivering the grant after conferring with the Regional Impact Officers and Chief Development Officer.
9. Writes and edits applications for accuracy, impact, excellence, and clarity.
10. Assembles and prepares proposals, letters of intent, budget, and other supporting data and documents as required by funder for submission well ahead of deadline.
11. Serves as a senior representative of Goodwill Southern California and helps lead relationships with public funding agencies and provide assistance in resolving questions and issues as they arise.
12. Ensures GSC service team compliance with all funding program service requirements, and monitor grant performance, track outcomes, and prepare progress reports for regular funder reporting, coordinating with program and finance teams as needed. Maintains organized digital records of all grant submissions, communications, and reporting packages.
13. Provides guidance and training to program staff on grant writing, proposal development, and funder expectations.
14. Assists in building organizational capacity for grant management and reporting.
15. This position requires some travel (up to 25%) within Southern California. 

 

Education & Experience

• 7-15 years solid grant writing experience for non-profit organizations.
• Demonstrated track record of knowledge of governmental funding sources and public agencies, developing proposals and complex grant budgets, and securing government funding. The successful candidate will play a key role in securing funding from public sources such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Department of Labor (DOL), Employment Development Department (EDD), and other public agencies.
• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university required.
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Possesses satisfactory driving record acceptable by Goodwill’s insurance vendor.
• Ability to manage a Grant Writer, collaborate with a fast-paced team, and work independently.
• Collaborative, positive, proactive work style
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and confidential information. 
• Hybrid in-office/remote schedule.
• Drug Screen, Background Check, Employment and Education Verification, MVR and Live Scan required.

Goodwill Industries in Southern California is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here:

Goodwill gives preferential consideration to persons with barriers to employment.   Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Goodwill is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees. 
Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.  

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities

In furtherance of our commitment to end discrimination against qualified disabled individuals, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and all regulations properly issued thereunder to protect the rights of qualified disabled persons, it is Goodwill's policy that no program or activity administered by it shall exclude from participation, deny benefits to or subject to discrimination any individual solely by reason of his or her disability.   Equal employment opportunity will be extended to qualified disabled persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination.   We further affirm that we will provide reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified disabled employee or applicant.  

It is the policy of Goodwill to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment.  If you need assistance for accommodations to interview because of a disability, please notify the Human Resources Department. 
Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a disability.