About Building Bright Futures
Building Bright Futures (BBF) works to improve the well-being of Vermont children and families. The Vermont Early Childhood Fund Grant Manager will join a collaborative team dedicated to strengthening and aligning the BBF Network Infrastructure to achieve the goals, strategies, and objectives outlined in Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan (VECAP). By strengthening partnerships, identifying gaps and assets, promoting family leadership, and developing and implementing innovative financing, health, and equity strategies, Vermont will improve policies, service provision, and outcomes for children and families.
About the Preschool Development Grant (PDG)
Vermont has been awarded a $23 million federal grant for three years (2023–2025) to strengthen the state’s early childhood system, support the early childhood workforce, and improve the quality and availability of services for children from birth to age 8. The grant will support Vermont in improving service delivery to families with young children across settings and services, including child care, Universal Prekindergarten Education, Head Start, health care, mental health care, and other services and programs that support the health and well-being of Vermont children and their families. Building Bright Futures has been contracted by the State of Vermont to host several grant functions, including the selection and sub-granting funds through the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF).
About the Position
The VECF Grant Manager is a new position to increase capacity as the Vermont Early Childhood Fund expands. The VECF Grant Manager will be responsible for managing the selection process, contracting, fund distribution, and oversight of $1.9M distributed to approximately 50 grantees annually for the duration of the three-year grant. VECF grants will support innovative practices and address key early childhood priorities, including improving services for Vermont’s vulnerable and underserved children, supporting the early childhood workforce, and strengthening Vermont’s comprehensive early childhood system. The VECF Grant Manager will work closely with the BBF operations and regional teams as well as public and private Preschool Development Grant partners for the successful implementation of this program. A successful candidate will bring keen project management skills, clear communication, and a flexible and collaborative leadership style to their work.
The VECF Grant Manager is full-time with a competitive salary and flexible work schedule. The person in this position will be able to execute their duties largely as a virtual team member; however, there will be occasions when they are asked to travel across Vermont to support the work. This is a home-based position with the option to work in BBF’s Williston headquarters. The VECF Grant Manager receives supervision from the Deputy Director. This is a grant-funded limited service position through 12/31/25.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary range of $58,000-65,000 annually. Benefits include generous paid time off, healthcare insurance, dental insurance, and retirement.
Responsibilities Include:
Managing the application process for Vermont Early Childhood Fund grants
- Create and distribute annual Request for Applications
- Manage the online application process
- Facilitate technical assistance for new grant applicants
- Receive and organize completed applications
- Organize and facilitate the grant review process
- Communicate with applicants
Managing the Vermont Early Childhood Fund grantees
- Act as primary contact for all grantees
- Manage clear communication with grantees through the full grant cycle
- Create grant agreements and execute signed agreements
- Oversee grantee performance via reporting, updates at Regional Council meetings, or phone/Zoom meetings
- Communicate with grantees to answer questions about the process and allowable expenses, and connect them to resources
- Maintain grantee records, including mid-year and year-end reports, funding requests, grant agreements, budget amendments, and other relevant contact and program information
- Work with the BBF data team to develop a method of measuring the outcomes and success of VECF grantees, then implement and refine this process
- Ensure all federal requirements are communicated to grantees
Finance, administration and operations
- Maintain information about VECF grants on the BBF website, buildingbrightfutures.org
- Support the Office Manager with tracking and managing grant payments
- Manage grantee database
- Document outcomes and impacts and translate these into digestible communication strategies
- Support leadership in the planning, implementation, and reporting for the Preschool Development Grant
- Other duties as assigned
Desired Expertise
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Experience with project management and navigating complex and competing priorities
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Experience with grant management and technical assistance
- Experience with technology that supports collaborative and virtual work, including Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, and Zoom
- Experience communicating to/with diverse stakeholders
- Commitment to improving child and family outcomes
- Bachelor’s degree in community and economic development, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred (or 5 years equivalent experience)
- Candidates should be very flexible and self-motivated and be able to work independently, take initiative, and exercise self-directed problem-solving.
To Apply
This posting has been re-opened. Applications will are due May 1, 2023. Please email a cover letter, resume and three references. Please send application materials as one PDF labeled: lastname_firstname_VECF to: kmobbs@buildingbrightfutures.org. Position is open until filled.