Team: Development (Team Federal Grants)

Job Level: Manager

Reports To: Senior Director of Federal Grants

Location: New York (Hybrid)

Standard Work Hours: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Salary: $99,175.20

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

We are looking for a strategic and dynamic Grants Manager to join our Development team.

Your Impact

The New York Grants Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring that critical resources reach the students and schools who need them most. In this role, you will steward more than $5 million in state and federal grant funding across 11 charters and 22 schools serving K–12 students in Brooklyn and Queens, translating funding opportunities into meaningful support for classrooms and communities. You will lead the development of compelling program narratives and aligned budgets, manage the full lifecycle of grant applications and amendments, and ensure strong compliance with all state and federal requirements. Just as importantly, you will partner closely with regional, network, and school leaders to strategically and equitably allocate funds—building systems that ensure resources are spent thoughtfully, on time, and in ways that directly advance student success.

State and Federal Grants Resource Planning and Coordination

• Lead the development and coordination of state and federal grant applications, including Titles I, II, III, and IV and other funding streams serving special populations.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Regional Superintendents, and Regional Directors of Operations to align grant priorities with regional and school needs.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across Team Federal Grants, Financial Planning & Accountability, Team Talent, and school and regional leadership.
• Support the network and regional needs assessment process by providing training and guidance that informs grant program narratives and budget design.
• Develop clear and compliant program narratives and grant budgets in partnership with school and regional leaders.
• Submit grant applications through state and federal grants management systems in a timely and accurate manner with minimal revisions required.
  
  

State and Federal Grants Management and Spending

• Establish and maintain systems and timelines for monitoring grant implementation across schools and regions.
• Partner with Regional Superintendents, Regional Directors of Operations, school leaders, Accounting, and Financial Planning & Accountability to ensure strong financial stewardship of grant funds.
• Monitor grant spending to ensure timely and compliant use of funds across programs and regions.
• Develop and submit narrative revisions, budget amendments, and other required updates to grant applications as program needs evolve.
• Produce and analyze grant reports for internal leadership and external agencies.
• Support the Senior Director of Federal Grants in training school and regional leaders on grant compliance, program requirements, and fiscal accountability.
  
  

Cross-Team Collaboration and Grants Strategy

• Contribute to the development and execution of the organization’s broader grants strategy.
• Participate in cross-functional planning meetings to ensure grant funding supports strategic priorities across the network.
• Represent the organization in state and federal grant trainings, meetings, and technical assistance sessions.
• Share updates, guidance, and best practices with internal stakeholders to strengthen grant implementation and compliance.
  
  

Qualifications

All candidates for this position will:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Have 5+ years of experience managing state and federal grants in the education sector
• Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal grant regulations and compliance requirements.
• Have experience working with federal programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
• Be highly organized and capable of managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear guidance.
• Be comfortable analyzing budgets and monitoring fiscal compliance of grant funds.
• Have proficiency with Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets
• Build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively across teams.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Grant Strategy and Compliance — Deep understanding of federal and state grant requirements and the ability to ensure strong compliance across programs and regions.
• Project and Systems Management — Ability to design and manage systems that track grant implementation, spending, and reporting.
• Budget Analysis and Fiscal Stewardship — Experience monitoring grant budgets and ensuring funds are used strategically and compliantly.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration — Strong ability to coordinate work across regional leaders, school teams, and central office departments.
• Strategic Thinking and Execution — Ability to connect grant strategy to broader organizational priorities while maintaining strong attention to operational detail.

Travel Expectations

This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role would be able to come into the Network Support office (NYC) and schools at least 3 days a week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis.

Compensation
Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role. The salary for this position is $99,175. In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay. Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.