Grant Strategist Position Description

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation's tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). AIHEC provides leadership and influences public policy on American Indian and Alaska Native higher education issues through advocacy, research, and programmatic initiatives; promotes and strengthens Indigenous languages, cultures, communities, lands, and tribal nations; and through its unique position, serves member institutions and emerging TCUs.

Position Summary

The Grant Strategist is an important part of AIHEC’s long-term growth plans. This position is responsible for driving the organization’s grant strategy and ensuring fundraising aligns with and amplifies AIHEC’s strategic goals. While this position will be directly involved with grant writing, the Grant Strategist’s primary focus will be on high-level strategy, relationship building, and process development to grow the organization purposefully. This position will play a critical role in advancing AIHEC’s mission to support Tribal Colleges and Universities by identifying and developing new funding opportunities, nurturing existing relationships, and helping the organization successfully implement and execute its new strategic plan.

This position will report to AIHEC’s Chief of Staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead Grant Fundraising: Spearhead the overall strategy for how our organization approaches and secures grant funding. • Strategic Grant Alignment: Collaborate closely with internal teams to identify grant opportunities that align with our strategic plan and contribute to the purposeful growth of the organization.

• Grant Selection & Prioritization: Make informed decisions on which grant opportunities the organization will actively pursue, based on strategic fit and potential impact.

• Process Development: Design and implement a clear, efficient grant process for staff, ensuring seamless coordination and execution.

• Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key organizations, foundations, and potential partners to foster collaboration and identify new funding avenues.

• Opportunity Identification: Proactively research and identify grant opportunities that are a strong match for our mission and objectives.

• Goal Setting: Partner with the finance department to establish realistic and ambitious grant fundraising goals.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in grant strategy, fundraising, or related field.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful grant strategies.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a talent for building and nurturing relationships.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to develop and implement efficient processes.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and prioritize opportunities.

• Familiarity with financial planning and goal setting in a fundraising context.

• Ability to travel sporadically (less than 25%) for meetings and conferences.

Job Location

• Alexandria, VA – Hybrid remote schedule

Educational Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Communications, Nonprofit Management, or Public Administration is preferred.

• At least five (5) years of experience in a similar role.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to read for detail, carefully analyzing and understanding all aspects of a text, including explicit information, implied meanings, and impact.

• Must be able to effectively communicate with intended audiences both verbally and in writing.

• Must be able to travel to various work-related locations as needed to fulfill the essential functions of the role, which may include local, domestic, and overnight trips.

• Must be able to complete all job requirements either with or without accommodation.

Pay and Benefits

• This role is full-time and eligible for AIHEC’s robust benefits package.

• Pay Range: $ 90,000 - $100,000 per annum