Director of Grants & Government Relations

The Director of Grants and Government Relations is responsible for securing public and private grants to meet Straz Center's needs for annual operations and capital renewal projects and the Master Plan. Responsibilities include all aspects of grant research and development from identification, cultivation, and solicitation to tracking, stewardship, project evaluations, and reporting for private and public grants. The Director creates and maintains productive relationships with governmental constituents and public officials and oversees all aspects of government relations and advocacy efforts. In addition to securing grants from private foundations and public agencies, this position also assists in the creation of funding requests to other institutional sources requiring grant-type applications. The position will represent all Straz Center programs. Located in downtown Tampa, the 335,000 square-foot Straz Center, one of the largest performing arts complexes in the country, offers a team-based work environment that shows our dedication to the community every day. We reward our full-time employees with a strong benefits package including options for health/dental, vision, etc., discounted downtown parking, food and show discounts, plus a generous 403(b) plan and up to 27 days of PTO/Holidays per year. Essential Functions: Revenue Generating • Develops and implements a comprehensive strategy for identifying, pursuing, and securing grant funding from government agencies and private foundations to support annual operations, the Master Plan and capital renewal projects. • Manages all related fundraising efforts. Develops strategy for renewing current grants in alignment with recurring, expanding, or new programs • Tracks and oversees deadlines for all grant applications and reports to achieve compliance requirements and maximize fundraising opportunities. • Researches, writes, and submits high-quality proposals in a timely manner, in accordance with guidelines set by the funder. • Develops and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders, including funders, partners and others involved in the grant process. • Monitors grant requirements and compliance with terms of grant agreements. Oversees system for grant compliance to achieve optimum grant recognition and coordinates with appropriate staff members to ensure terms of grant agreements are met. • Oversees grant program, project evaluations, and documentation, as needed, for grant reporting and proposals. • Maintains grant and grant prospect files according to established Development Department system. Partnerships • Coordinates with appropriate staff to identify programs and projects that might be eligible for foundation and/or public funding. Keeps staff informed of ongoing grant programs, special project grants, and funding timelines of all current funders and prospects. • Coordinates with Marketing/PR and managers of funded projects and programs on documentation to ensure that usable, reproducible records are achieved. • Coordinates with managers of grant supported programs and finance staff to ensure accurate grant accounting. • Manages public funding and policy advocacy efforts. Attends meetings as necessary to represent Straz Center when grant interests are involved. Advocates for funding approval and increased public funding on all levels: local, regional, and national. • Leads and executes government relations and public advocacy strategies to advance Straz Center's public funding priorities. Builds relationships with elected officials and key stakeholders, communicates Straz Center's programs and capital needs, engages executive leadership in advocacy efforts, and monitors legislative and policy developments impacting the organization. Other • Represents Development Department and Chief Development Officer as requested. • Remains current with trends and issues pertaining to the performing arts in general and Straz Center in particular - its goals, programs, mission, and vision. • Contributes to overall team effort in planning and development and shares in the decision-making process, implementing, and promoting all decisions in a spirit of cooperation. • Assists in departmental functions and special events and performs other duties when necessary to ensure the overall smooth operation of the department. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities): • Excellent budget, project, and organizational management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously. • Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills with demonstrated leadership abilities that foster collaboration and teamwork. • Experiencing researching prospective grant opportunities and familiarity with grant-related resources and databases. • Proficiency in computer applications and database management; strong background in the arts and arts education preferred. • Self-motivated problem-solver with strong negation, supervisory, and interpersonal skills, demonstrating tact and diplomacy. Education and Work Experience: • Bachelor's Degree in related field (Arts Administration, Communications, Business Administration, etc.). • Master's Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. • Seven years professional with progressively responsible leadership roles in the grants field • Demonstrated success in soliciting and securing grant funding from public and private sources. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and use the telephone. • The employee is frequently required to traverse the facility, reach, and communicate effectively. • The nature of this job requires the employee to work on-site as a regular work routine. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Travel: • This position requires minimal local and occasional state travel.