Grant Manager - Office of Great Waters

Introduction

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Division of Environmental Management, is hiring a Grant Manager for the Office of Great Waters.

This position will be headquartered in Madison, at the Hill Farms office. Remote work may be available for a portion of the work week, after the initial onboarding period.

This recruitment may also be used to fill future similar positions

Position Summary

This position has primary responsibility for administration of the Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant program for the Office of Great Waters (OGW). This position serves in the Water Quality Business Services section and is responsible for the Federal and State Great Lakes funds OGW receives which includes up to $10 million in incoming grants per year, totaling approximately $50 million in active grants and nearly 100 active individual projects. Provides coordination for the Great Lakes grant program for OGW by working with resource managers on funding needs for projects and initiatives in the Great Lake basin and align those needs with Federal and State funding opportunities. The position will communicate with program managers, division leadership and Secretary's office on upcoming and priority projects and funding. Coordinate with federal agencies, particularly with Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program office Region 5 and other partners on grant opportunities for Great Lakes projects and initiatives, while working with staff and partners on application processes and submittals. Prepares financial documents and ensures grant applications meet federal and state requirements, while implementing deliverables and grant reporting requirements.

This position works with more than 60 different partners to fund and implement great lakes water projects including universities, municipalities, non-profits, counties, and other local partners. Additionally, this position manages sub-award agreements and contracts up to $10 million, acting as the subject matter expert on grant administration and financial programs for OGW financial staff pertaining to grant financial transactions and administration of financial resources related to these funding sources. The position acts as a key integrator for assigned grant programs to other Environmental Management Division program administrators and managers across the Department of Natural Resources.

For more information, please see the Position Description.

Salary Information

The Natural Resources Financial Assistance Specialist-Senior position is within Pay Schedule/Range 07-03. Starting pay for this position is between $38.00 to $42.72 per hour ($79,040.00 to $88,857.60 annually), in addition to excellent benefits.

This position is not represented by a collective bargaining unit. Pay on appointment will follow the provisions of the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan.

The State of Wisconsin offers an exemplary benefits package with:

• Generous paid time off , including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, nine paid holidays, and ample sick time that rolls over each year with no cap.
• Excellent and affordable health insurance options (starting at $45/month for single and $111/month for family coverage).
• Other great insurance options (dental, vision, life, and more).
• A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
• A Well Wisconsin program , offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their household members tools, resources, and professional consultation services.
• For more info, see our Total Rewards Calculator.

Job Details

Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to job offer. Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

Eligibility to work in United States: The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9 upon hire.

Probation: A 12-month probationary period may be required.

Reference Check: References are not required at the time of application but will be required upon successful completion of the interview process.

Remote Work: Based on an assessment of the goals and work activities, this position may be eligible for remote work. Remote work approval is based on individual circumstances and is subject to supervisor approval and DNR remote work policies. Approval is subject to change without notice based on business needs. Employees with approved remote work arrangements are generally expected to work within the state of Wisconsin.

Travel: Occasional statewide travel will be required.

Qualifications

Please address and describe EACH of the following qualifications applicable to your experience within your resume and letter of qualifications to be considered for this position. Please review our helpful tips for developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included.

Required qualifications include experience in ALL the following criteria:

Grant administration and management: including the application process, project development, and reporting.

Developing, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting financial data and grant budgets.

Using financial spreadsheets and databases: including extracting, analyzing, manipulating, and presenting data (such as Microsoft tools, queries, pivot tables, advanced formulas, etc.) and experience using a finance system or other type of pertinent enterprise system(s).

In addition, preferred qualifications include the following criteria:

Working with policy and procedures related to grant administration.

Working with funding from a variety of sources - including private foundations, state, and federal.

How To Apply

If viewing this posting on an external site (such as indeed.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID: 22511 to complete your application for this posting. Current state employees, including those with Career Executive status, must apply through STAR ESS. Former permanent classified state employees must apply through Wisc.Jobs.

The steps to apply online are quick and easy! Your resume and letter of qualifications are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for further consideration. Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications. Please review our helpful tips for developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included. References are not required at the time of application but will be required upon successful completion of the interview process. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

For technical troubleshooting related to the Wisc.Jobs site, please view the Frequently Asked Questions . For questions regarding the application process, please contact Andrew Wenninger in Human Resources at andrewj.wenninger@wisconsin.gov or 608/266-7318.

Disabled veterans: Qualified veterans with a 30% or more service-connected disability are eligible for non-competitive appointment to permanent positions in classified civil service under s 230.275 WI Stats. Please send your letter of qualifications and resume outlining how you meet the required qualifications for the position listed above in the job announcement along with your DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12-months) to the HR contact listed in this announcement for information on how to apply under this provision. Current permanent State employees are not eligible for non-competitive appointment.

Deadline to Apply

All applications must be received by 11:59 pm central on Monday, November 16th, 2026.