Grant Writer
Background
Founded in Seattle, WA in 1981, The International Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) is a leader in efforts to secure the future of the snow leopards and high mountain ecosystems across the 12 countries in South and Central Asia. SLT has field teams in five key range countries that together contain over 75% of the world’s estimated population of wild snow leopards. SLT works with governments and conservationists in all 12 countries where snow leopards are found—Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan through the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).
SLT focuses in areas of conservation science and policy while engaging local and indigenous communities in conservation programs. Snow leopards live in vast home ranges. While it is important to secure their key habitats through protected areas, these are simply too small to conserve populations. Snow leopard conservation efforts must focus on local communities well beyond protected area boundaries. To protect these endangered cats, we work at a larger landscape level and collectively find ways for snow leopards to coexist peacefully with the people sharing its mountainous habitat.
SLT supports more than 50 team members and graduate students internationally. The Seattle Headquarters is currently home to 8 staff members and provides operational, fundraising, and administrative support to our field operations. We also have another 15+ team members who work remotely supporting fundraising, finance, conservation, IT, communications, science, research, and other functions.
SLT operates under a 3+ million dollar annual budget, of which roughly 35% of funding comes from grants, both private and public. At any time, SLT can receive funds directly or in partnership from entities including (but not limited to) foundations, government departments such as UKAID, USAID, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and multilateral agencies such as various arms of the United Nations. SLT is currently implementing several multi-year government and multilateral agency supported projects.
Position Purpose
The Grant Writer (GW) will be responsible for seeking out and evaluating new grant opportunities, both public and private; compiling, writing, and editing strong and compelling grant applications for both unrestricted operating revenue and restricted projects; drafting reports for granting agencies, foundations and donors and maintaining a calendar of grant deadlines and reports ensuring timely submission.
This is a full-time, 40 hours a week, exempt salaried employee position approved for a hybrid remote work location. An estimated 90% of the job functions can be performed remotely, with the remaining 10% onsite to the extent possible. Flexible schedule to be determined at the time of hire. In order to connect remotely with internationally-based staff distributed across multiple time zones, this position will require meeting outside of regular business hours, including occasional evening and weekend hours. SLT supports flexible schedules to accommodate for these off-hour meetings and to foster a healthy work/life balance.
Main Responsibilities
Proposal and Report Writing (60%)
- Lead science and country teams in the preparation and submission of proposals, supporting documents, and letters of inquiry for grant proposals that can range from small to large.
- Write and edit project proposals that align with funder requirements and priorities.
- Write grant reports in collaboration with the field team and Grants & Contracts Manager.
Prospect Research (15%)
- Research funding agencies to identify possible funding sources for specific aspects of work.
- Prepare scoping documents summarizing eligibility criteria and suitability of new funding opportunities.
Administration (10%)
- Maintain grant tracking sheet to track upcoming funding opportunities and reporting deadlines.
- Send periodic reminders to relevant staff for specific inputs required to complete proposals.
Communications (5%)
- Gather information on current programs through discussions with relevant team members, review annual plans and reports to identify new opportunities for developing grant proposals.
- Work with relevant staff to provide input for written institutional materials (including annual reports, newsletters, and other resources).
Special Projects (10%)
- Assist with fundraising projects as requested.
Required Skills/Abilities & Qualifications
- Five years relevant experience with a proven track record of grant writing (both proposals and reports). Samples of past work will be requested.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
- Familiarity with SmartSheet is a plus.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Established skills in project management and administration.
- Commitment to the Snow Leopard Trust mission and goals.
- Experience with non-profit or mission-based organization preferred; passion for conservation preferred.
- Must be willing to complete a criminal background check.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Bachelor's Degree
- High attention to detail.
- Strong written communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals.
- Strong editing skills.
- Ability to meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with techniques for fundraising prospect research.
- Strong work ethic, personal integrity.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively and sensitively with diverse people from different countries and cultures.
- Ability to analyze and solve problems; efficiently handle multiple duties under pressure with minimal supervision; work flexible hours as required.
- Ability to work effectively both independently, and collaboratively contributing positively to the team
- Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing program priorities.
- Ability to prioritize work assignments appropriately and manage pressure of conflicting demands.
- Ability and willingness to work at odd hours as needed to meet remotely with internationally-based staff distributed across time zones.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position is primarily a stationary position with prolonged periods of stationary position doing computer work. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate and exchange information. This position may require some international and overnight travel, and will require participation in online meetings beyond regular business hours with an international team.
