Join Our Mission to Change Lives:
At Maryland New Directions (MND), we’re not just helping people find jobs, but helping them transform their futures. For over 50 years, our award-winning nonprofit has provided no-cost employment coaching and career training to Baltimore residents aged 18 and older who are motivated to work but face employment obstacles.
We serve more than 300 individuals each year, equipping them with the tools, confidence, and support they need to build sustainable careers. Whether you're working directly with clients or behind the scenes to keep programs running smoothly, every role at MND contributes to lasting impact in our community.
If you are interested in human services, passionate about making an impact on individuals, and willing and able to learn, you are encouraged to apply.
Position Summary
The Business Advancement Manager is a highly technical, data-driven role responsible for the lifecycle management of MND institutional funding portfolio. This position directly secures, protects manage 4–6 high-stakes government grants (federal, state, and local cost-reimbursement contracts) and executing 20+ private foundation applications annually.
This role focuses heavily on pre-award proposal development, post-award technical reporting, contract tracking, and grant compliance. The Business Advancement Manager serves as a critical bridge between the Finance & Compliance Manager and the Workforce Services branch, ensuring that all programmatic metrics, staff time allocations, and contract milestones align with funder mandates.
Core Responsibilities
Pre-Award Proposal Development
- Grant Writing & Submission: Lead the research, drafting, assembly, and timely submission of all institutional grant proposals, Letters of Intent (LOIs), and renewal applications for government agencies and private foundations.
- Cross-Branch Assembly: Partner with the Training Director and Services Manager to extract technical programmatic descriptions, curriculum updates, and client success narratives to build highly competitive narratives.
- Pre-Award Budgeting: Coordinate with the Finance & Compliance Manager to ensure that requested grant budgets precisely reflect actual operational costs, staffing patterns, and organizational capabilities.
- Grant Research: Source applicable grants that align with workforce development initiatives, industry-related trainings, and new innovative programming.
Post-Award Reporting & Compliance Monitoring
- Technical Reporting: Own the compliance calendar. Draft and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual narrative progress reports for all active government contracts and private grants.
- Data Integration Verification: Work hand-in-hand with the Data & Reporting Analyst to pull real-time client KPIs from internal tracking systems, verifying that reported programmatic milestones match the metrics promised in grant contracts.
- Contract Management: Review active grant agreements for compliance vulnerabilities; manage formal contract modifications, budget adjustment requests, and option year executions in collaboration with leadership.
Institutional Funder Stewardship & Audit Prep
- Funder Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for government contract monitors and foundation program officers, coordinating site visits and responding to technical compliance inquiries.
- Audit Readiness: Partner with the Finance & Compliance Manager during the annual independent audit to provide narrative justifications, grant files, and compliance logs to ensure zero-finding results.
Fundraising
- Identify opportunities to diversify funding sources, including individual donors, corporations, and special events (MVP and Beyond)
- Develop donor engagement strategies to increase donor retention, giving levels and long-term support.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
- Plan and oversee Fundraising events, annual campaigns, capital campaigns, and special initiatives
Education, Experience & Skills Required
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Writing, Public Administration, Non-Profit Management, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 3–5 years of demonstrated success writing and managing complex government contracts and foundation grants within a workforce development or human services environment.
- Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in navigating government grant portals (e.g., Grants.gov, state/local procurement platforms). Exceptional command of data-driven narrative writing.
- Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with federal cost principles and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) frameworks is highly preferred.
Equal Opportunity
Maryland New Directions is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities. The company reserves the right to modify job duties or descriptions at any time, with or without notice.
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Can you work an in-office schedule of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm?
Education:
Experience:
- success managing government contracts and foundation grants: 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
