Virginia's Community College System is hiring: Grant Writer/Sponsored Programs O

Overview

Grant Writer/Sponsored Programs Officer role at Virginia Highlands Community College, part of Virginia's Community College System.

Virginia Highlands Community College serves our community by providing quality and affordable education, training, and cultural activities through an array of flexible, diverse programs that enable community members to succeed today and in the future.

The faculty, staff, and stakeholders of Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) serve the individuals of the commonwealth in the defined service area. VHCC is one of 23 institutions in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and offers credentials and continuing education, as well as Associate degrees and certificates.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, the Grant Writer/Sponsored Programs Officer is responsible for implementing a comprehensive sponsored programs effort (grants, categorical funding, and contracts) focused on college priorities from prospect to close-out. The primary areas of responsibility for this position will be:

• Directly responsible for the college-wide sponsored programs portfolio from concept and pre-proposal through proposal writing, award negotiation and post-award management.
• Understanding and tracking college-wide and department funding needs and strategies; maintaining a full suite of college, programmatic, and best-practice resources for proposal production.
• Researching funding prospects (private foundation, corporate, and government sources); maintaining a calendar of grant opportunities; providing close project management for grant application processes.
• Developing and fostering relationships with public and private grant makers.
• Writing, preparing, and submitting timely, accurate, and compelling proposals – from letters of interest (LOIs) to complete grant applications.
• Ongoing funder communications; award negotiation, acceptance, declination; awarded project administrative establishment and launch.
• Tracking, calendaring, and submitting all deliverables required by funders on awarded projects in coordination with college project managers, the VHCC Business Office and/or the VHCC Educational Foundation (i.e. budget reporting, activity/outcome reporting, and other program information).
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION

Requirements

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.
• Successful history of professional achievement related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully securing a wide array of grants, categorical funding, and/or contracts from public and private sources.
• Fundraising, development, or grant/contract management experience.
• Experience with prospect research database systems preferred.
• Service in a higher education setting preferred.
• Candidates invited to interview for the position will be asked to submit a list of grants written/awarded, and an example of a successful grant application package.

Additional Considerations

Characteristics: The successful candidate will show evidence of the ability to:

• Work independently in a fast-paced environment; have organizational abilities with fluency in managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Results-driven with highly developed interpersonal, conversational and presentational skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence and situational awareness.
• Prioritize tasks and utilize front-line decision-making skills to problem-solve.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, and experience with various database systems.
• Maintain a high level of ethics and confidentiality in performance of all job duties.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders important to the college.

Other Details

Operation of a State Vehicle: Yes

Supervises Employees: No

Required Travel: As required by the position.

Posting Information: Posting Number CLS_3974P; Recruitment Type General Public - G; Number of Vacancies: 1; Job Open Date: 08/27/2025; Job Close Date: 09/26/2025; Open Until Filled

Application Instructions: Submit cover letter, resume, and complete the Virginia state application online through the Recruitment Management System at the Virginia Community College System jobs portal. Applications will only be accepted online. Ensure all required attachments are uploaded. For questions about the online process, contact the provided number.

To be considered in the initial screening, complete applications must be submitted by September 19, 2025 5:00 pm.

Additional Information: Background Check Statement; EEO Statement; ADA Statement; E-Verify Statement. The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon a criminal background investigation and compliance with state ethics requirements.

For more information, see the VHCC website and the posting page.