Job Description

About CWS

Church World Service (CWS) is a non-profit, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. CWS does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.

Purpose

The Grant & Communications Manager for Emergency Preparedness, Response & Recovery (EPRR) provides strategic oversight and comprehensive administration of the EPRR grant portfolio to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and private grant requirements while advancing program effectiveness and fiscal integrity. This position exercises independent judgement and discretion when interpreting grant regulations, identifying compliance risks and advising leadership on appropriate courses of action while also leading the development and continuous improvement of grant management systems processes and reporting frameworks.

This role is responsible for managing all aspects of grant administration—including monitoring, tracking, and reporting—to support program effectiveness, fiscal integrity, and audit readiness. In addition, the Grant Manager supports EPRR’s internal and external communications by serving as the liaison between program, finance, communications, and external funders, ensuring alignment between funding requirements, program implementation, and public-facing communications. In addition, the role contributes to and helps guide EPRR communications strategy, ensuring that messaging accurately reflects program outcomes and complies with donor and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

Grant Management & Compliance Oversight

• Lead oversight and management of a portfolio of grant awards, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Exercise independent judgment in interpreting grant requirements and advising program leadership on compliance-related matters.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate compliance and financial risks; recommend and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for grantors regarding compliance, reporting, monitoring, and audit activities.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits and monitoring through strong documentation practices and internal controls.

Financial Oversight & Analysis

• Monitor grant budgets, expenditures, and burn rates in coordination with finance and program staff.
• Analyze financial and programmatic data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improved funding utilization.
• Support forecasting and ensure alignment between program activities and allowable cost structures.
• Partner with finance to strengthen fiscal accountability and compliance with funding requirements.

Reporting & Systems Management

• Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of all grant reports (programmatic and financial) to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of grant tracking and reporting systems.
• Develop tools and dashboards that support leadership decision-making and program performance monitoring.
• Maintain comprehensive records and documentation to ensure transparency and audit readiness.

Grant Development Support

• Provide strategic leadership and coordination for grant development efforts, including identifying funding opportunities and aligning proposals with program priorities.
• Lead the drafting and development of grant narratives, including needs statements, program descriptions, work plans, and evaluation components, ensuring alignment with funder requirements and organizational strategy.
• Exercise independent judgment in shaping proposal content, framing program impact, and articulating outcomes to maximize competitiveness.
• Collaborate with program, finance, and leadership teams to develop compelling, compliant proposals, including budgets and supporting documentation.
• Review and refine proposal materials to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment with regulatory and donor expectations.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a subject matter expert on grants management and compliance for EPRR staff.
• Lead cross-functional coordination between program, finance, and communications teams.
• Provide training, technical assistance, and guidance to staff and partners on grant compliance and reporting requirements.
• Participate in organizational planning, strategy discussions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Communications Strategy & Alignment

• Contribute to and help guide EPRR communications strategy in collaboration with the CWS Communications team.
• Ensure public-facing communications align with grant requirements, donor expectations, and organizational standards.
• Oversee the accuracy and compliance of program information shared through websites, social media, newsletters, and other platforms.
• Advise leadership on messaging related to grant-funded activities and program impact.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, nonprofit management, communications, finance, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of grants management experience strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain relationships both internal and external to the organization.
• Ability to act with discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated experience in grants management, compliance, reporting, and monitoring (preferably with federal or state grants).
• Strong understanding of grant regulations, allowability of costs, and documentation requirements.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple grants, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in tracking, reporting, and recordkeeping.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear reports, summaries, and public-facing content.
• Experience collaborating with communications teams or contributing to websites, newsletters, or social media preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook) and database or grants management systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while also functioning independently.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with internal staff, leadership, and external partners.

Special Requirements

Special Requirements:

• Must have access to reliable internet.
• Must be willing to travel 10% to locations in national network for in-person meetings and conferences and to provide on-site support on occasion.
• Standard Work hours, with occasional evening and weekends during a disaster response.

Benefits

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes: - 403 (b) Retirement Plan - Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - Generous Paid Time Off (18 Paid Days Off; 24 Days after 2 Years) - 14 Official Holidays - 12 Sick Days Off (Accrued monthly) - Life Insurance and AD&D - Long Term and Short-Term Disability - Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Health Savings Account - Flexible Spending Accounts