Director, Government Grants

FLSA: Exempt/Overtime Ineligible

Benefits: Eligible

Hours Per Week: 40/Full-time

Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include affordable housing at 19 locations, family violence services, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention, and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 200 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and affiliated JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary The Grants Team secures, manages, and expands a diverse portfolio of foundation and government funding – along with the reporting and funder relationships that sustain it – to advance Met Council's mission, strengthen its resilience, and support innovative solutions to reduce hunger and poverty in New York and beyond. The Director of Government Grants will lead efforts to sustain and increase Met Council’s competitive and capital government grant revenue and to steward discretionary grants from the local, state, and federal levels. This includes researching funding opportunities, developing and submitting competitive grant proposals, and managing post-award reporting in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Grants and Resource Development, the Director of Government Grants will work collaboratively across the development, program, external affairs, and administrative departments to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities and goals.

Principal Responsibilities

• Government Grants Strategy: Lead Met Council’s strategy for securing competitive and capital government grant revenue at the local, state, and federal levels, identifying new opportunities and aligning their pursuit with Met Council priorities, programmatic needs, and emerging policy or regulatory trends.
• Proposal Writing: Lead the development, writing, and submission of high-quality competitive government grant applications, coordinating with internal stakeholders, including program, finance, and legal staff, to gather required data and ensure every submission meets funder guidelines, deadlines, and compliance requirements.
• Post-Award Reporting and Compliance: Oversee the narrative portions of post-award grant administration and compliance, and reporting for competitive, discretionary, and capital grants from government sources – including workplans, budget narratives, amendments, renewals, progress reports, and closeouts – in partnership with Finance, program staff, and Legal, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Collaboration: Provide task supervision of the government grant-related work of the department’s Grants Associates, who will assist with opportunity identification, application writing, and reporting. Serve as a key liaison between Development, program departments, and managing directors and executive leadership on government funding, while cultivating relationships with government agency staff as needed, and contributing to the Development Department’s broader fundraising strategy. Assist the External Relations, Program, and Finance staff as needed to secure and maintain discretionary government grants.
• Systems and Process Improvement: Maintain accurate grant records in Met Council’s grants management systems, and recommend and implement best practices to improve efficiency, compliance, and effectiveness in government grants management.

Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and complex projects in a collaborative environment
• Strong organizational skills with consistent attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with others, with a high degree of professionalism
• Accountability, dependability, and ethical handling of information
• Commitment to Met Council’s mission and values

Skill And Education

• Bachelor’s Degree (required), Master’s degree (preferred)
• 5 to 7 years’ experience in grant writing in the Social Services not-for-profit sector, preferably in New York
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing government grants at the local, state, and/or federal level. Preferred: experience securing both programmatic and capital grants from NYC and NYS agencies.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with government grant portals and AI tools preferred.

Compensation

• $130,000 to $140,000 per year.

Benefits: Major medical, dental, vision and life insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b) with employer contribution; plus generous vacation, sick leave and holidays.