University of San Diego · 6 hours ago
Associate Director, Strategic Development and Grants Management
San Diego, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$7,878/mo - $9,000/mo
3+ years expThe University of San Diego is an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution that seeks an Associate Director for Strategic Development and Grants Management in the Kroc School of Peace Studies. This role leads strategic development and grant acquisition, overseeing the full lifecycle of grant proposals to diversify and grow the Institute's funding base while managing relationships with potential funders.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Leads the conceptualization, coordination, and drafting of large-scale, multi-partner grant proposals that advance the mission and visibility of the Kroc School of Peace Studies and the Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ)
Serves as the primary author and project architect for competitive proposals across philanthropic, corporate, and governmental funders
Identifies and analyzes funding opportunities; convenes and facilitates interdisciplinary teams of faculty and staff to shape ideas into fundable projects; and develops narratives, budgets, timelines, and supporting materials that meet institutional and sponsor requirements
Ensures all proposals reflect the intellectual rigor and strategic priorities of the School
Coordinates closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Finance and Operations staff to ensure accurate budget design and a seamless transition from pre-award to post-award management
Build and maintain relationships with program officers, foundation staff, and other potential funders
Represent the IPJ and Kroc School in funder meetings, conferences, and strategic dialogues
Partner with the Dean and University Advancement to align external funding with School and University priorities
Contribute to donor engagement materials and events that highlight IPJ's applied research and impact
Develop and strengthen the institutional infrastructure that supports sustainable grant activity
Design and refine systems, workflows, and tools for prospect identification, proposal pipeline management, internal review processes, and reporting
Collaborate with the Assistant Director for Finance and Operations on budget design standards, compliance protocols, and post-award coordination systems
Ensure external grant activity is strategically aligned with the Kroc School's priorities and IPJ's three pillars: evaluation, applied research, and practice
Design and deliver structured grant-writing instruction for faculty, staff, and students to improve proposal quality and practical fundraising skills
Contribute to, co-teach, or oversee the development of a graduate-level course or intensive training in grant writing and fundraising strategy for Kroc School students, with an emphasis on applied proposal development, ethical funding practices, and funder communication
Develop instructional materials, sample proposals, templates, and training resources to support sustained skill development in grant writing across the School
Participate in cross-cutting School and Institute initiatives, special projects, and strategic planning efforts
Qualification
Required
Master's degree from an accredited institution in any relevant field that demonstrates strong analytical and writing skills (for example, the social sciences, public policy, business, or communications)
Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in grant writing, proposal development, and/or strategic fundraising
Demonstrated record of success in developing and securing competitive grants from major institutional funders (foundation, corporate, or government)
Exceptional writing, editing, and conceptual synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into persuasive proposals
Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple deadlines independently
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, administrators, and external partners
Preferred
Terminal degree (PhD, JD, or equivalent) in a relevant field
Five or more years of experience in proposal development, strategic fundraising, and/or research development within higher education and/or the nonprofit sector
Familiarity with peacebuilding, human rights, and/or social innovation fields and their major funders
Experience cultivating relationships with program officers, foundations, and government agencies
Experience working with university advancement or sponsored programs offices and navigating institutional grant compliance
Ability to design and implement systems that strengthen institutional grant-seeking capacity
Ability to teach a graduate level course in writing to Kroc students
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
A retirement contribution given to you by the University
Access to on-campus Fitness Centers
Company
University of San Diego
University of San Diego is an educational institute that provides a wide range of academic courses for students.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of San Diego has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (11)
2024 (11)
2023 (8)
2022 (15)
2021 (7)
2020 (13)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$0.28MKey Investors
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
2024-09-18Grant· $0.28M
Leadership Team
Avi Badwal
DBA / APPS DBA
Luke Abbott
Professor - Supply Chain
Recent News
2025-11-08
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