Senior Grant Funding Specialist

Who we are:

We are a water-focused engineering consulting firm, certified as a Great Place to Work® based on feedback from our community of over 230 team members and ranked top three in the AEC Advisors 2021 and 2022 Diversity Index Top Firms.  Since 1990, our mission has been to be the water firm of choice for both our clients and our team. Over the years we have built upon that mission and now integrate a host of high-quality services in groundwater, water supply, water and wastewater treatment, water and wastewater infrastructure, stormwater, recycled water, construction management, and operations technology from our multiple locations in the west.  As a team, we work with our clients to understand their true needs. Our long-term relationships are based on integrity, partnership, and high-value solutions. In 2024 and beyond, West Yost is advancing water resources for future generations and living our core values every day.

Compensation range:  $85,000 to $127,380.  Based on our Davis, CA office location.  (West Yost uses geographic salary differentials that would apply for candidates in other regions). 

LOCATION:  Can sit in any of our office locations ( https://www.westyost.com/locations/ ).

Standard benefits:

We provide a comprehensive array of valuable benefits to protect your health, your family, and your way of life. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health saving accounts (with West Yost contribution), paid vacation, paid sick leave and holidays, two employee assistance programs, travel assistance program, 401(k) profit sharing with employer match, leaves of absence with additional supplemental paid time off, parental leave, life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and even pet insurance.

West Yost is seeking a Funding Specialist to work with our engineers and clients to identify and obtain funding to implement important drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. Candidate should be self-motivated and possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communications skills. This is an exciting opportunity to join our funding team and work closely with our clients, government funding agencies and internal team to identify, secure and manage capital funding for important capital projects that help ensure safe and reliable water and wastewater services for communities throughout California and into Oregon and Washington. Your skills as a Grant Funding Specialist will result in securing the necessary funding to complete capital projects that may otherwise not proceed by researching and identifying funding opportunities to develop financial strategies for program/project development.  You will develop and submit grant and loan applications for multi-million dollar capital projects and programs; facilitate the contract execution process between client and funding agency; and perform funding agreement compliance requirements. The successful candidate will also administer multiple grant and loan agreements simultaneously and coordinate the support of internal staff as needed to ensure the effective administration those funding programs on behalf of our clients.

We make it our goal to maximize all available financial resources for our clients. We are seeking an astute California-based, senior level Grant Funding Specialist to collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to identify and secure state and federal monies for water, wastewater, and stormwater projects planning and implementation projects for our clients. You will enable crucial water projects to happen, creating meaningful impact in our changing climate and economy.
You will work with other Funding team members, project engineers, and clients to understand the project needs, goals, and aspirations of our client communities and match these needs and goals with eligible grant/loan programs. This assistance often includes providing direct guidance to stakeholders, supporting capital, operational and other strategic planning efforts with clients.
What You Bring To The Team

• This role is geared towards someone with a bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Policy, Engineering, Public or Business Administration, Environmental fields of study, or related fields.
• Must have a minimum of 8 years of experience writing funding applications and an eye for details.
• Must able to lead the development of and be responsible for the completion of complex state and/or federal funding application proposals.
• Must be passionate about securing grant funds and advocating for clients to get to positive project outcomes.
• In depth understanding of the grant application writing process, including data gathering, research, and a sufficient understanding of multiple funding programs to maximize benefits to clients.
• Demonstrated grant writing experience with Federal Funding programs (including, but not limited to any or all of the following: FEMA BRIC/FMA and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, USBR WaterSMART, CDBG, US EDA, USDA, NOAA, and State funding programs (including, but not limited to, funding program through the State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources) that have led to the award of Grant Funding.
• Knowledge of the state and federal government legislative process.
• Desire to grow personally and to actively participate in expanding West Yost funding services throughout the California marketplace and beyond.
• Knowledge of current computer and office automation equipment and proficiency with MS Office software; ability to learn new electronic systems.
• Ability to use independent professional judgment to anticipate problems and address them proactively.
• Demonstrated strong planning and organizing skills with the ability to develop solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to interpret and apply terms and conditions of grant programs to client agency
  policies and procedures.
• Superior research skills and a strategic and analytical mindset.
• Ability to multi-task and work productively to meet critical grant program deadlines.
• High regard for integrity and dependability.
• Collaborative spirit, willingness to take direction from multiple client managers remotely and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Independently lead the development and submission of capital improvement grant and loan applications and proposals on behalf of client for priority projects.
• Delegate tasks to grant specialists I and II and/or others to complete grant applications and/or to support grant administration.
• Provide necessary advocacy and follow up to shepherd applications through the funding process.
• Create and maintain a funding strategy for multiple clients by proactively identifying key opportunities, priority projects and other initiatives.
• Build, maintain, and leverage key relationships within state and federal agencies to advance client funding agendas.
• Understand and identify potential impacts of funding program requirements and communicate necessary information to clients.
• Draft external and internal communications documents including memoranda, correspondence, and letters of support, as needed.
• Understand and effectively communicate the grant writing and funding services that we provide through business development opportunities and assist in the development of marketing proposals.
• Independently manage client portfolios which include a variety of client types.
• Interact directly with clients, whether in person, video conference, remotely and in-person.
• Cultivate knowledge base of a wide range of local, state, and federal funding opportunities on behalf of current and potential clients in the water/wastewater/recycled water/stormwater sectors and create synopses for internal and external use.
• Act as a liaison with funding agency contacts and work with client project managers/financial staff to obtain performance information and cost information required to prepare reports and invoices and submit deliverables to funding agencies.
• Ensure accurate tracking of expenditures throughout the life of the funding agreement, that may include a single agency or multiple agencies, and/or multiple projects.
• Provide support should clients be audited by funding agencies.
• Inform and advise project team on grant and contract restrictions and requirements.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

*This position may require travel to other offices and/or client offices. Applicant must carry a valid driver's license. Applicant must also be able to meet West Yost’s rules and be eligible to drive for business. West Yost’s insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.*

Our commitment to quality begins with our hiring practices. We employ the most talented team members in our industry from all backgrounds. We are highly selective of the individuals we choose to represent the firm, seeking only those individuals whose technical abilities and commitment to client service matches our vision for excellence.  We are dedicated to our number one asset, our employees.  Because we are employee-owned, we are responsible for and rewarded by our own success. Come to West Yost where, with our support, you’ll do the best work of your life.

A day in the life:

You will experience many opportunities to grow and develop professionally with your colleagues through collaborative in-person work experience, knowledge sharing, and mentorship opportunities. We also offer hybrid and flexible work schedules to our employees to help promote and encourage a healthy work/life balance.  All of our team members have access to local and company-wide events, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, Culture Workgroup, Wellness Workgroup, book clubs, charitable giving and community service, firm-wide resources, peer groups (young professionals & middlers group), and mentorship and leadership programs.  We support and foster your career success and encourage you to be in control of your future with us. Our annual company-wide monthly staff meetings, annual in-person All Staff meeting, Duck Dinner, company camping events, company celebrations, and other company-sponsored events provide an important part of the West Yost culture, which is to have fun.

Other unique benefits:

You’ll be provided with support in on-going education through our 529 college savings plan/student loan repayment program, tuition reimbursement, paid professional memberships, paid training, and Leadership Academy programs. You’ll be recognized for your contributions at West Yost through milestone anniversary benefits, peer to peer recognition programs, the potential for employee stock ownership, annual monetary and paid time off bonuses, performance-based bonus eligibility, merit increase eligibility, and employee referral bonuses. We also offer a wellness reimbursement.