Associate Director, Strategic Development and Grants Management


Position Title & Department:

Associate Director, Strategic Development and Grants Management; Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

Posting #
5453
Department Description:
The Kroc School of Peace Studies trains the changemakers and peacebuilders of today and tomorrow.  Kroc is the first stand-alone school of peace in the United States. Innovation in learning and programs is at the center of what we do and who we are. We combine theory and practice not just to understand crises and world issues, but also to imagine new possibilities and develop solutions to humanity's urgent challenges from increasing inequality and violence to climate change. At Kroc, people discover new ways of building more peaceful and socially just communities through a multidisciplinary lens and experiential learning. We look for passionate individuals who believe in the power of university learning to transform the world for the better.

University Description:
The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges.
Detailed Description:
The Associate Director leads strategic development and grant acquisition for the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, serving as the architect and implementer of the Institute's external funding infrastructure. The role designs, launches, and manages systems and strategies to diversify and grow the Institute for Peace and Justice's funding base; scans and qualifies opportunities; convenes interdisciplinary teams; and translates complex concepts into competitive, fundable proposals. As the Institute's principal grant writer and strategist with a mandate for growth, the position develops proposals that may span and leverage multiple programs, divisions, and campuses, and oversees the full lifecycle from cultivation and narrative development to submission, compliance, and reporting. This builder role combines strategic analysis, relationship cultivation, exceptional writing, and project management to expand external funding and institutional impact during a period of organizational growth. 

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Grants Development and Proposal Leadership

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.

Strategic Relationship Cultivation and Donor Engagement 

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.

Institutional Strategy and Funding Systems

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.

Grant Writing Education and Instruction

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.

Other Duties as Assigned

Participate in cross-cutting School and Institute initiatives, special projects, and strategic planning efforts. 

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Regular off-site meetings within the San Diego region and occasional domestic or international travel are required.
• This role is designed as an in-person position. While limited remote work may be permitted with prior approval and when compatible with business needs, regular on-site presence is an essential expectation of the job. 

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 
Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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 Qualifications:

• 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.

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic thinking with an ability to synthesize complex ideas into compelling narratives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working across academic, practitioner, and donor communities. 
• Proficiency with grant-tracking or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for managing funder relationships and proposal pipelines.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with diverse teams. 
• Discretion, judgment, and professionalism in managing confidential or sensitive information.

Posting Salary:
$7,878 - $9,000 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.
Special Application Instructions:
Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers' review.  If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.
Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.

To apply, visit https://jobs.sandiego.edu/cw/en-us/job/497228







Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

jeid-e7711a9f59a6a94e84aca2cfd7a6b863

Return to Search Results