Overview
We are seeking one highly capable, self-directed professional to serve as the primary delivery resource for a potential municipal engagement supporting a city in Texas. This is not a routine virtual assistant position. The selected specialist must be able to independently identify relevant grant opportunities, assess eligibility and fit, prepare complete and persuasive applications, and support post-award grant administration. The role also includes economic development, business outreach, communications, project coordination, financial record support, and general municipal administration.
The ideal candidate combines strong grant-development experience with the judgment, organization, and responsiveness needed to function as an extension of a small city staff. Because this individual will perform the bulk of the work, demonstrated hands-on experience and strong writing samples are essential.
Duties
- · Grant prospecting and funding strategy: Research federal, Texas, regional, county, foundation, and other private funding sources; identify at least 25 viable opportunities annually; match City projects to suitable programs; maintain a grant calendar and funding pipeline; and provide concise monthly opportunity reports.
· Grant application development: Lead development of complete applications, including narratives, work plans, budgets, schedules, required forms, letters of support, council resolutions, authorizing documents, and partner-agency inputs.
· Grant administration and compliance: Maintain organized grant files; track deadlines, deliverables, performance measures, and compliance requirements; support reimbursement requests, quarterly and annual reports, and closeout activities.
· Economic development support: Respond to business inquiries; assist businesses considering relocation or expansion; maintain prospect and business databases; conduct workforce and industry research; support incentive administration; and prepare reports and presentations.
· Business retention and expansion: Conduct and document outreach to existing businesses, track concerns and opportunities, coordinate stakeholder meetings, and support retention and expansion initiatives.
· Marketing and communications: Draft newsletters, website and social media content, promotional materials, and stakeholder communications; support tourism, special events, and business outreach; and perform basic video editing as needed.
· Administrative and financial support: Maintain departmental receipts and financial records; support accounts payable and reimbursements; track procurement requirements; coordinate meetings; prepare correspondence; and provide recording or transcription support.
· Reporting and project management: Prepare monthly activity, business outreach, grant opportunity, marketing, and funding pipeline reports, plus annual grant strategy, work plan, funding summary, and performance reporting.
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated success researching and identifying grant opportunities—not only writing applications assigned by others.
- Hands-on experience preparing complete grant applications, preferably for municipalities, counties, public agencies, economic development organizations, or nonprofit/community programs.
- Strong knowledge of federal and state funding programs and the ability to interpret notices of funding opportunity, eligibility rules, scoring criteria, and compliance requirements.
- Excellent persuasive, technical, and business writing skills, with the ability to turn incomplete inputs into clear, compliant narratives and budgets.
- Experience managing multiple deadlines, document requirements, partner inputs, and approval steps with limited supervision.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, shared-file environments, spreadsheets, virtual meetings, and online grant portals.
- Ability to protect confidential information, maintain accurate records, and respond to routine requests within two business days.
Strongly Preferred
- Direct experience supporting Texas municipal government or a Texas economic development corporation.
- Experience with economic development, business retention and expansion, tourism promotion, or public-sector communications.
- Experience administering awarded grants, including reimbursements, performance reporting, procurement documentation, and closeout.
- Familiarity with municipal accounting, departmental financial records, council agenda items, resolutions, and public procurement requirements.
- Established sources and methods for monitoring funding opportunities, such as Grants.gov, Texas agency programs, regional funding sources, foundations, and private grant databases.
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, communications, economic development, finance, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
Application Requirements
To be considered, submit all of the following:
· Resume highlighting municipal/public-sector, grant, economic development, administrative, and communications experience.
· Brief cover note explaining your experience both finding grant opportunities and preparing the resulting applications.
· Two relevant writing samples. At least one should be a grant narrative or substantially similar funding application. Redacted samples are acceptable.
· Grant performance summary listing up to five representative applications: applicant/client, funding program, year, amount requested, amount awarded, your specific role, and whether you identified the opportunity.
· Short description of your process and tools for discovering, screening, prioritizing, tracking, and reporting grant opportunities.
· Two or three former-client references who can verify the quality, timeliness, and results of your work. Municipal, public-sector, or economic development clients are strongly preferred. References from coworkers, supervisors, managers, employees, friends, or personal contacts will not be accepted.
· Your location/time zone, typical weekly availability, earliest start date, desired hourly or monthly rate, and ability to attend virtual meetings during Central Time business hours.
Pay: $28.00 – $30.00 per hour
Work Location: Remote