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Grants Manager
Decatur, IL, USA
Posted on Aug 27, 2026
Job Summary
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Make an impact. Maximize opportunity. Strengthen our community.
As Grants Manager for the City of Decatur, you’ll lead the Grants Division and help secure and maximize funding that advances community priorities. You’ll oversee the full grant lifecycle from identifying opportunities and coordinating applications to managing compliance, monitoring expenditures, and completing required reporting.
Working across City departments, you’ll evaluate funding opportunities, guide grant administration, and help ensure funded projects achieve their goals and meet all requirements. We’re looking for an experienced grants professional who brings strong financial and analytical skills, exceptional organization, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities while building effective partnerships across the organization.
If you’re ready to turn funding opportunities into meaningful results for the community, we’d like to hear from you.
We offer an outstanding benefits package including:- 14.5 paid holidays (including 2 personal days), paid vacation and sick leave, excellent health insurance, and a strong retirement pension plan.
- a dedicated health center with free check-ups, chronic care, bloodwork, immunizations, and many free prescriptions for employees and their dependents.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead a Grants Program That Makes an Impact
- Lead the City’s Grants Division and oversee the full life cycle of federal, state, and other grant programs.
- Identify funding opportunities that align with City priorities and advise departments on whether and how to pursue them.
- Coordinate grant applications, project scopes, budgets, environmental reviews, and required documentation to keep opportunities moving forward.
- Serve as a key resource to City departments throughout the grant process—from application through closeout.
- Oversee grant budgets, expenditures, fund balances, reimbursements, and financial reporting.
- Monitor grants for compliance with funding requirements, City policies, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Review program and financial documents, identify potential issues, and help departments address them before they become problems.
- Ensure timely, accurate reporting and maintain grant records that are ready for review or audit.
- Research funding requirements, program expectations, performance measures, and emerging grant opportunities.
- Analyze budgets, expenditures, outcomes, and other program information to support sound recommendations.
- Prepare reports, budget materials, presentations, and recommendations for City leadership and City Council.
- Help shape policies, procedures, goals, and strategies that strengthen the City's approach to grants management.
- Lead, mentor, and develop Grants Division staff while creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Prioritize work, delegate effectively, and ensure the team meets critical deadlines.
- Build productive relationships with departments, grant partners, funding agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Promote responsive, solutions-focused service and help departments successfully navigate complex grant requirements.
Qualifications and Preferred Skills
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What You’ll Bring
You’re an experienced grants professional who can balance financial oversight, compliance, problem-solving, and people leadership. You’re comfortable navigating complex requirements, managing competing deadlines, and working independently while partnering with others to get the job done.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, public administration, social service, or a related field.
- Three to five years of experience in grants administration, social service program administration, or accounting.
- An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local policies, regulations, and compliance requirements.
- Knowledge of federal and state grant administration, including funding sources, application processes, proposal development, and reporting requirements.
- Knowledge of grant program audit requirements and best practices.
- Knowledge of procurement processes, including competitive bidding procedures, and municipal financial planning principles and practices.
- Knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
- Ability to perform basic and advanced mathematical and statistical calculations and track project costs and expenditures in alignment with approved program budgets.
- Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, grant contracts, and compliance requirements and review documents and work products for compliance with established standards and requirements.
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify solutions and adapt when situations are not fully standardized.
- Ability to interpret and follow written, oral, diagrammatic, and schedule-based instructions.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment.
- Ability to perform effectively under pressure and meet strict grant program deadlines.
- Ability to supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff; delegate tasks; manage workloads; and provide clear direction to achieve team objectives.
- Ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, resolve conflicts, and hold staff accountable.
- Valid Illinois driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications- Grants management designation such as Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) or Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential.
- Knowledge of grant administration systems such as IDIS, ACRES, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov.
The Opportunity
This position brings together the disciplines of grants management, financial oversight, compliance, analysis, and leadership. You’ll need to be comfortable working with complex regulations and budgets while also managing people, solving problems, and meeting critical deadlines.
If you’re someone who can bring structure to complex grant requirements, exercise sound judgment, and lead a team while supporting organizational goals, this role offers an opportunity to put your expertise to work in a position with broad responsibility and impact.
Sponsorship for Employment
The City of Decatur does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B). To be considered for regular employment with City of Decatur, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a continuous basis.
More Details
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Drug-Free Workplace & Screening
The City of Decatur is a drug-free workplace. This includes marijuana. Candidates will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen, physical exam, and background check post offer.
Residency
Employees must reside within 50 miles of Decatur's corporate limits within 12 months of appointment.
Why Decatur?
Decatur offers the opportunity to build a career in a community where your work can have a meaningful impact—while enjoying an affordable, accessible place to live and plenty to do beyond the workplace.- A Place You Can Afford: Named the #1 Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. for 2025–2026 by U.S. News & World Report, Decatur offers a low cost of living and attainable housing.
- Central Illinois, Close to Everywhere: Located within driving distance of Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, Decatur offers convenient access to major cities while maintaining a community feel.
- Room to Get Outside: Lake Decatur and more than 2,000 acres of parks and trails offer opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and more.
- Arts, Culture & Entertainment: Enjoy concerts at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, performances at Millikin University, shows at the historic Lincoln Theatre, and a growing public art scene.
- Something for the Whole Family: From Scovill Zoo and Splash Cove Waterpark to Overlook Adventure Park, there are plenty of ways to enjoy time together.
- A Strong Employment Community: Decatur is home to major employers including ADM, Caterpillar, Primient, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, and Decatur Memorial Hospital.
To Apply
If you bring professional grants experience, strong financial and analytical skills, and the ability to lead collaborative efforts, we invite you to put your expertise to work as Grants Manager for the City of Decatur. This is an opportunity to apply your knowledge to projects and programs that support the City's priorities and community. We look forward to receiving your application.
Application Deadline: September 20, 2026
Complete an application at the link below with all requested relevant information. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Downloading a resume can prefill some application sections but does not replace the application.