Grant Writer

Position Summary

The Grant Writer for Optimus Health Care, Inc., plays a vital role in securing funds from various sources. Working under the guidance of the Director of Grants & Development, the incumbent will engage in grant research, letters of intent, and grant proposal writing/editing. The Grant Writer will collaborate closely with the Director of Grants & Development and multidisciplinary teams across medical, dental, behavioral health, and enabling services to ensure timely and accurate submissions. The primary objective is to ensure financial sustainability through securing funds from federal, state, municipal entities, private foundations, and corporations.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Identify grant opportunities through research and fund prospecting aligned with Optimus’ programming needs.
• Prepare reports, including needs assessments, market analyses, and other materials for leadership and Board review.
• Collaborate with the Director of Grants & Development to contribute to the development and implementation of Optimus’ long-range strategic fund development plan.
• Maintain organized lists of grant application documentation, grant submissions, historical files, and tracking systems via spreadsheets.
• Communicate grant awards and activities to relevant staff, uploading required documentation on platforms such as the Electronic Handbook for federal HRSA grants and marketing consultants (DrinkCaffeine-Sam Tuttle) for media coverage.
• Afford agency attendance at assigned meetings when available.
• Represent Optimus at community and fundraising meetings as assigned.
• Attend staff meetings when available.
• Communicate with grant-making organizations to provide additional materials or clarification during the review process.
• Prepare UDS Mapper maps and supporting data analyses as needed.
• Revise and update the organization’s Needs Assessment annually for internal and external reporting purposes.
• Ensure all submissions meet deadlines, compliance requirements, and quality standards.
• Utilize electronic grant submission systems, including HRSA Electronic Handbook (EHB), Grants.gov and other Grant government systems as required.

Job Qualifications/Requirements

• Proven experience developing successful proposals for highly competitive grants.
• Strong understanding of the full grant lifecycle, including application development, submission, and reporting.
• Experience with electronic grant submission systems such as Grants.gov and HRSA Electronic Handbook (EHB).
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commitment to Optimus’ mission.
• Ability to establish rapport and trust.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to turn complex program information into compelling stories.
• Ability to solve complex problems and react to change productively.
• Experience with CRM software (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, or professional writing, with a proven track record of securing funds; Experience in a healthcare or community-based setting is preferred.

Languages

Bi-lingual preferred but not required.