Advanced Industries Grant Manager II

The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) was created to foster a positive business climate that encourages quality economic development through support of local and regional economic development activities throughout the State of Colorado. A comprehensive slate of programs within OEDIT’s divisions work together to offer economic development services for all Colorado businesses – new and expanding, traditional and emerging, small and large – including retention programs to ensure continued competitiveness of Colorado’s economic base, and job training to keep Colorado’s workforce the best in the nation.

The mission of the Advanced Industries Accelerator (AIA) Grant Program is to promote growth and sustainability in Colorado’s advanced industries by driving innovation, accelerating commercialization, encouraging public-private partnerships, increasing access to early-stage capital, and creating a strong ecosystem that increases the state's global competitiveness. 

The Colorado advanced industries are: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Bioscience, Electronics, Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure Engineering and Technology and Information.

This position is part of the Global Business Development (GBD) division within OEDIT. The GBD division elevates Colorado businesses and communities by offering programs, services and incentives that foster an innovative and healthy economy where people, businesses and communities thrive. Such offerings include tax incentives and grant programs related to business recruitment, retention and expansion, foreign direct investment and data analytics services. 

NOTE: This posting is open only to individuals on a promotional list of the listed department. The posting is for transparency purposes only to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Applications from individuals not on the department promotional list will not be accepted.

The Advanced Industries (AI) Grant Manager II supports the AI Senior Manager in administering the full grant lifecycle for the AIA Program, with a primary focus on award contracting and amendments, application compliance and review processes, reviewer network alignment, and program education and outreach. This position will also assist the grant reimbursement processes as needed, in coordination with the AI Grant Manager I, and may review submitted grant reimbursements in the AI Senior Manager’s absence. This position will support the Proof-of-Concept, Early Stage Capital and Retention, and Collaborative Infrastructure grants.

This role requires outstanding attention to detail, strong analytical skills, proven interpersonal communications skills both written and verbal, and a highly collaborative approach when working with accounting and procurement teams, and partner agencies for the ultimate benefit of the entities receiving grant assistance.

• Contracting and Amendments: Prepares and submits grantee contract and amendment requests, and coordinates with the procurement department for formal drafting and execution. 

• Record Keeping: Maintains master files and documentation thoroughly and accurately, in accordance with AIA grant policy and State fiscal rules.

• Application Compliance Reviews: Conducts comprehensive grant application compliance reviews to ensure all submissions meet statutory, state, and program-specific requirements prior to evaluation.  

• Application Review Cycle: Coordinates and executes the grant review process, including managing the database of AIA reviewers, issuing reviewer invitations, preparing coordinating meeting logistics and catering, assigning application reviews, and preparing reviewer materials. Acts as secretary at all grant review meetings by taking notes and documenting concerns, questions, and overall reviewer feedback. 

• Application Feedback: Tracks, prepares, and distributes application feedback during and after the application review cycle. 

• Process Optimization: Evaluates workflows to develop efficient and effective processes for the overall grant lifecycle, including grant applications, reviews, contracting, and reimbursements. 

• Grant Tracking and Monitoring: Monitors the queue for pending grant agreements and amendments and liaises with the procurement department to maintain processing timelines. Conducts regular reviews executed grants to identify upcoming grant expirations, in coordination with the AI Grant Manager I.

• External Representation: Represents the AIA Program at relevant partner events and info sessions. Delivers technical presentations and training to grantees regarding the contracting lifecycle, fiscal compliance, and state processing guidelines.

• Reimbursements: Assists the grant reimbursement processes as needed, in coordination with the AI Grant Manager I. May review submitted grant reimbursements in the AI Senior Manager’s absence.

• Cross-Divisional Support: Assists with export promotion events and programmatic promotion as needed, in coordination with the International Export Grant Manager. Also assists with broader GBD events and tasks as needed.

• Event and Logistics Assistance: Collaborates with AI Senior Manager to organize and execute AIA events, including the annual rural roadshow and participation in key startup events.

• Collaborative Alignment: Works in a professional, collaborative manner with internal program staff, procurement and accounting teams, external program partners, and grantees. 

• Other Duties: Performs other duties as assigned by the AI Senior Manager, GBD Division Director, and GBD Deputy Director. 

• Communication: Is understood and understands others; clearly articulates key points when writing and speaking; actively listens; effectively interprets non-verbal communication and truly hears what a wide variety of people are trying to say; accurately assesses personal styles and adjusts own style of communication to optimize personal effectiveness.
• Results Driven: Drives for successful results; makes things happen and conveys a sense of urgency; sets aggressive goals and works hard to achieve these goals; moves tasks and assignments toward closure; invests considerable effort to ensure goals are met in a high- quality manner.
• Relationship Management: Builds collaborative relationships and effectively manages relationships with all constituents.
• Project Management: Plans, directs, manages and monitors projects and programs effectively; provides the right resources to enable successful projects or programs; proven ability to manage multiple projects at one time.
• Problem-Solving: Effectively gathers, researches, analyzes and assimilates information; uses logic and critical thinking to address issues and problems; makes quality decisions based on a mixture of analysis, judgment and due diligence.
• Continuous Improvement: Focuses on evolving internal and external programs, processes, communication flows to strengthen the performance of the AIA Program.

• Contracting Acumen: Advanced capability to compile, evaluate, and prepare comprehensive contract and amendment request packages.  

• Financial and Mathematical Acumen: Exceptional math and data analysis skills with a proven tracking record of managing detailed financial workflows, auditing multi-line budgets, and resolving balancing discrepancies. 

• Time and Task Management: Exceptional personal time management skills with a proven ability to prioritize a high volume of individual task assignments, maintain rapid processing turnaround times, and meet strict deadlines.

• Operational Compliance: Strong ability to read, interpret, and accurately apply State fiscal rules, internal administrative policies, and specific program compliance guidelines.  

• Collaborative Communication: Strong oral and written communication skills necessary to establish, support, and maintain productive working relationships with agency fiscal teams, procurement and accounting staff, and grantees. 

• Professional Integrity and Initiative: Demonstrates high personal integrity, proactive problem-solving acumen, and the diplomacy and flexibility required to work as a collaborative self-starter within a positive team environment.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, political science, public administration, or a related field of study. An equivalent combination of professional education and proven experience in comparable fields will be considered.  

• Professional Experience: Three to five years of progressive, professional experience in grant management, contract administration, public sector program oversight, or a closely related field.  

• System Experience: Professional experience using Salesforce or a comparable CRM system and the State of Colorado’s CORE accounting system is highly desirable.  

Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000 Annually

This position is considered non-classified, which means the position is not part of the Colorado State Personnel System. Therefore, the individual appointed to this position is considered at-will, and is not covered by the State Personnel Rules or the State Classification System. However, this position does come with the same benefits (retirement, insurance, etc.) as every other State employee, and with the same opportunities, pride and passion that comes with working for the great State of Colorado. Even though employment is at-will, non-classified positions have protections against discrimination and retaliation in state and federal employment laws. “At-will” employment means that either the employee or the State may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice or cause, as long as no federal or state law is violated.

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis. 

Benefits

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers generous benefits to full-time employees including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month

• 11 paid holidays per year

• Medical plans - choice of Cigna or Kaiser; several plan options (including High Deductible Health Plan with HSA); most plans  offered with significant state contribution towards premium

• Dental and vision plans

• Flexible spending accounts

• State-paid life insurance policy of $50,000

• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined contribution or defined benefit) with generous state contribution

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans for additional retirement savings

• State-paid short-term disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program

• Membership opportunity with the Credit Union of Colorado

• RTD (transit) EcoPass

• Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

To learn more about the “State of Colorado For All”, visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator, the Director of Human Resources: [email protected]

Application

Your application must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.   

Due to the large volume of resumes we receive, we do not acknowledge receipt of each application and are unable to give status updates. If a strong match is found between your qualifications and the requirements of the position, a member of the recruiting staff will contact you to further discuss the career opportunity.