How to hire a grant manager

How to hire a grant manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step grant manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a grant manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new grant manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a grant manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the grant manager you need to hire. Certain grant manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A grant manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, grant managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of grant managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Grant Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Grant Manager	Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise social service programs and community organizations. They manage staff who provide social services to the public.	$22-37
   Director Of Outreach	Directors of Outreach are responsible for leading the implementation of outreach initiatives for a community or organization. Their duties include developing partnership outreach strategies, supporting policy advocacy work improvements, facilitating the evaluation of CRM and the internal system, and developing a strategy on program material's production and dissemination... Show more	$18-58
   Community Relations Director	A community relations director is a professional who is responsible for managing positive relationships with community members, nonprofit organizations, and fellow employees surrounding an organization. Community relations directors must plan, organize, and manage activities to help the organization achieve its public relations goal... Show more	$29-73

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Grants Management
   • Financial Reports
   • Oversight
   • Principal Investigators
   • Payroll
   • Project Management
   • Research Administration
   • NIH
   • PIS
   • Proposal Development
   • Public Health
   • Budget Development
   • Financial Management
   • Grant Administration

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide administrative support to NIH program functions; as well as providing logistical support, and managing data.
   • Organize and manage PowerPoint presentations used for business development and site visits.
   • Serve as principal financial resource and contact for subcontractors to ensure fiscal compliance of GAAP and OMB circulars.
   • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and yearly closeout financial reports per GAAP, state, and county guidelines.
   • Prepare and maintain the annual budgets for NIH grants and contracts utilizing computer spreadsheets.
   • Advise and assist NSF staff on the fiscal and managerial responsibility of institutions seeking NSF funding.

   More grant manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your grant manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A grant manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, grant managers' average salary in kansas is 36% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level grant managers earn 42% less than senior-level grant managers.
   • Certifications. A grant manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a grant manager's salary.

   Average grant manager salary

   $60,692yearly

   $29.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level grant manager salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

   Average grant manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$71,632	$34
   2	Massachusetts	$68,496	$33
   3	New York	$66,473	$32
   4	District of Columbia	$64,297	$31
   5	California	$63,648	$31
   6	Illinois	$61,518	$30
   7	Washington	$61,376	$30
   8	Oregon	$60,989	$29
   9	Pennsylvania	$60,628	$29
   10	Arizona	$60,537	$29
   11	Georgia	$60,337	$29
   12	Colorado	$58,368	$28
   13	Maryland	$57,073	$27
   14	Minnesota	$56,446	$27
   15	Wisconsin	$56,402	$27
   16	North Carolina	$56,163	$27
   17	Florida	$54,706	$26
   18	Ohio	$54,676	$26
   19	Texas	$52,994	$25
   20	South Carolina	$52,310	$25

   Average grant manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Low Income Investment Fund	$95,708	$46.01
   2	International Food Policy Research Institute	$83,007	$39.91
   3	U.S. Pharmacopeia	$82,605	$39.71
   4	Everymind (formerly Mental Health Association Of Montgomery County)	$79,228	$38.09
   5	Stanford Health Care	$77,947	$37.47
   6	City of Seattle	$77,699	$37.36	1
   7	City of San Antonio	$76,343	$36.70
   8	ANSER	$75,483	$36.29
   9	Stanford University	$75,189	$36.15	11
   10	University of California-Berkeley	$75,077	$36.09
   11	Casa Central	$72,734	$34.97
   12	University of California	$71,926	$34.58	6
   13	PeaceHealth	$71,809	$34.52
   14	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$71,583	$34.41
   15	American Red Cross	$71,558	$34.40	15
   16	City of Louisville	$71,390	$34.32
   17	The People Concern	$70,980	$34.13	2
   18	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$70,972	$34.12	6
   19	MassTech Collaborative	$70,821	$34.05
   20	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$70,811	$34.04

4. Writing a grant manager job description

   A job description for a grant manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a grant manager job description:

   Grant manager job description example

   For over 50 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has provided affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to all San Diegans. With more than 2,500 employees spread throughout more than 50 sites around the county, FHCSD is proud of the diversity of its staff as a reflection of the communities it serves.
   
   The reward of working at FHCSD is more than a paycheck and excellent benefits; it is the impact and contribution to the San Diego community that employees value most. If you are passionate about improving the overall health and livelihood of your community, FHCSD is looking for people like you.
   
   Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) is looking for an Accounting Manager to work under the direction of the Controller. The Accounting Manager directs and coordinates the daily activities of the grants accountants. Ensures prompt and accurate recording of revenues and expenses of the various grants and contracts. The incumbent will ensure compliance with grant terms and conditions and with applicable government regulations.
   Responsibilities:
   Builds positive relationships, inspires others to perform at a higher level, prepares career development plans and retains an accountable workforce.Coaches and counsels staff and administers appropriate disciplinary action in a timely manner.Ensures prompt preparation and submission of invoices and collection of grants receivables.Ensures prompt preparation and submission of monthly grant financial reports to program directors and managers. Maintains files of all grants, contracts, notice of grant awards, revisions to grants, and other related documents. Manages all activities relating to grants and contracts including supervision of grant accountants. Participates in continuous improvement activities and ensures appropriate Lean tools (i.e., 5S, A3) are deployed and results are evaluated and/or measured.Prepares monthly federal funds draws including preparation of documentation/schedule supporting wire draw. Prepares quarterly Federal Financial Report (FFR). Prepares the annual BPHC Single Grant Application and RW Part C Cost Report and Application.Provides grants budget and information for the annual corporate budget. Provides/ensures staff receive all new hire and annual trainings on time.Reviews monthly salary allocation, fringe benefit charges, indirect cost calculation and revenue recognition of grant accounts. Reviews utilization of grant funds and ensures compliance with grant requirements and government regulations. Serves as principal liaison between accounting department and program directors and managers, and grant writers and coordinates information flow.Performs other duties as assigned.
   
   Requirements:
   Bachelor's degree in accounting Ability to meet deadlines and work under stress.Five years of experience in grants and contracts accounting, budgeting and reporting.Intimate knowledge of federal regulations relating to grants including OMB Circulars A-122 and A-133.Proficiency in Excel and PC
   Must meet organized driving requirements.
   
   Rewards:
   Job type: Regular Full Time Competitive Salary with Excellent Benefits
   Retirement Plan with Employer Match Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance Employee Discounts and Wellness Programs
   
   FHCSD was founded by community activists working towards a common goal: caring, affordable, high-quality medical care for all. We are proud to continue this mission today as we provide accessible services to over 210,000 patients across San Diego County. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find grant managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your grant manager job on Zippia to find and recruit grant manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting grant managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new grant manager

   Once you've selected the best grant manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a grant manager?