Global Trade & Investment Grants and Fund Manager

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

If your skills, experience, and qualifications match those in this job overview, do not delay your application.

Position Description

Position Title : Global Trade & Investment Grants and Fund Manager

Department : Global Trade & Investment

Reports to : Senior Director Global Trade & Investment

Position(s) Supervised : N / A

FLSA Status : Exempt

Position Summary

The Global Trade & Investment Grants and Fund Manager is responsible for administration of both the Global Business Development Program (GBDP) and SBA State Trade Expansion Grant (STEP) Program.

This includes program management at all stages in the grant process as well as outreach and advising for grant applicants and recipients.

The Global Trade & Investment Grants and Fund Manager anticipates and supports the needs of internal and external customers, effectively managing multiple complex programs while prioritizing service and process improvement.

Responsibilities

The Global Trade & Investment Grants and Fund Manager will spend most of their time on the following activities :

• Administration of the Global Business Development Program grants :
• Conduct proactive outreach to engage potential applicants, including participating in trade shows and events.
• Develop and monitor yearly budget goals for grant utilization.
• Consult with applicants and assist them in designing their grant projects and completing viable applications.
• Effectively utilize multiple databases to track grant progress and deliverables.
• Draft, review and approve contract language.
• Track and report on measurable grant outcomes and deliverables.
• Conduct financial analysis of grant reimbursement documents to ensure completion and statutory compliance.
• Manage processing and approval of performance reports.
• Create and manage contract amendments as necessary.
• Management of WEDC's Federal SBA State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant :
• Responsible for the overall administration of Wisconsin's STEP grant(s).
• Writing the annual STEP proposal to the Small Business Administration (SBA) that includes identifying programs to support, gathering information from grant partners, creating budgets and narratives, and briefing internal and external stakeholders on the annual proposal.
• Coordinate with key external partners and sub-awardees to effectively track projects, ensure fund utilization and obtain key data to be included in required STEP reporting.
• Adjusting the grant proposal based upon SBA feedback.
• Completing the federal performance reporting through a cross-divisional team. This process includes gathering the submission information, validating the information, compiling the reports and submitting the reports.
• Edit and amend the grant as projects change.
• Tracking the federal budget according to the budget agreed with SBA.
• Create annual report on grant projects and outcomes and develop strategies for continuous improvement of programs.
• Market Global Trade & Investment grant programs internally and externally to grow and improve the programs.
• Work collaboratively with other WEDC divisions and external partners to advertise WEDC's export support programs.
• Manage grant databases and track year-over-year data to ensure programmatic goals are met.
• Work with Wisconsin businesses to help them access the best resources to support their export efforts.
• Work collaboratively with other WEDC divisions to provide cross-divisional program training and develop best practices in providing financial aid to Wisconsin businesses.

Qualifications :

Education and Experience :

• Combination of education / experience similar to a bachelor's degree in Economics, , Business Administration, International Studies, Political Science, Urban Development, Financial Services, and / or Grants Management.
• Minimum of 3 years of project management experience.
• International and / or cultural study, experience, or travel preferred.

Skills and Talents :

• Ability to organize work, balance multiple priorities, and manage a variety of projects in a fast-paced, flexible work environment with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills, sound reasoning, independent judgment and initiative to accomplish tasks with little or no direction and to solve issues / accomplish tasks not requiring the involvement of others.
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite of products including database management (CRM), Excel, and other software or applications associated with assigned work.
• Public speaking ability and comfort presenting to groups of all sizes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience working with diverse groups of people at all levels, both internal and external to the organization.
• Preferred fluency in verbal and written language skills in Mandarin and / or Spanish.
• Requires a high level of confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism.
• Basic understanding of business accounting preferred.

Other Requirements

Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

Qualifications :

Education and Experience :

• Combination of education / experience similar to a bachelor's degree in Economics, , Business Administration, International Studies, Political Science, Urban Development, Financial Services, and / or Grants Management.
• Minimum of 3 years of project management experience.
• International and / or cultural study, experience, or travel preferred.

Skills and Talents :

• Ability to organize work, balance multiple priorities, and manage a variety of projects in a fast-paced, flexible work environment with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills, sound reasoning, independent judgment and initiative to accomplish tasks with little or no direction and to solve issues / accomplish tasks not requiring the involvement of others.
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite of products including database management (CRM), Excel, and other software or applications associated with assigned work.
• Public speaking ability and comfort presenting to groups of all sizes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience working with diverse groups of people at all levels, both internal and external to the organization.
• Preferred fluency in verbal and written language skills in Mandarin and / or Spanish.
• Requires a high level of confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism.
• Basic understanding of business accounting preferred.

Other Requirements

Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

WEDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT

WEDC must be a diverse and inclusive organization reflective of the businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin and beyond.

We believe that diversity drives innovation and commit to create an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where our differences are celebrated as drivers of our organization's performance.

TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AT WEDC, WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS :

• Increase WEDC's racial diversity, specifically with Black / African American, Native American and Latinx populations;
• Increase LGBTQ representation across WEDC; and
• Increase the diversity of WEDC's leadership.

TO MEET OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GOALS, WEDC WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS :

• Create an intentional approach to recruit minority candidates by using targeted media channels to promote open positions;
• Ensure formal offers are made only after a diverse pool of candidates have been considered at each hiring stage;
• Identify and develop a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, LGBTQ+ and more;
• Post signage to highlight WEDC's commitment to diversity and inclusion; and
• Revisit EEO disclosures in our application process to highlight statements regarding WEDC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution and EEO / Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications, and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Veteran Declaration

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority.

In extending this invitation, we advise you that : (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose;

b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information.

Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

PROTECTED VETERAN DEFINITION

Protected veteran means a veteran who may be classified as an active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, disabled veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or recently separated veteran.

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces service medal veteran means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 159).

Disabled veteran means (1) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently separated veteran means a veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.

S. military, ground, naval or air service.

EEOC RACE / ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

Asian (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

American Indian or Alaska Native (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above races.

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