Grant Writer Wanted

City of Victor / Envision Victor:
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - GRANT WRITER

Background
As part of a match towards funds received from the Orton Family Foundation, The City of Victor is hiring a part time Grant Writer to secure funding for projects and planning associated with Envision Victor.

Envision Victor is a partnership between the Orton Family Foundation, the City of Victor, Valley Advocates for Responsible Development, and Teton Valley Trails and Pathways. The project will ask all Victor residents to identify, articulate, and implement Victor's Heart & Soul. Envision Victor will "go beyond land use and design, and toward our social fabric and how [to] create opportunities to grow a more economically, ecologically, and socially diverse community." Envision Victor will also reflect upon the results of Victor's Community Action Plan, ongoing work revising Victor's Comprehensive Plan, and Victor's EPA-funded Smart Growth Implementation Report.

Grant Writer Position
The Grant Writer will be responsible for cataloging funding needs by City department, investigating grant opportunities, organizing, writing, and submitting grant applications, and reporting on their progress. There will be direct interaction with City Staff, the Envision Victor project coordinator, and the Envision Victor Local Advisory Committee.

This will be a contract position starting in May of 2009. The Grant Writer will contract directly with the City of Victor and will be supervised by the Victor City Council with guidance form the Envision Victor Local Advisory Committee.

Scope of Services
Determine Funding Needs

* Work with City department heads, the Envision Victor project coordinator, and the Envision
* Victor local advisory committee to determine funding needs, opportunities and priorities.
* Through interviews and other means, gather information required to understand and advocate for project or program for which funding is sought.
* Acquire and maintain sound knowledge and understanding of the City of Victor, and use that knowledge and understanding to identify and pursue funding opportunities.
* Work with City department heads, the Envision Victor project coordinator, and the Envision Victor local advisory committee to continually refine and update project needs, responding to new ideas, opportunities, and challenges.

Grant Writing and Coordination

* Work with the City Staff, Envision Victor Project Coordinator, and Envision Victor Advisory Committee to make use of their contributions to grant writing projects in the most meaningful and effective ways.
* Work with consultants and other technical advisors to the Envision Victor Project to ensure their appropriate involvement.
* Research grant-making organizations, agencies, or individuals (e.g. private foundations, public funding, government programs) to identify likely funding sources for specific projects and programs.
* Review the budget of a project or program for which funding is sought and make recommendations to better present it to grant-making organizations.
* Develop individual grant proposals in accordance with each grant-making organization's requirements and follow exactly each grant-making organization's guidelines.
* Compile, write, and edit all grant applications exhibiting strong expository writing skills and a high-level command of grammar and spelling.

Communications

* Communicate all grant writing activities clearly and punctually with the City Council, Envision Victor Project Coordinator, and the Envision Victor Local Advisory Committee.
* Document the process in written reports and prepare updates in creative and compelling formats.

Evaluation

* Provide City Staff and Envision Victor Advisory Committee with regularly scheduled reports
* Maintain contact with grant-making organizations during their review of a submitted grant application in order to supply additional supportive material.
* Manage the process of supplying progress reports when required by a grant-making organization that has awarded project funding.


Qualifications

* Advanced familiarity with the City of Victor networks, issues, and trends combined with an ability to be objective and open-minded
* Willingness and ability to speak with all Victor residents
* Previous professional writing experience with specific Grant Writing experience a plus
* Excellent organizational skills
* Excellent communications skills, including listening and writing
* Ability to work with diverse groups of people including: Project Partners, consultants, municipal government officials and neighbors
* Computer literacy including first-hand professional experience with common software (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
* Creativity and inventiveness
* Professional experience working as part of a team
* Professional grant writing certification a plus


Compensation
Applicants must submit a proposed fee estimate. Please detail how you would approach this project and include a breakout of hours and cost by Scope of Services category. The lowest/best bid will not be the sole basis for this selection.

Evaluation Criteria
Applicants will be considered by the Victor City Council and a selection will be made at the Council's discretion. Applicants will be evaluated and ranked on the basis of experience in grant writing as well as their familiarity with the City of Victor. Expected hiring date is May 1st.

Applications
Those interested in applying must email a cover letter, resume and/or other appropriate description of relevant experience and qualifications to Scott Fitzgerald at scottf@victorcityidaho.com and Craig Sherman at victcity@tetontel.com. Deadline for applications is Friday April 17th. Applications must be submitted by 5pm.

Phosphorus and Victor

Just had a great presentation from Paul Krauth who works in the Utah Division of Water Quality. I know, doesn't sound too riveting, but it was actually great to learn what Phosphorus is all about and how it will impact our decision on how to proceed with our waste water treatment process. Apparently the Teton River has been identified by the EPA to have elevated levels of Phosphorus. This can cause a situation called Eutrophication that can starve a river of oxygen by creating Algae Blooms. Not good for our finned friends who live in the river. What ever system we go with, the treatment of Phosphorus will certainly be a concern. The big question is what will the EPA's new requirements for Phosphorus treatment be?