Purpose of the role:

The Grant Specialist is a newly developed role responsible for building a strategic, insight-led grants program across Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and SeeWay. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Philanthropy, this role will lead prospect identification, submission development and delivery, with the ability to successfully ask for significant financial support and close opportunities, pipeline management and stewardship across trusts, foundations, government and other institutional funding sources.

This role will support revenue growth and diversification by connecting funder opportunities with organisational strategic priorities and Client impact. Working with teams across the organisation, the Grant Specialist will identify priority business needs, shape them into compelling funding propositions, and ensure submissions are strategic, evidence based and impact focused.

Key focus areas:

Grant strategy, prospecting and pipeline management:

• Working with the Sr.Manager, Philanthropy develop and manage a proactive grants strategy and pipeline for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and SeeWay.
• Identify, research and qualify opportunities that align with strategic priorities, funding needs and Client impact.
• Maintain pipeline reporting, revenue forecasting and opportunity tracking to support prioritisation and resourcing.
• Apply data, evidence and insights to assess opportunity fit, funding trends, success rates and return on effort.

Grant submissions and proposal development:

• Lead the development and pitching of high quality, persuasive and compliant submissions, acquittals, reports, funding proposals and supporting materials.
• Translate organisational priorities and business needs into clear cases for support that demonstrate need, outcomes and impact.
• Coordinate input from internal subject matter experts such as program, service delivery, finance and marketing teams.
• Develop reusable content, impact statements, budgets, project summaries and evidence libraries to improve consistency and efficiency.

Internal partnership and strategic alignment:

• Work with leaders and teams across Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to identify funding gaps and scalable opportunities for grant support.
• Ensure grant activity supports the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT strategic plan and targets.
• Partner with SeeWay stakeholders to identify fundable opportunities.
• Collaborate with marketing, digital and the broader fundraising teams to deliver tailored donor journeys, stewardship communications and a stewardship matrix for trusts, foundations and government grant funders.

Data, insights and performance reporting:

• Maintain accurate records on Guide Dogs’ CRM, in collaboration with overall fundraising teams.
• Use data and insights to inform prospecting, prioritisation, submission strategy and stewardship planning.
• Track grant activity, conversion, revenue and reporting obligations through agreed systems and processes.
• Prepare regular updates for the Senior Manager, Philanthropy and relevant stakeholders on pipeline health, risks and emerging opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement by reviewing outcomes, funder feedback and performance data.

People leadership:

• Lead, coach and support the Grants Coordinator to deliver high quality grant administration, applications, research and reporting activity.
• Set clear priorities, workflows and expectations to support timely delivery of submissions, acquittals and stewardship commitments.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable and learning-focused approach within the grants function.

Experience & Skills:

• 4+ years demonstrated experience in grants or a related revenue development role.
• Strong grant writing, proposal development and storytelling skills, with the ability to create compelling cases for support
• Experience managing a grants pipeline, submission calendar, reporting obligations and funder relationships.
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to use data and insights to prioritise opportunities and measure performance.
• Highly organised, deadline driven and comfortable managing multiple submissions and reporting requirements at once.
• Strong Microsoft Office and computer skills.
• A current driver’s licence or ability to travel independently e.g. via public transport.
• Must be comfortable around, and able to work with, large dogs.

Benefits that Guide Dogs offer: 

As a member of the Guide Dogs team, you will have access to a wide range of benefits tailored to your needs.

• A competitive remuneration package is available commensurate with skills and experience, which includes tax free salary packaging of up to $15,900. 
• EAP - Get support when you need it with Employee Assistance Program counselling sessions.
• Me Days – Receive two paid days per year to support your health and wellbeing.
• Paid Parental Leave – take time to bond with your new child with 15 weeks paid leave after qualification period
• The option to purchase up to 4 weeks additional leave each year.
• Employee benefits program and Reward and Recognition program.
• Annual flu vaccinations. 
• Support for your professional development including paid study leave and educational assistance.
• Join an organisation that makes a meaningful and positive impact on our society.

Guide Dogs Values: 

Our clients come first in everything we do 

• Walk the Talk - The buck stops with us. So we keep our word and keep going, no matter what.
• Lead with Head and Heart - Forever focused on our purpose and mission, we combine care and careful planning to deliver successes worth celebrating.
• Lift each other - From a guiding hand to a high five, we unleash and acknowledge everyone's potential.
• Never stop exploring - We're fearlessly creative. We've always asked and answered the tough questions and if there's a better way, we'll find it. 

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT are proud to be an inclusive workplace that reflects our clients and the broader community and are committed to providing a work environment in which everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. We offer equal employment opportunity regardless of your disability, gender or gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital or domestic status, carer status, or political opinion.

If you require an adjustment within the recruitment process, please contact jobs@guidedogs.com.au to inform us of your preferred method of communication.