Grants and Awards Manager - Chicago - Hybrid

Job Summary

Working closely with The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) staff team, manage all aspects of TSF’s grants and awards program, which includes 30+ unique and high-impact offerings in the areas of research, education, leadership, and international surgical outreach. Develop and implement a structured process for award promotion, application, review, selection, delivery, and reporting. Manage award administration data organization, processing, and storage. Track and report on grant and award program analytics. Manage relationships with volunteer review committees, grantees, awardees, and other stakeholders to best meet the missions of TSF and STS.

Duties and Responsibilities

Promotion and Community Building

• Build and maintain awards-associated relationships with surgeons, professional societies, nonprofit partners, academic institutions, and industry partners.

• Develop and manage marketing plans for promoting the availability of awards, coordinating with STS and related association communication teams.

• In collaboration with the TSF team, coordinate awardee recognition at the annual Awards/VIP Reception at the STS Annual Meeting.

• Assist at conferences and conventions as needed.

Operations and Finance

• Manage the awards pages of the TSF website and serve as team lead and trainer for all application platforms.

• Execute the application process for all TSF awards and grants, updating applications and award descriptions annually, onboard new awards and sunset outgoing awards as appropriate.

• Manage the review process and committees for TSF awards and grants, including application screening, creating review criteria and forms, coordinating independent reviews and committee review calls, and summarizing outcomes for Board approval.

• Oversee the award notification process for grantees, and the regret/feedback process for those not awarded; annually update and communicate reporting requirements for grantees.

• Facilitate grant fund distribution in partnership with the STS Finance department and TSF team.

• Partner with Executive Director for annual awards budget development, forecasting, and funds tracking; coordinate cross-departmental financial alignment related to scholarship programs.

• Facilitate risk-management and compliance procedures related to international awards, including sanctions screening as needed.

Impact Reporting

• Enforce grantee reporting and manage grantee and institution interactions throughout the award cycle.

• Annually track and report on award impact, including NIH funding obtained after TSF provides initial support; lead communication initiatives highlighting award and grant impact and derived from reports submitted by grantees.

• In partnership with the TSF team, contribute award outcomes for marketing content for various marketing opportunities.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, science, or a related field is required.

• Minimum three years related work experience, preferably within foundation or non-profit awards and grants, the association industry, and/or health care environment.

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is also considered.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong copywriting abilities

• Database and/or awards platform management experience (e.g. Submittable)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, Access, Outlook), Adobe Acrobat, and content management systems (e.g., Drupal, WordPress)

• Excellent organizational, project management, and follow-through capabilities; attention to detail

• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, volunteer leaders, other organizations, and industry contacts; tact, diplomacy, and good judgment

• Positive attitude in the workplace

• Flexibility and adaptability to changing daily activities and schedules

• Ability to travel, as necessary

• Ability to perform work in alignment with STS core values: Leadership, Quality, Professionalism, Innovation, Collaboration, and Inclusion and Belonging.