Overview

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel operates eight legal projects: Child Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Advancement, Gender Justice, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law.

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of over 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Public Counsel is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Director of Grants to lead our grant acquisition and compliance efforts, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our critical legal programs. Supervising a team of staff and consultants, the Director of Grants will oversee the full lifecycle of grant and program service fee activities, from prospecting and proposal development to grant administration, reporting, and compliance. The Director of Grants will partner with the Chief Development Officer and Senior Grants Strategist, and will serve as a central clearinghouse and liaison between the development, program, and finance teams on all grant-related matters. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in grant writing, funder stewardship, and grant compliance and implementation, including substantial experience with government grants and contracts.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Acquisition & Fundraising:

  • In partnership with the Chief Development Officer and Senior Grants Strategist, identify and research prospective government, foundation, and corporate grant opportunities aligned with Public Counsel’s mission and programs;
  • Lead the timely development, writing, and submission of compelling letters of inquiry and grant applications;
  • Collaborate with program and finance teams to develop proposals and budgets that align with funder requirements;
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders, ensuring ongoing engagement, timely updates, and strategic communication;
  • Track and analyze grant funding trends to inform fundraising strategies; and
  • Engage with Public Counsel’s Board of Directors to identify grant opportunities and contacts and to report on grant-related developments.

Grant Compliance & Administration:

  • Oversee and coordinate grant and program service fee compliance and implementation efforts across the organization and with sub-grantees, developing and implementing systems and policies to ensure adherence to funder guidelines, deliverables, and reporting deadlines;
  • Work closely with the general counsel, finance, and program teams to ensure accurate grant and contract tracking, expenditure monitoring, and compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements;
  • Review grant-related contracts and MOUs, negotiate terms when necessary, and facilitate execution in collaboration with leadership;
  • Lead the timely preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports to funders;
  • Maintain internal systems for grant tracking, data collection, and document management, and develop new systems as needed;
  • Serve as the primary liaison between Public Counsel and grant-making entities, responding to inquiries and requests for information;
  • Oversee and ensure organizational readiness for audits and site visits by funders;
  • Collaborate with the finance team to prepare the fiscal year budget by forecasting grant and program service fee revenues for all areas of programmatic work; and
  • Supervise the work product of the grants team that includes staff and consultants; and
  • Provide guidance, performance management, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Minimum of eight years of grant writing experience, with federal grant writing experience preferred and a proven track record of securing government and private foundation grants.
  • Minimum of five years of grants and/or contracts compliance experience.
  • Experience handling government contracts compliance, with a strong understanding of federal and state grant regulations and compliance requirements.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and research skills with attention to detail.
  • Management and mentorship experience with a collaborative, transparent, flexible, and compassionate management style.
  • Ability to work cooperatively across teams, levels, and functions within the organization and to navigate difficult conversations and address conflict effectively.
  • Exceptional project management skills and a proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves.
  • High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, empathetic, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth and open mindset.
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