Specialist, Partnerships & Business Development (55939)

About the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit, private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative, nonpartisan approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. We organize our work around three impact areas: land and water; land and fiscal systems; and land and communities. We envision a world where cities and regions prosper and benefit from coordinated land use planning and public finance; where communities thrive from efficient and equitable allocation of limited land resources; and where stewardship of land and water resources ensures a livable future. We work globally, with locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix, Arizona; and Beijing, China.

Partnerships and Business Development Team Overview:

The Partnerships and Business Development team (PBD) exists to grow the Lincoln Institute's impact through strategic external partnerships. We work with our programmatic teams to identify opportunities, cultivate relationships with funders and partners, develop competitive proposals, and ensure excellence in stewardship and compliance. The PBD teams values include ethical fundraising, operational excellence, and strategic relationship-building that advances the Institute's mission.

Position Overview:

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is looking for a specialist to join the Partnerships and Business Development (PBD) team. You will focus on the process of turning external funding proposals into accepted awards, work with teams across the Institute, reinforce data systems, and promote fundraising activities, including prospect research and relationship management tracking.

What You Will Do
Drive Fundraising Workflow - Management and Execution (65%)

- Aid the workflow that turns fundraising and partnership ideas into fully executed arrangements and awards, from the drafting of proposals to navigating submission processes and legal agreements with external partners.

- Aid internal and external partners through each stage of the funding arrangement lifecycle, from initial submission of concept notes or proposals through negotiation, execution, compliance monitoring, and closeout.

- Maintain thorough, standardized documentation for all externally funded contracts, by driving and delivering financial reporting, deliverables, acknowledgments, and recordkeeping.

- Monitor funding deadlines and deliverables to ensure program staff have the information and tools to safeguard project progression is proceeding as agreed and that donors receive all required reports on schedule.

- Help program staff to develop realistic, compliant budgets, timelines, and work plans, and assist with narrative development for external funding proposals.

- Develop training and documentation to ensure staff are informed about fundraising processes.

Fundraising and Relationship Management Work (35%)

- Contribute to operational efficiencies through cross-functional collaboration across the organization.

- Sustain and enhance our CRM system through meticulous documentation of all partner and donor relationships in Salesforce, including data entry, training, and routine review and cleanup.

- Build and maintain dashboards and reporting mechanisms that give the team visibility into the pipeline of prospects, proposals, and awards across all Lincoln programs.

- Research potential prospects and fundraising opportunities to advance LILP cultivation efforts.

Qualifications

What You Will Need

- 4+ years of experience in grants management or contract administration.

- Undergraduate degree in a relevant field required.

- Demonstrated experience managing agreements (grants, contracts, MOUs, NDAs or similar) through their full lifecycle, from proposal to negotiation, compliance, and closeout.

- Experience managing meticulous details within database systems.

- Exceptionally strong independent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deals and deadlines simultaneously and exceptional attention to detail.

- Effective communication and leadership skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly to diverse audiences.

- Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and judgement in handling sensitive information.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and demonstrated aptitude for learning new database and CRM software.

- U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for future sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

- Self-sufficient, hands-on experience maintaining partner or donor databases.

- Experience conducting prospect research.

- Familiarity with land policy, urban planning, public finance, or related policy areas.

- Working knowledge of federal grants compliance requirements (OMB Uniform Guidance) and/or foundation and funder agreement requirements.

Personal Attributes

- Demonstrated experience with strong ethical practices through the highest standards of integrity.

- Systems thinker who can see cross-organizational functions and design workable solutions.

- Self-starter

- Demonstrated problem solver with the ability to build trust and work effectively across diverse teams and stakeholder groups both individually and within a team.

- Strong intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Our Benefits

Our Benefits Benefits highlights include but are not limited to (a) 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%, (b) health insurance with no deductible (c) dental insurance, (d) vision insurance, (e) copay assistance through an employer-funded health reimbursement account, (f) short-term disability coverage, (g) long term disability coverage, (h) paid parental leave, (i) voluntary insurances such as accident insurance, (j) health care flexible spending, (k) dependent care flexible spending, (l) paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty, (m) office closure between December 24 Jan 1 each calendar year, (n) flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek, (o) tuition and staff development reimbursement, (p) pet insurance, and (q) Employee Assistance Program.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter should succinctly describe your interest to join the team; why you are qualified; and what relevant expertise and experience you offer. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Compensation Overview

The salary market range for this role is posted above and dependent on level of education and years of experience. We value internal and external equity and encourage those who may be missing qualifications to submit their materials still.

Our Values

Cooperation and Teamwork, Forthright Feedback, Initiative, Acceptance of Responsibility, Multicultural Sensitivity

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment by hiring, training, promoting, and carrying out personnel procedures with respect to compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, or terminations, on the basis of individual merit, experience, and ability without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture, length of hair, protective hairstyles or cultural or religious headdresses), color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), ancestry, citizenship status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, military service, serious medical condition, expunged juvenile record, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a victim, credit information, homelessness status, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by law or otherwise.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information.

Non-Smoking Organization

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a Non-Smoking organization. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy at all times, including, but not limited to indoor and outdoor grounds, walkways and sidewalks, parking lots, company vehicles, and private vehicles parked on Lincoln Institute of Land Policy property.

MA Polygraph Statement

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.