Education Project Manager - Grants

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) is seeking a collaborative and systems-minded professional to serve as the Grants Management Education Project Manager, a role responsible for coordinating and improving the systems and processes that support education grants across the Agency.

Each year, the Agency oversees hundreds of millions of dollars in grants supporting Vermont's schools, students, and communities. Ensuring these funds are administered responsibly and efficiently requires strong systems, clear processes, and coordinated leadership.

This position serves as the operational lead for the Agency's Grants Management System (GMS) and helps coordinate how grant programs are designed, implemented, monitored, and closed out across the Agency. The role works closely with program, fiscal, monitoring, and technology teams to ensure the Agency's grants infrastructure operates as a coordinated and transparent system.
Rather than managing a single program, this role works across divisions and funding streams to support a cohesive enterprise grants management framework that promotes compliance, transparency, and effective service to Vermont school districts.

The ideal candidate enjoys solving complex operational challenges, improving systems and processes, and collaborating across teams to strengthen how public programs are delivered.

This position will:

• Lead the Agency's Grants Management System
  
  • Serve as the functional owner and operational lead for the Agency's Grants Management System (GMS)
  • Guide system improvements to support evolving federal and state requirements
  • Coordinate with the Agency of Digital Services and vendors on system design, testing, and enhancements
• Strengthen Grants Management Operations
  
  • Coordinate grants management processes across AOE divisions
  • Support consistent interpretation and implementation of grants requirements
  • Align program, fiscal, and monitoring workflows within a unified grants framework
• Support the Grant Lifecycle
  
  • Support lifecycle activities including application development, budgeting, reimbursements, monitoring, reporting, and closeout
  • Use system workflows and data to promote transparency, accountability, and consistency
• Lead Operational Improvements
  
  • Manage projects related to grants system modernization and process improvement
  • Support implementation of new federal or state requirements
  • Develop workplans and timelines for grants management initiatives
• Build Capacity and Collaboration
  
  • Develop guidance and tools to support consistent grants administration
  • Provide training and support to Agency staff and external partners using GMS
  • Collaborate with program, fiscal, and monitoring teams to strengthen grants operations

The AOE is committed to ensuring public funds are managed responsibly and that school districts can access and administer funding effectively. This position helps ensure the systems and processes behind education funding operate smoothly for both Agency staff and Vermont school districts, supporting fiscal stewardship, transparent government, and efficient public administration.

The ideal candidate will:

• Enjoy improving systems and operational processes
• Like working across teams to solve complex problems
• Be able to translate complex requirements into practical workflows
• Be comfortable balancing policy, technology, and operations
• Environmental Factors

  Work is performed in a standard office setting, but some travel may be required for which private means of transportation should be available. Work outside of regular business hours may be expected. Goal and result driven work schedule with related time and constituent pressures.