Director Grants Administration Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Department of Public Works currently has one (1) opening available for Grants Administration Officer in the Grants Administration Division under the Business Operations Bureau. Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $130,064.48 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

The City of Long Beach is located south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, making it an idyllic location with oceanside activities, diverse culture, and a unique economy. Long Beach is home to approximately 470,000 residents living across the area's 51 square miles, including 166 parks with 27 community centers and many public spaces. This community is one of the most diverse in the United States, making it an excellent place to learn about and immerse yourself in various cultures. When you live in Long Beach, you get to enjoy the Southern California climate all year long, making surfing, hiking, golfing, and other outdoor activities popular in this area. Biking is a favorite pastime among residents, as this area is bike friendly. Walking around town is also easy, considering the City was rated the 10th "Most Walkable City" of over 100 cities globally. Long Beach features six miles of beaches and many parks and public spaces, as well as the Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Long Beach is a full-service Charter City formed in 1897, governed by nine City Council members who are elected by district and a mayor that is elected at-large. Elected officials also include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The Council Members and the Mayor are subject to a three-term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of 12 years. The City Council appoints a City Manager and a City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Public Works is a department under the direction of the City Manager, and this position will engage in work requiring coordination with the Mayor.

Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments. The City is supported by a FY 2026 annual budget of $3.7 billion with a General Fund budget of $760 million. More than 6,000 full- and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven recognized employee associations.

The mission of the Department of Public Works is "to maintain and enhance the City's infrastructure and environment for the benefit of the public." The Department's core services are focused on providing for and maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure for the community, providing for sustainable environmental protection including water quality, and safely and efficiently designing, constructing, delivering, protecting, and maintaining services for public facilities and public rights-of-way. The Department has six bureaus: Business Operations, Engineering, Project Management, Public Service, Transportation Project Management, and Transportation Services. The Department has over 532 budgeted positions with an expense budget of $263 million and an annual capital improvement program budget of $200 million.

The Grant Administration Officer (GAO) is an unclassified, at-will management position that reports to the Business Operations Bureau Manager and will oversee internal grant coordination Department-wide, grant opportunity assessment, leading the Department's most critical and complex application efforts, working and coordinating with external granting agencies (SCAG, Metro, etc.), and coordinating and working in tandem with the Government Affairs Office in the City Manager's Office. For the next two years, the Mayor of Long Beach has been selected and will serve on the 13-member LA Metro Board of Directors, as the representative for the Gateway Cities region of Los Angeles County.

This position is also responsible for coordinating and providing timely information to the City Manager's Office and Mayor's Office regarding matters before the LA Metro Board of Directors that may affect the Department's programs, projects, and funding priorities. This includes monitoring upcoming Metro Board and committee actions, identifying potential funding opportunities or policy decisions impacting the Department, and coordinating with Department leadership and subject matter experts to develop relevant information, recommendations, and funding priorities. The position serves as a key liaison to ensure the Mayor's Office is informed of Department priorities and has the necessary information to advocate for projects, programs, and funding opportunities that benefit the City and align with City priorities as outlined by the City Manager's Office.

The position will maintain Department-wide best practices in regard to applying for, securing, expending, and tracking grant funds. The position plays a critical role in supporting the Department's capital and infrastructure programs, including Elevate '28, Renew '32, and other major investment initiatives that rely on federal, state, regional, and local grant funding. The Grants Administration Officer will oversee one (1) Administrative Analyst III and one (1) Assistant Administrative Analyst II. The Grants Administration Officer also manages consultant support, as needed, while building internal capacity to prepare competitive grant applications and administer awards.

Duties for this position include:

• Responsible for seeking Federal, State, County, and other agency grant opportunities and identifying current or upcoming CIP projects which meet grant eligibility.
• Works with Department and City leadership to determine which grant opportunities to pursue.
• Oversees the Department's most critical and complex application efforts.
• Works in tandem with the Government Affairs Office in the City Manager's Office.
• Acts as an external affairs liaison to inter-government agencies (LA Metro, SCAG, County, State, and Federal legislature, etc.) to coordinate Department of Public Works external funding sources.
• Responsible for monitoring LA Metro Board of Directors and committee activities and providing timely information, analysis, and recommendations to the Mayor's Office and Department leadership regarding actions that may affect Department projects, programs, and funding priorities.
• Coordinates with the Mayor's Office, City Manager's Office, and Department leadership to develop and communicate Public Works funding priorities and support City advocacy for regional, State, and Federal infrastructure funding.
• Serves as a public-facing representative of the Department at meetings, briefings, and other engagements with elected officials, regional, State, and Federal agencies, funding partners, and external stakeholders to communicate Department priorities, advocate for infrastructure funding, advance grant and capital investment opportunities, and strengthen intergovernmental partnerships.
• Maintain Department-wide best practices regarding applying for, securing, expending, and tracking grant funds.
• Responsible for coordinating responses to audits relating to grant funds.
• Plans and tracks grant funds received and expended in the Elevate '28 and Renew '32 Infrastructure Investment Plans.
• Responsible for the management of the $1.25 billion Elevate '28 and forthcoming Renew '32 Infrastructure Investment Plans.
• Oversees a team of in-house and consultant grant writers.
• Manages a bench of consultants who are available to assist with grant writing opportunities and complex cost/benefit analyses, as needed.

Minimum Requirements

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree (proof required).
• Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Experience:

• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience managing and/or administering publicly funded projects or programs or performing other related grant management activities.
• One (1) year of the required experience must have been at a lead or supervisory level.

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required prior to appointment.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in managing and/or administering grant funded projects or programs.
• Experience in applying for and securing Federal, State, County, or other agency grant funding.
• Experience supervising consultants and contractors.
• Experience with providing support to an elected official or their office.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with competing deadlines and priorities.

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Friday, September 25, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and