Deputy Intergovernmental Relations Officer - Grants Liaison; Assistant Director; Exe Lev

Overview

The Deputy Intergovernmental Relations Officer (Grants Liaison) leads the City’s strategic efforts to identify, pursue, and secure federal, state, philanthropic, and private grant funding for City programs and major capital projects. The position serves as the central Citywide coordinator for grant strategy, working across City departments to identify funding opportunities, support the development of competitive grant proposals, and strengthen Houston’s capacity to secure external funding.

The role collaborates closely with City leadership and departments to align grant opportunities with major City priorities, including infrastructure investment, resiliency and disaster mitigation, transportation improvements, public safety initiatives, and community development programs.

• Research potential grant opportunities, analyze legislative and regulatory changes, and develop grant funding strategies aligned with the City’s goals.
• Respond to and resolve sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources.
• Research and monitor City impact, consult with the City’s Legal Department, provide analysis, and develop an advocacy for the City’s agenda.
• Develop and implement short-and-long-range plans, policies, procedures, and programs.
• Develop and implement a citywide grant strategy that aligns funding opportunities with the City’s strategic priorities and capital investment needs.
• Identify and prioritize high‑value grant opportunities and coordinate cross‑departmental teams to pursue competitive funding.
• Support City departments in preparing competitive grant proposals, including proposal strategy, narrative development, budget preparation, data analysis, and compliance review.
• Develop and maintain a citywide grant opportunity tracker and quarterly report identifying funding opportunities, applications submitted, and funds secured.
• Prepare business planning reports, memoranda, and correspondence on departmental policies and activities.
• Track federal and state funding opportunities and deadlines, including discretionary grants, infrastructure funding programs, and legislative appropriations relevant to City priorities.
• Develop tools, templates, and internal processes to improve coordination and capacity for grant development and management across City departments.
• Provide oral and written testimony.
• Serve as a resource to City leadership and departments regarding federal and state funding opportunities and grant strategy.
• Manage the Intergovernmental Relations team.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or a closely related field.

Seven years of administrative experience are required, with at least three of those years in a managerial capacity. A Master's degree may be substituted for two years of experience.

• Knowledge of funding guidelines, services, compliance and reporting for federal, state, and local grant funding.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, statutes, and regulations related to grant programs.
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of grant programs.
• Ability to travel to more than one work location.
• Experience in managing the oversight of grant compliance, reporting, and management.
• Experience coordinating citywide or multi‑department grant strategies within a large public‑sector organization.
• Demonstrated success securing competitive federal or state grants, particularly infrastructure or discretionary grants (e.g., USDOT, FEMA, HUD, EPA).
• Experience working with federal or state appropriations, grant programs, or government funding processes.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and pursuing competitive grant opportunities tied to infrastructure, resiliency, public safety, or capital investment projects.

Requires lifting of moderately heavy items weighing up to 40 pounds. May experience long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. May be exposed to various weather conditions on outside assignments.

Pay Grade: 32. Factors used in…