Grant Program Manager

Automation Alley is seeking a Grant Program Manager to manage our federal and state-funded grant programs.

Automation Alley is seeking a Grant Program Manager to manage our federal and state-funded grant programs.

Automation Alley is Michigan’s Digital Transformation Insight Center, a nonprofit technology business association accelerating the growth and global competitiveness of businesses through Industry 4.0 technologies and innovation. With a regional foundation of more than 4,300 member companies spanning all 83 Michigan counties, we unite industry, academia, and government to drive technological adoption, workforce development, and economic prosperity.

As a member of the operations team, the Grant Program Manager runs active grant programs from award through closeout: following the terms of each contract, tracking deliverables and metrics, managing budgets, coordinating partner organizations, and preparing funder reports. This person also contributes to new proposals as part of the grant team.

Many programs are delivered with universities, industry organizations, and government agencies, where deliverables require several organizations to work together. Because these programs help manufacturers adopt technologies like automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, the right candidate brings technical aptitude and curiosity. An understanding of data analytics is a plus.

This position is full-time (M–F, 8:30 – 5:00), based at our Troy, Michigan headquarters, with occasional travel to partner sites and member companies. There is opportunity for hybrid schedule. Some responsibilities may involve federally funded programs and contracts that require compliance with applicable U.S. regulations and eligibility requirements.

• Manage a portfolio of federal, state, and foundation-funded grant programs from award through closeout
• Read and follow grant agreements and scopes of work, keeping activity within approved terms, timelines, and budgets
• Maintain compliance with federal and state grant requirements, and assist with audits and funder monitoring visits
• Manage grant budgets, track spend against approved line items, review invoices, and flag variances
• Track deliverables, milestones, and program metrics, keeping documentation audit-ready
• Prepare and submit programmatic and financial reports on each funder’s schedule, and keep leadership current on progress and risks
• Coordinate multi-organization projects: lead partner check-ins, administer subawards and MOUs, and consolidate partner progress, invoicing, and data into reporting
• Serve on the proposal team for new federal and state opportunities, contributing narrative, budget detail, and required documentation
• Work with marketing on participant recruitment and funder acknowledgment language, and with IT on data collection and CRM tracking

• 2+ years in grant administration, program management, or federally funded program support
• Working knowledge of federal or state grant compliance and reporting requirements
• Experience managing budgets, tracking deliverables against a contract, and preparing reports
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and external partners simultaneously
• Technical aptitude and curiosity, with the ability to learn and speak credibly about the technologies our programs deliver
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, excellent written and verbal communication, and exceptional attention to detail
• Collaborative team player with a problem-solving mindset and strong time management
• Proficient in Microsoft 365; experience with tools like Trello and a CRM like Zoho or similar
• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, engineering, or a related field preferred

• Experience with Department of Defense contracts or federal programs such as EDA, NIST MEP, DOE, NSF, or DOL

• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and 14 paid holidays annually. Additionally, Automation Alley observes extended time off during the year-end holiday period between late December and early January.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth