Santa Margarita Water District

Grant Analyst

Onsite - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Full-Time
Application Deadline: 6/9/25

Recruitment may be extended. The first review of applications will take place on May 27, 2025, at 8:00 AM. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply early for full consideration. 

Meet Santa Margarita Water District 

Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region’s largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship. 

Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters. 

Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD’s goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies. 

Santa Margarita Water District’s values include: 

  • Exemplary service excellence 
  • Intelligent innovation that is forward-thinking and adaptive 
  • Ethical fiscal responsibility and transparency 
  • Environmental and resource stewardship 
  • Employee development and leadership training 
  • Building relationships that strengthen communities 

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions. 

JOB SUMMARY 

Under general direction, this role drives grant research, acquisition, and management. Collaborating with District departments, external organizations, consultants, and government agencies, the position ensures timely submittal and high-quality management of grants. This position monitors funding opportunities, ensures compliance, and supports District goals and objectives, in addition to performing related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 

Under general direction, this role requires a broad range of administrative and analytical skills to support the strategic goals and projects of the District. This position involves time-sensitive grant program coordination, demanding independent judgment and strategic problem-solving. Tasks are varied and complex, requiring self-directed goal-setting and planning. Work is reviewed for accuracy and adherence to policy and requirements.

Essential Functions:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS 

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

  1. Identifies, secures, and manages grants aligned with the District’s strategic goals and projects.
  2. Conducts in-depth research on water-related regulations and trends to inform grant applications and strategies.
  3. Build and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  4. Oversees all aspects of grant administration, including writing, reporting, invoicing, budgeting, and compliance.
  5. Seeks and disseminates information about departmental activities, projects, and resources available throughout the District. 
  6. Recommends improvements to District programs, policies, and procedures, including records management and ensures compliance with the District’s records retention policy.
  7. Prepares and presents clear and concise reports to internal and external stakeholders.
  8. Ensures timely submission of grant proposals, and related documentation.
  9. Resolves pre-award contractual or program issues in coordination with other District departments.
  10. Coordinates and attends meetings related to grant programs with various stakeholders.
  11. Adheres to all District safety rules and regulations.
  12. Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience:

Any combination of education and/or experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for acceptable job performance is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: 

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business, public administration, communication, environmental or earth sciences, engineering, or a related field and at least two (2) years of progressively responsible experience performing analysis and research in grant acquisition and compliance; demonstrated ability in grant writing.

Experience in water and wastewater in a public utility is desirable.

Knowledge of:

  1. Grant acquisition and administration process.
  2. Principles and practices of research and analysis.
  3. Applicable state and federal grant programs.
  4. English language proficiency, including writing, editing, proofreading, and presenting.
  5. Principles, practices, and methods of effective grant proposal writing and administration.
  6. Methods and techniques of researching grant opportunities and external funding sources.
  7. Providing high-level customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
  8. Community needs, resources, and services.
  9. Group dynamics and meeting facilitation techniques.

Ability to:

  1. Prepare high quality written materials incorporating technical information in an understandable manner.
  2. Build strong working relationships through excellent communication and teamwork with internal and external stakeholders.
  3. Operate standard office equipment, software, and audio-visual technology.
  4. Understand the organization, policies, procedures, and operating details of the District.
  5. Demonstrate strong analytical skills, critical thinking, and ability to synthesize information from diverse sources.
  6. Exercise sound judgment and discretion in daily tasks.
  7. Research and analyze environmental, legislative, and inter-governmental issues.
  8. Handle demanding deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.

Additional Information:

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; reach with hands and arms; and perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists. The employee is frequently required to lift and carry up to 25 pounds unaided. The employee must possess the ability to successfully operate a motor vehicle.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands 

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads, interprets, synthesizes, and presents data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathematical reasoning; uses creative skills to produce educational content; observes and interprets people and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, interruptions, and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee generally works in an office environment where the noise level is usually quiet.

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