Company description

The LEAF Project is an innovative nonprofit organization at the intersection of youth development, sustainable agriculture, and food systems work in South Central Pennsylvania. Through meaningful responsibility and real-world work, LEAF cultivates youth leaders from diverse backgrounds while building a more resilient and equitable food system.

On our 7-acre home farm, youth work alongside adult staff to grow vegetables, prepare food, engage with the community, and build leadership and workforce readiness skills. Youth participate in year-round programming that challenges them to grow strong roots in themselves, their communities, and the future. At LEAF, we believe:

• young people grow through meaningful responsibility,
• leadership develops through trust and challenge,
• and strong systems create the conditions for people to thrive.

Job description

Salary: $50,000–65,000, commensurate with relevant experience, with opportunities for advancement and professional development

Position Overview

LEAF is seeking a highly organized, thoughtful, and collaborative Grants & Operations Manager to help strengthen the organizational systems that support our mission, staff team, and daily work. This role combines grants management, organizational operations, administrative coordination, and strong written communication.

The Grants & Operations Manager will help ensure that LEAF’s internal systems remain clear, reliable, compliant, and sustainable as the organization continues to grow and evolve. A significant part of this role involves translating the complexity and beauty of LEAF’s work into compelling, accurate, and well-organized grant proposals, reports, and organizational communications.

The ideal candidate is both highly detail-oriented and a strong writer — someone who enjoys building systems, organizing information, and helping mission-driven work become visible and well-supported. This is an ideal role for someone who:

• enjoys creating order, clarity, and reliable systems
• thrives in detail-oriented and process-driven work
• communicates clearly, thoughtfully, and proactively
• has strong writing and organizational skills
• and finds satisfaction in helping collaborative teams function sustainably and effectively.

The Grants & Operations Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and leadership team while maintaining clear ownership over operational systems, grant coordination, administrative follow-through, and organizational documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Grants Management (Approximately 60–70%)

• Maintain and improve LEAF’s grants management systems, including grant calendars, reporting trackers, budget trackers, and organized grant files
• Coordinate administrative components of grant implementation, including reimbursement reports, invoices, supporting documentation, and compliance materials
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to prepare grant application strategies, timelines, and required materials
• Draft first versions of grant proposals and reports using the style, structure, and substance of successful past LEAF grants
• Incorporate feedback and revisions from the Executive Director throughout the drafting process
• Coordinate final formatting, attachments, and submission logistics to ensure timely and accurate submissions
• Support grant research and help organize findings related to future funding opportunities aligned with LEAF’s mission and capacity
• Support the development and refinement of SOPs and guiding documents that strengthen clarity, consistency, and long-term sustainability in LEAF’s grants systems

Organizational Systems Management (Approximately 20–30%)

• Support organizational operations through strong administrative systems, clear documentation, and reliable follow-through
• Coordinate weekly administrative financial workflows, including invoice management, income tracking, and payroll submission preparation
• Help maintain compliance with organizational policies, employment practices, labor regulations, and required administrative systems
• Coordinate onboarding systems and administrative logistics for new staff, apprentices, and interns
• Support hiring processes through scheduling, applicant communication, and reference coordination
• Maintain organized personnel files, internal systems documents, templates, and operational records
• Help strengthen internal workflows, communication systems, and organizational coordination across LEAF’s teams Team

Participation & Community Support (Approximately 10%)

• Participate in regular staff meetings, planning processes, and collaborative organizational work
• Support occasional LEAF events, community gatherings, and shared organizational responsibilities
• Contribute to a positive, thoughtful, and collaborative staff culture rooted in LEAF’s values

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written communication skills
• Experience with grant administration, nonprofit operations, project coordination, or administrative systems (not required - we are ready to teach & train!)
• Ability to manage multiple timelines and priorities with clarity and follow-through
• Comfort working independently while communicating proactively
• Experience with spreadsheets, databases, and digital organizational systems
• Experience in nonprofit, educational, agricultural, or community-based organizations preferred
• Ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion

Schedule Expectations

Typical work hours will primarily occur during weekdays, with occasional evening or weekend responsibilities connected to:

• hiring processes
• staff onboarding
• organizational events
• or grant/project deadlines.

LEAF is committed to building sustainable staffing structures and clear systems that support both organizational excellence and staff wellbeing. Schedule details may shift slightly depending on seasonal programming and organizational needs.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline