We’re Hiring: BSK Grants & Evaluation Manager

Overview
For three decades, School’s Out Washington (SOWA) has served a critical role to advance equitable expanded learning ecosystems in Washington state. We work to ensure high-quality afterschool and summer programs are available, so all of Washington’s youth—and especially low-income youth and youth of color—can have the opportunities they deserve to thrive. SOWA is dedicated to building responsive community systems to support quality afterschool, youth development, and summer programs for Washington’s children and youth ages 5 through young adulthood.

Position Summary
The BSK Grants & Evaluation Manager provides management for the King County Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Expanded Learning strategy, with primary responsibility for contract monitoring and compliance, internal grant administration and operations, grant and contract management systems, program evaluation, technical assistance for grantees, partnership development, and reporting. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining operational systems and processes that support effective grant implementation, compliance, data management, and continuous improvement.

Working in close coordination with the King County Expanded Learning Systems Director, the BSK Grants & Evaluation Manager helps ensure the successful implementation of the King County Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Expanded Learning contract. This role provides responsive, equity-centered support that helps grantees navigate requirements, strengthen organizational capacity, and achieve project outcomes while maintaining accountability to contractual and fiscal expectations. By balancing partnership with accountability, the Grants & Evaluation Manager advances high-quality grant administration, promotes equitable access to resources and supports, and helps programs succeed in delivering meaningful outcomes for youth and communities. This position also supervises the BSK Administrative Coordinator.

Reports to: King County Expanded Learning Systems Director

Location: Remote from anywhere within reasonable commuting distance to program sites in King County, or from our home office in Tukwila, Washington (625 Andover Park W, Ste 101, Tukwila Washington). This position will require regular attendance at meetings and events in King County and reliable transportation to travel to and from meetings and event locations.

Responsibilities

Ensure Contract Compliance and Efficient Grants Management Systems (50%)

• Develop and maintain comprehensive and efficient grant and contract management systems using Smartsheet, Alchemer, Excel, and Basecamp to support contract data, fiscal tracking, reporting, and grantee engagement;  
• Develop and manage grant reporting processes, including review of reports in partnership with the Director, BSK Team, Finance team and strategic consultants;
• Create reporting toolkits for grantees to support grantee compliance and successful submission of deliverables;
• Manage contract development, documentation, and monitoring processes to ensure compliance, accountability, and timely completion of requirements;
• Identify and resolve compliance issues while providing support and guidance to grantees;
• Manage payment processes, including developing payment schedules, submitting invoices for Director approval, and verifying completion of contract deliverables prior to payment;
• Manage the contract monitoring process in partnership with the Director, BSK Administrative Coordinator, finance team, and strategic consultants, including coordination of external fiscal review and conducting monitoring site visits and meetings with grantees.

Ensure Continuous Learning and Accountability through Well-Managed Project and Grantee Program Evaluation (25%)

• Develop and manage evaluation plan for SOWA to King County and develop systems for BSK team to monitor ongoing grantee progress and program measures in Smartsheet;
• Develop grantee evaluation plans in partnership with grantees and provide technical assistance to support data collection, reporting and continuous improvement;
• Manage program data systems, including Smartsheet tracking, survey administration, and Program Quality data collection and reporting;
• Serve as day-to-day contact for contracted program evaluator, providing project coordination, administrative support, and thought partnership to support evaluation activities and deliverables;
•  Prepare data reports, draft evaluation materials, and support development of reports for Director review and submission;
• Collaborate with the BSK Team to review, analyze, and reflect on program data, including Youth Program Quality, Performance and Youth Outcomes -to inform continuous improvement;
• Collaborate with SOWA evaluation team to align BSK evaluation efforts with broader organizational learning goals and objectives;
• Develop project content and materials to communicate program impact, lessons learned and evaluation findings through websites, communications, conferences, and presentations.

Provide Supervision for BSK Administrative Coordinator (15%)

• Provide supervision and support to the BSK Administrative Coordinator; ensuring grant-making and programmatic administrative needs are met.

Support Grantees to Be Successful (10%)

• Serve as a key point of contact for grantees, providing guidance and support related to contract administration, reporting requirements, and evaluation;  
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative partnerships with grantees to support successful grant implementation;
• Provide technical assistance, resources and guidance to support grantee compliance, data collection, reporting and continuous improvement;
• Support grantee capacity-building efforts, as needed;
• Coordinate and support grantee convenings, learning opportunities, and other engagement activities as needed.

Award Process Management:

• Provide support for future grant-making efforts, including development of RFP materials, coordination of evaluation and review processes, facilitation of grant review teams and management of grant timeline and award activities as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Commitment to addressing racism, sexism, heterosexism and other discriminatory practices;
• Commitment to working toward racial equity through undoing institutional and structural racism, including active participation in organizational learning;
• Participate in related project meetings and bi-weekly staff meetings;
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization at all times both formally and informally;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Four+ years of work experience in youth development, expanded learning, K-12 education, grant making, or other related field;
• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred, in social service, public administration, education, child and youth development, recreation, or related field;
• Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices, and understanding of the effects of place, race- and policy & systems-based inequities on marginalized communities;
• Experience working toward racial equity in organizations and/or communities;
• Strong organizational skills and project management experience required;
• Experience with program outcome evaluation design and/or implementation required;
• Experience designing and managing projects in Smartsheet or similar project management/technical platform strongly preferred;
• Experience structuring one’s work to meet grant requirements;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to grasp new knowledge and approaches and to quickly become an expert in new skills;
• Excellent communication skills and positive customer service abilities;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize among multiple tasks;
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database systems (Salesforce and Smartsheet experience preferred);
• Must be able to independently travel and transport training supplies between work-related appointments; Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including some evening and weekend work.

Salary, Hours, and Benefits

40 hours per week, Monday-Friday and occasional weekends; Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification: Salaried Exempt

Hiring Range: Pay band 26; $72,000-$87,000 starting annual salary range based on relevant experience. Over time, the employee in this role may earn up to $101,000 per year with additional years of service at SOWA.  

Benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, 403b retirement savings plan, and generous paid time off. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter as one document through our online portal: https://secure.entertimeonline.com/ta/624.careers?ApplyToJob=822334480&full_apply=&jobid=822334480

Please complete the full application, including all supplemental questions. A cover letter of no more than two pages is required and should highlight how your experience, interests, and passions align with the position and School’s Out Washington’s mission and work. You’ll receive a confirmation email once your application is successfully submitted.

Applications received by August 14, 2026, will receive full consideration. Applications will continue to be accepted after this date. However, preferential consideration is given to those resumes submitted by the best consideration date. The announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. 

Our Equity Commitment: School’s Out Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and has a commitment to addressing racism, sexism, heterosexism and other discriminatory practices and a commitment to working toward racial equity through undoing institutional and structural racism. People of Color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to apply.