DEPT OF EMERGENCY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR), Phoenix, AZ

Salary: UP TO $34.6632 per hour (DOE) 

Grade: 23

Closing Date: FEBRUARY 12, 2026

The Grant Manager position is a branch manager responsible for providing full grant lifecycle assistance through FEMA and State preparedness and response grant programs. This position works with the Grants Administrator in developing and writing/rewriting of Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona Administrative Codes, and appropriation bills related to border security and preparedness grants, as well as the State's response to proposed changes in federal laws/policies/regulations regarding border security, preparedness, and response grant activities. This role is responsible for supervising the operations and daily activities of emergency management grant staff in their duties and responsibilities of managing and administering federal and state border security, preparedness and response grant programs, to include but not limited to: FEMA's Emergency Management Performance (EMPG) grant, Search and Rescue (SAR), Nuclear Emergency Management Fund (NEMF), Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), State Border Security Fund, and State sponsored preparedness and response projects. This position provides expert-level technical assistance and communication to internal agencies, local, state, and federal officials on preparedness grant activities that support federal and state programs, and collaborates with local agencies to develop effective, compliant projects. Prepares for anytime (24/7) response and no-notice recalls to the State or Alternate Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), and/or Joint Field Office (JFO), and/or the State Recovery Operations Center (SROC) during disaster or exercise activations. Trains for specific SEOC/SROC positions and perform duties as assigned through internal agency policy. This position oversees and empowers border security, preparedness, and response grant staff by managing long-term milestones. Actively participates in promoting a continuous improvement of workplace culture, through the use of teamwork, root cause problem solving, standard operating procedures, and review of performance metrics.

Responsibilities include:
• Oversees and empowers border security, preparedness and response grant staff by managing daily activities and long-term milestones, implementing leadership best practices, and driving professional development through coaching and mentoring. Leads the preparedness and response grant team in evaluating grant applications, verifying completeness and accuracy of all documentation, and ensuring strict compliance with state and federal eligibility standards.
• Directs allocation of reservist and FTE assignments, work schedules, hours, and certifies timekeeping and billing records against documented daily activities for each preparedness and response grant being billed.
• Provides leadership and direction to managers, supervisors, and professional staff across State and local agencies in emergency management. Conducts technical review of training material and able to instruct and facilitate FEMA classes, DEMA classes, grant information outreach, workshops, seminars, and internal programmatic training for stakeholders, applicants, and staff. Represents the organization by attending and presenting at industry forums, leadership round tables, regional and national emergency management gatherings, training institutes and stakeholder workshops, executive briefings and collaborative planning sessions, professional associations and networking events.
• Designs, deploys, and administers digital and physical file systems, while developing and refining official forms, templates, presentations, and operational tools. Ensures comprehensive technical and logistical support for grant program operations, maintaining rigorous control over records management, system integrity, and secure backup protocols.
• Initiates and provides outreach, and directs interfaces with stakeholders, officials and representatives at federal, State and local government levels, and Private Non-Profits in the application and management of multiple border security and preparedness grant programs.
• Maintains the branch annual updates to the administrative plans. Regularly evaluates, establishes, and manages budget of available management costs. Continually evaluates changing conditions, provides recommendations to the Grants Administrator. Also, the position determines funding availability, determines workload, and assignments for staff.
• Acts as a principal liaison between grant staff at FEMA, DEMA-EM, and all Sub-Applicants to ensure seamless coordination and compliance with program requirements. Authorizes and maintains State and sub-applicants' access to State and federal systems, including: eCivis, eGrants, FEMA GO, and NEMIS while safeguarding integrity and operational continuity.
• Acquires the requisite qualifications for SEOC positions and fulfills assigned duties consistent with organizational standards and regulatory mandates established by emergency management frameworks.

Knowledge of:
• Processes and procedures utilized in delivering FEMA's preparedness grant programs.
• Laws, rules and regulations related to FEMA's preparedness grant programs, to include 2 CFR and federal and state procurement requirements.
• Arizona Emergency Management programs including EMPG,SAR, EMAC, AZMAC, and NEMF.
• Problems and limitations specific to natural and man-made disasters.
• Program management and end-to-end project delivery and oversight.

Skilled in:
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of management and staff.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications.
• Using computer systems, (e.g., Microsoft Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Google, etc.) as well as internal databases (e.g., FEMA GO, eGrants etc.).
• Advanced level problem-solving and analysis.
• Interpreting and applying complex regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Ability to:
• Listen effectively and take action based on communication received.
• Mentor, coach, and counsel subordinate staff.
• Manage multiple requests simultaneously, meet deadlines, and show flexibility to change direction when needed.
• Work collaboratively across all levels of the organization with a team-oriented mindset.
• Improve operations, decrease turnaround times, and streamline work processes

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described. The preferred candidate will have K/E708 Procurement Under Grants, K/E705 Fundamentals of Grants Management within 1 year of hire. Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or Master Emergency Manager certifications preferred. Credentialed through Arizona Qualification System. Five or more years of FEMA grant program or DEMA grant program systems experience. 

Special Job Requirements:
• This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid Arizona state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
• U. S Passport to travel for Bi national Committee meetings/conferences.
• AZ DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background investigation as well as possess the ability to achieve a favorable Tier 1 investigation for the purpose of obtaining/maintaining a Common Access Card (CAC) within one year of hire to permit federal IT system access.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, public administration, business administration, emergency management, related field or 4 years of relevant work experience
• Minimum 2 years of emergency management finance or grant related experience.
• Minimum 1 year of supervisory experience. ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800, and FEMA Professional Development Series. IS-1002 FEMA Grants Portal.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Eligible DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@azdema.gov.
DEMA is a smoke-free work environment.
ADA/EEO Employer
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Employer