About the role
Position: Associate Director, Government Funding
Department: Institutional Giving, Advancement & Innovation
Role Overview: An integral leader and subject matter expert in Advancement & Innovation (A&I), the Associate Director, Government Funding owns Lincoln Center's government fundraising function end to end - strategy, goal setting, agency relationships, applications, reporting, compliance systems, and the internal structure that keeps the work moving. The portfolio spans city, state, and federal sources (DCLA, NYSCA, ESD, DASNY, USDOE, EDC, DDC) and currently carries 8-10 active or pending awards representing more than $40M in committed and expected funds, weighted toward multimillion-dollar capital agreements alongside operating grants.
The Associate Director carries complex applications, requisitions, and compliance obligations personally while supervising one coordinator and contributing to cross-functional strategy. The ideal candidate has an advanced command of government funding at the city, state, and federal level - ideally at an arts or cultural institution - and deep, hands-on experience with government capital funding from application through drawdown and closeout. They are meticulously detail-oriented, systems-minded, comfortable carrying personal compliance responsibility under federal Uniform Guidance and state and city procurement law, and able to hold multiple shifting priorities across a highly matrixed environment.
What you'll get to do here
Own government fundraising strategy and goal setting across operating and capital lines, and supports the setting of annual revenue targets for the function.
Serve as agency-level liaison for every funding stream, managing relationships with program officers at several agencies, and stay abreast of elected official engagement and overlap, which sits with the Government Relations team.
Lead the full lifecycle for each opportunity - strategy, project selection, narrative, budgets, certifications and assurances, and attachments - and personally drive the most complex city, state, and federal capital and operating applications to submission.
Manage post-award execution: contract review and negotiation routing with LCPA's in-house counsel, internal recordkeeping, kickoff meetings with project staff, and standing up the workstreams each new award opens.
Own compliance across the portfolio, including procurement and MWBE documentation, requisition and reimbursement processing, drawdowns, monthly certifications, quarterly reconciliations, federal financial and programmatic reporting, and audit readiness, in partnership with other LCPA business units.
Shepherd capital payment requisitions from start to finish, coordinating financial backup from project and finance partners.
In partnership with Coordinator, maintain city, state, and federal prequalification and registration systems (SAM.gov, login.gov, PIP, state and city portals).
Supervise the Government Funding Coordinator, delegating boilerplate proposals and reports, training on portals and systems, and serving as expert reviewer and sounding board.
Run and iterate on the internal operating rhythm of the function working cross-departmentally and cross-functionally on structures needed for each distinct award, aligning budgets, contracts, compliance, and deliverables across every stakeholder.
Steward funders at the agency level in coordination with A&I Operations, managing crediting and recognition requirements.
Monitor the landscape for new city, state, and federal opportunities, assess fit and feasibility, and set strategy for pursuit.
You'll be a fit if you bring
5-7+ years of government grants experience, with a demonstrated record leading large, complex city, state, and federal applications, awards, and post-award compliance - ideally at an arts or cultural institution.
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field a plus.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills in a highly matrixed environment, and a genuine enthusiasm for Lincoln Center's mission.
Direct, hands-on experience with a self-managed government capital award from application through drawdown, requisition, and closeout.
Working knowledge of federal Uniform Guidance, MWBE and procurement requirements, and government portals and reporting systems (SAM.gov, login.gov, PIP, agency-specific systems).
Experience managing or mentoring staff, with the judgment to delegate effectively while retaining ownership of the most complex work.
Fluency with CRM and project-management tools (Tessitura, Monday.com) and strong systems-building instincts for tracking deadlines, deliverables, and compliance documentation.
Exceptional, precise writing skills.
Meticulous attention to detail, comfort carrying personal compliance responsibility, and the ability to stay accurate under shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
What is Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts?
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. (LCPA) is a cultural and civic cornerstone of New York City. We believe the arts play an important role in our lives: they nourish our hearts and minds, teach us valuable lessons and critical skills, and help us create community. We invite you to consider joining our talented, multi-faceted team.
We are
1. The manager of the 16-acre Lincoln Center campus
-We are one of eleven amazing resident arts organizations
2. A leading Arts Presenter.
-We curate numerous programs and performances, showcasing music, dance, and more
3. An Education Hub.
-We have reached 20 million students, educators, principals, and community members
Who are our people?
LCPA is a team of dreamers, collaborators, and entrepreneurs who use unique platforms in the heart of New York City and beyond to advocate for the transformative impact of artistic experiences.
Lincoln Center People imagine and create in concert with this mission by founding President John D. Rockefeller III - "The arts are not for the privileged few, but for the many. Their place is not on the periphery of daily life, but at its center."
We welcome applicants from all sectors who agilely solve problems, show up as they are, and can't stop innovating.
What's the news?
Recent and Upcoming Programming
Lincoln Center Reveals 25/26 Season Featuring Jeanine Tesori as Visionary Artist
Kyle Abraham's 20 Years of Urgency at Lincoln Center Rose Theatre
Campus Happenings
Lincoln Center Gets $50 Million Gift to Promote Contemporary Dance
The new JFK terminal will show iconic artworks from MoMA, the Met and Lincoln Center
Legacies of San Juan Hill
WNYC: Lincoln Center Celebrates 'Legacies of San Juan Hill
Lincoln Center Launches San Juan Hill Project Digital Hub To Remember the Lost Urban Neighborhood
Who is our President and CEO?
Dr. Mariko Silver
Join us!
It is the policy of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, marital or civil partnership/union status, familial or caregiver status, alienage or citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, military or veteran status, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, unemployment status, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. LCPA is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.
If you require reasonable accommodation in locating open positions, completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Abigail Worsnip at (212) 875-5324.