Grants Specialist

GRANT SPECIALIST

Job Overview

Provide professional Grants Management services to support Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs. Activities include, but are not limited to, all pre-award, award, post-award activities/requirements including budgetary and financial analysis of funding applications; review and analysis of grantee financial reports, information, and indicators; provision of accurate and timely regulatory and fiscal policy guidance to Head Start grantees; review and analysis of grantee waiver requests; review and analysis of applications for facility construction, purchase, and major renovation; and various activities related to the identification and mitigation of grantee risk factors, correction of regulatory compliance issues, and improvement of Head Start grantee performance. Assist Federal staff with conducting Enhanced Financial Reviews.

Responsibilities will include the following duties:

• Review applications so that they may be funded 30 days prior to a grantee's refunding date.
• Prepare continuation Financial Assistance Awards (FAAs) with cover letters for mailing out 30 days prior to a grantee's refunding date.
• Prepare and track grants through review and funding process.
• Monitor timeliness, receipt and accuracy of grant applications, financial reporting documents and financial drawdowns.
• Correspond with grantee staff on a regular basis.
• Monitor ongoing fiscal performance of grantees, evaluation of required fiscal reports, wage comparability study; resolution of audit findings and recommendations; and resolution of community/individual complaints.
• Prepare grant closeouts. Deliverables include a completed closeout checklist, assurance that reports and audits have been reviewed for completeness and correctness, a closeout letter that is sent to the grantee, and a closeout award processed in the Grants Solutions software system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college, with a preference for a degree in Accounting, Business Management, or a related field.
• Background and training in accounting and/or financial management, including audit resolution activities.
• At least 5 years' experience related to federal discretionary grants management non-profit or for-profit financial management, and regulatory compliance monitoring and oversight.
• Knowledge and experience with the administration of discretionary grants is required; with a preference (not requirement) for Head Start/Early Head Start Programs.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate (both verbally and orally), exercise sound judgment, ask questions and be open to the input and decisions of others.
• Experience aggregating, analyzing, charting, graphing and reporting on and presenting data gathered from multiple sources.
• Strong organizational, administrative and project coordination skills, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with staff, clients, remote colleagues and supervisors, and others.
• Able to, both independently and collaboratively, solve problems, make decisions and support change.
• Computer, Internet and general proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word and PowerPoint; advanced knowledge and experience with Microsoft Excel is required; experience with Grant Solutions preferred.
• Ability to work independently and provide accurate deliverables on schedule.
• Ability to acquire government public trust.