Senior Grants Specialist

Senior Grant Specialist

Location (MANDATORY)

• Washington DC

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (MANDATORY)

There are three levels of education to consider: • A Master's Degree with 5 years of experience in transportation, infrastructure, or discretionary grant program administration. • A Bachelor's Degree with 10 years of experience in transportation, infrastructure, or discretionary grant program administration. • A high school diploma with 15 years of experience in transportation, infrastructure, or discretionary grant program administration.

EXPERIENCE (not MANDATORY)• Experience supporting thhe Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD). • Experience providing technical grant support in port and port related transportation, to include intermodal system development, railyards, docks and wharves, cargo yards, terminal operating systems, and other related port project types.• Ability to understand, interpret, and relate all manner of transportation and technical information pertaining to Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) program and policy development. • Broad scope of experience covering administrative, technical, and planning tasks related to a large number of diverse projects that cover virtually all phases of maritime and maritime related projects.

KNOWLEDGE (MANDATORY)• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, understand complex issues, maintain good working relations, and meet basic professional performance standards.• Ability to interpret, evaluate, and summarize complex issues relating to transportation infrastructure, ports, and the maritime industry.• Ability to perform complex administrative and analytical work relating to discretionary grants, cooperative agreements, and mandatory grants using financial, administrative, and business procedures.• Ability to facilitate modifications to terms and conditions of grants/assistance awards to include costs, schedules, and scope of projects as well as the ability to perform grant related administrative functions such as termination or closeout of grants and/or grants assistance and agreement awards.• Ability to review invoices for reimbursable agreements to ensure compliance with regulatory and policy standards and recommend payment and review as well as process quarterly, semi-annual, and/or annual reports submitted by grantees.• Comprehend Federal assistance regulations, policies, procedures, and practices to ensure appropriate oversight of a portfolio of Federal grants.

SKILLS (MANDATORY)

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work with all levels of management and staff.
• Must have the ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently and consistently meet deadlines.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing processes and priorities.
• Must have excellent communications (both verbal and written) skills to effectively communicate with a wide variety of individuals and groups.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS (MANDATORY)

• Resume
• LOC

REFERENCES (MANDATORY)

A minimum of 3 professional references as an attachment to the candidates resume and include the following information:

a. Name

b. Title

c. Company

d. Phone Number

e. Email Address

f. Affiliation

g. Length of Affiliation (How long have you known the candidate)

h. Recommendation Letter (attached on company letterhead) - preferred/not required

CONTRACT LENGTH

1 base year + 4 option years

POSITION DUTIES• Evaluates terms and conditions of grants/assistance awards to include costs, schedules, and oversight responsibilities. Serves a liaison with external customers, recipients, and awardee community to clarify, interpret, and resolve issues. • Conducts risk assessments and business reviews to recommend appropriate action to program managers. Represents the Maritime Administration and, when designated, the Department of Transportation or the U.S. Federal Government, in grant administration matters. • Monitors, assesses, and ensures compliance with all terms and conditions of award. Provides recommendations to program managers regarding grant assistance policies, procedures, and practices. • Provides technical assistance, oversight, expertise, and consultation to program officials, awardees, applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients as needed. • Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates grants/assistance applications, plans, and estimates. Determines awardee eligibility using specified formulas, methodologies and established eligibility criteria, such as competitive rating factors.

QUESTIONS TO ASK EACH CANDIDATE

1. What is your experience performing, advising, and administering work relating to the development and negotiation of grant agreements assigned to a portfolio from sponsored grant program awardees? Specifically, what is your experience developing timelines and schedules; responding to inquiries; developing, interpreting, and applying guidance based on policy, regulations, and legislation; and making clear, logical, and concise presentations and summaries, both verbally and in writing?

2. Please provide your experience identifying pre-award Federal requirements (such as risk assessments) and monitoring the successful completion of such requirements?

3. What is your experience reviewing, summarizing, interpreting, or drafting documents or white papers?

4. Have you provided program guidance?

5. What is your experience supporting grant administrative tools? Please describe your experience providing investigations of infrastructure requirements to address other pre-award needs?