Job Title: Grants Management Specialist - US Department of State
Posted by: Universal Strategy Group Inc. (USGI) on May 22, 2020
Location:
Washington , DCJob Description:
GRANTS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
The Grants Management Specialist provides support to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Executive Office, Grants, Acquisition, and Procurement Policy Division (INL/EX/GAPP).
INL's Executive Office, Grants, Acquisitions and Procurement Policy Division oversees the implementing mechanisms required to advance the Bureau's foreign assistance objectives. INL/EX/GAPP includes the following sections: Bilateral Letters of Agreement (LOA's) and Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs), which consists of Analysts with regional and functional portfolios providing analytical and subject matter expertise related to development, formulation and oversight; Grants, which includes Grants Officers (GO) and Specialists with regional and functional portfolios executing Federal Assistance awards to provide funding opportunities for grants and cooperative agreements, in addition to executing property and travel grants; and Contracts, consisting of Contracting Officers (CO) and Specialists providing a variety of services pertaining to the planning, development and execution of service and commodity contracts, as well as Third Party Contracts (TPCs) and Personal Service Contracts (PSCs).
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous and secure world.
INL keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•Support, oversee and advise on complex grant portfolios, including setting appropriate work priorities, applying knowledge of organizational needs and deadlines, and providing consistent follow-up to ensure timely receipt of required documentation.
•Compile data and, as necessary, perform complex financial analysis to support the formulation of budget estimates.
•Participate with program staff in the planning, development, and review of notice of funding opportunities (NOFO) requirements.
•Serve as a subject matter expert in interpreting, developing, and applying appropriate regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to grants and cooperative agreements.
•Support and advise Grants Officer (GO) on all required actions to ensure they are executed by recipients and the government in a timely manner, both prior to and after award.
•Review and coordinate the business management activities related to the resolution of monetary and non-monetary findings identified in audits conducted in accordance with accepted government accounting standards.
•Provide consultation and technical assistance to program officers, other federal staff, federal assistance applicants, and federal assistance recipients on all aspects of grants and cooperative agreements management.
•Attend grant review meetings and provide administrative and budgetary information.
•Develop and aid GO on budget negotiations with program staff and the grant community to ensure costs are reasonable, allowable, and allocable using federal regulations, policies, and procedures.
•Maintain a tracking system of awarded grants and cooperative agreements.
•Provide recommendations to GO to approve or disapprove requests by grantees or program officers for adjustments in requirements; take necessary actions to ensure that grants requirements are met.
•Support and advise assigned grants or cooperative agreements after award, including conducting regularly scheduled monitoring of grantees to ensure compliance with grants/agreement awards.
•Stay abreast of changes in policy, regulations, and legal authorities affecting agreements.
•Provide advice and assistance in response to inquiries on standard grant/agreement determinations.
•Review draft documents to ensure Legal Authority, Signatory Authority, Assurances and Provisions, Competition, and Appropriation Usage.
Outreach/Partnership:
•Respond in a timely manner to requests for information.
•Provide reports to program office stakeholders on the status of implementing agreements and make substantive recommendations to help meet the specific requirements of assigned program offices.
•Establish strong interpersonal relationships through excellent customer service skills, project management knowledge, and a related understanding of program offices' unique needs and mandates.
•Work closely with INL program and functional office staff and managers, as well as stakeholders at US embassies overseas and within other US federal agencies and organizations, to provide support on training initiatives.
•Interact positively and work cooperatively with team members and points of contact to accomplish assigned work in a timely and efficient manner.
•Take proactive measures and/or make recommendations to improve the working environment and build teamwork.
•Seek to accomplish tasks in a manner that reduces the burden on senior management and be receptive to training and critiquing of work output.
•Comply with all appropriate regulations, internal controls, management direction and SOPs as well as Bureau conventions to protect organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of all classified and sensitive (but unclassified) material and equipment in assigned areas; report security violations/problems to appropriate authority.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
•US Citizenship
•A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND two (2) to ten (10) years' experience at the equivalent GS-11 level?; OR an Associate's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of eight years' experience at the equivalent GS-11 level?
•Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; strong multi-tasking and organizational skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to prepare and present information for senior level briefings, develop and interpret policies and guidelines, defend recommendations, and resolve problems
•Demonstrated superior organization skills and ability to oversee multiple concurrent activities of varying complexity, including changing priorities and short turn-around times
•Demonstrated proficiency in English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style and ability to edit in a form suitable for lay audiences
•Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels to assist in the planning and coordination of activities with other organizations; provide guidance, and advocate INL policies and positions in close coordination with INL leadership
•Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service with all levels of management
•Demonstrated experience in the fields of Federal Assistance with emphasis on grants and cooperative agreements.
•Demonstrated experience working with federal awarding agencies and/or international non-governmental organizations.
•Demonstrated experience overseeing, assisting GO with negotiations and resolving, awards and award-related issues in an effective manner.
•Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of INL or USAID programs, mission, and foreign assistance regulations such as Code of Federal Regulation (CFRs), Automated Directive System (ADS) series, OMB Circulars and other directives governing grants and contracting.
•Demonstrated familiarity with Department of State (DOS) Standardized document format, and DOS systems.
•Progressive knowledge of assistance regulations, policies and procedures and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex assistance, is required, particularly as it relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation, grants making that result in standard and established contract and agreements/grants types.
•Familiarity with Federal funding sources and programs with financial management procedures and systems such as ILMS/Ariba FA, SAMS domestic and overseas, or similar applications.
POSITION LOCATION: The physical work location is the INL/EX Suite in State Annex (SA-01), Columbia Plaza, 2401 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.
TRAVEL: Travel is authorized for this position.
BENEFITS: Employer offers a highly competitive compensation package for this position, including comprehensive medical insurance, paid time off, federal holidays, and a 401K matching with no vesting period. Employer also provides at, no cost to our employees, 50K in life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance coverage.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: The position requires a Secret security clearance. However, the Specialist can begin work with an interim Secret security clearance.
The Grants Management Specialist provides support to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Executive Office, Grants, Acquisition, and Procurement Policy Division (INL/EX/GAPP).
INL's Executive Office, Grants, Acquisitions and Procurement Policy Division oversees the implementing mechanisms required to advance the Bureau's foreign assistance objectives. INL/EX/GAPP includes the following sections: Bilateral Letters of Agreement (LOA's) and Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs), which consists of Analysts with regional and functional portfolios providing analytical and subject matter expertise related to development, formulation and oversight; Grants, which includes Grants Officers (GO) and Specialists with regional and functional portfolios executing Federal Assistance awards to provide funding opportunities for grants and cooperative agreements, in addition to executing property and travel grants; and Contracts, consisting of Contracting Officers (CO) and Specialists providing a variety of services pertaining to the planning, development and execution of service and commodity contracts, as well as Third Party Contracts (TPCs) and Personal Service Contracts (PSCs).
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous and secure world.
INL keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•Support, oversee and advise on complex grant portfolios, including setting appropriate work priorities, applying knowledge of organizational needs and deadlines, and providing consistent follow-up to ensure timely receipt of required documentation.
•Compile data and, as necessary, perform complex financial analysis to support the formulation of budget estimates.
•Participate with program staff in the planning, development, and review of notice of funding opportunities (NOFO) requirements.
•Serve as a subject matter expert in interpreting, developing, and applying appropriate regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to grants and cooperative agreements.
•Support and advise Grants Officer (GO) on all required actions to ensure they are executed by recipients and the government in a timely manner, both prior to and after award.
•Review and coordinate the business management activities related to the resolution of monetary and non-monetary findings identified in audits conducted in accordance with accepted government accounting standards.
•Provide consultation and technical assistance to program officers, other federal staff, federal assistance applicants, and federal assistance recipients on all aspects of grants and cooperative agreements management.
•Attend grant review meetings and provide administrative and budgetary information.
•Develop and aid GO on budget negotiations with program staff and the grant community to ensure costs are reasonable, allowable, and allocable using federal regulations, policies, and procedures.
•Maintain a tracking system of awarded grants and cooperative agreements.
•Provide recommendations to GO to approve or disapprove requests by grantees or program officers for adjustments in requirements; take necessary actions to ensure that grants requirements are met.
•Support and advise assigned grants or cooperative agreements after award, including conducting regularly scheduled monitoring of grantees to ensure compliance with grants/agreement awards.
•Stay abreast of changes in policy, regulations, and legal authorities affecting agreements.
•Provide advice and assistance in response to inquiries on standard grant/agreement determinations.
•Review draft documents to ensure Legal Authority, Signatory Authority, Assurances and Provisions, Competition, and Appropriation Usage.
Outreach/Partnership:
•Respond in a timely manner to requests for information.
•Provide reports to program office stakeholders on the status of implementing agreements and make substantive recommendations to help meet the specific requirements of assigned program offices.
•Establish strong interpersonal relationships through excellent customer service skills, project management knowledge, and a related understanding of program offices' unique needs and mandates.
•Work closely with INL program and functional office staff and managers, as well as stakeholders at US embassies overseas and within other US federal agencies and organizations, to provide support on training initiatives.
•Interact positively and work cooperatively with team members and points of contact to accomplish assigned work in a timely and efficient manner.
•Take proactive measures and/or make recommendations to improve the working environment and build teamwork.
•Seek to accomplish tasks in a manner that reduces the burden on senior management and be receptive to training and critiquing of work output.
•Comply with all appropriate regulations, internal controls, management direction and SOPs as well as Bureau conventions to protect organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of all classified and sensitive (but unclassified) material and equipment in assigned areas; report security violations/problems to appropriate authority.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
•US Citizenship
•A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND two (2) to ten (10) years' experience at the equivalent GS-11 level?; OR an Associate's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of eight years' experience at the equivalent GS-11 level?
•Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; strong multi-tasking and organizational skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to prepare and present information for senior level briefings, develop and interpret policies and guidelines, defend recommendations, and resolve problems
•Demonstrated superior organization skills and ability to oversee multiple concurrent activities of varying complexity, including changing priorities and short turn-around times
•Demonstrated proficiency in English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style and ability to edit in a form suitable for lay audiences
•Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with individuals at all levels to assist in the planning and coordination of activities with other organizations; provide guidance, and advocate INL policies and positions in close coordination with INL leadership
•Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service with all levels of management
•Demonstrated experience in the fields of Federal Assistance with emphasis on grants and cooperative agreements.
•Demonstrated experience working with federal awarding agencies and/or international non-governmental organizations.
•Demonstrated experience overseeing, assisting GO with negotiations and resolving, awards and award-related issues in an effective manner.
•Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of INL or USAID programs, mission, and foreign assistance regulations such as Code of Federal Regulation (CFRs), Automated Directive System (ADS) series, OMB Circulars and other directives governing grants and contracting.
•Demonstrated familiarity with Department of State (DOS) Standardized document format, and DOS systems.
•Progressive knowledge of assistance regulations, policies and procedures and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex assistance, is required, particularly as it relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation, grants making that result in standard and established contract and agreements/grants types.
•Familiarity with Federal funding sources and programs with financial management procedures and systems such as ILMS/Ariba FA, SAMS domestic and overseas, or similar applications.
POSITION LOCATION: The physical work location is the INL/EX Suite in State Annex (SA-01), Columbia Plaza, 2401 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.
TRAVEL: Travel is authorized for this position.
BENEFITS: Employer offers a highly competitive compensation package for this position, including comprehensive medical insurance, paid time off, federal holidays, and a 401K matching with no vesting period. Employer also provides at, no cost to our employees, 50K in life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance coverage.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: The position requires a Secret security clearance. However, the Specialist can begin work with an interim Secret security clearance.
Pay Rate:
Unspecified
HR. Website URL:
https://teamusgi.com/careers-1
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About Universal Strategy Group Inc. (USGI)
Universal Strategy Group (USGI) incorporated in January 2007. We are a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). USGI was founded with the single focus of supporting the preservation and protection of American security. We do this by providing best in class technical, personnel, and operational support to our clients and partners. We take time to understand each client’s unique requirements and then follow through by delivering tailored solutions to exceed customer expectations. USGI is an experienced prime contractor with past performance supporting multiple customer requirements within the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice. An equal opportunity employer, USGI offers a highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision, life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, PTO, and 10 paid Federal holidays.
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