21st CCLC Grant Specialist

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The 21st CCLC Grants Specialist supports effective administration, oversight, and continuous improvement of state and federal grant programs. This role serves as a key resource to grantees and internal partners by facilitating the competitive application process, ensuring fiscal and programmatic compliance, delivering high-quality technical assistance, and advancing evidence-based practices. Through close collaboration with the Family and Community Engagement team and other OSDE departments, the specialist fosters high-quality expanded learning opportunities and strengthens support for schools and communities across Oklahoma. This role requires a consistent, in-person presence at the designated workplace in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and does not offer remote, telecommuting, or hybrid options.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Child Development, or Family Engagement [official transcripts required upon hire]
Five (5) years of experience in the coordination and management of competitive grants, contracts, and/or budgets.
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future.
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Must possess a valid driver’s license from a U.S. state or territory to perform necessary job-related travel.
Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas, while also listening actively to others and demonstrating understanding.
Ability to demonstrate empathy by showing respect and understanding for the feelings and perspectives of others while paying close attention to non-verbal cues.
Ability to adapt communication style to suit the needs of the audience and situation.
Be resourceful and self-motivated, prioritize work effectively by managing your time well, anticipating challenges, developing creative solutions, paying close attention to detail, and taking ownership of your work.
Ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. Including being open-minded, respectful, and responsive to others’ ideas and perspectives. Sharing knowledge and experience while being committed to achieving the team’s objectives and understanding the importance of working collaboratively to achieve success.
Ability to set clear objectives, create a plan of action, break down complex tasks into manageable components, delegate tasks when necessary, and establish a realistic timeline to meet deadlines consistently while developing contingency plans to ensure adaptability to changing circumstances.
Ability to analyze complex situations, identify key issues, patterns, connections, and develop effective logical solutions.
Ability to think critically, anticipate potential problems, and develop innovative solutions to address them.
Ability to work under pressure and in situations where time is limited whilst remaining calm and focused, prioritizing tasks, and adapting to changing circumstances.
Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration, leverage resources effectively, and negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes.
Possess strong interpersonal skills to resolve conflicts and manage difficult conversations constructively and professionally.
Ability to identify opportunities to leverage technology to streamline processes, automate tasks, and improve customer experiences.
Familiarity with software, hardware, and other relevant technological tools while being able to learn new technologies as they emerge.

Nice To Haves

Two (2) years of experience in education, federal programs, youth development principles, and/or conducting quality professional development opportunities.

Responsibilities

Serve as the lead staff member for the competitive grant application process, providing guidance to applicants and ensuring clarity, fairness, and compliance throughout all stages.
Review and approve grant applications and expenditure reports within the web-based grants management system, ensuring adherence to federal regulations and the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System.
Communicate with the public and grantees regarding grant requirements, the application process, promising program practices, and evaluation findings to promote transparency and understanding.
Monitor assigned grantees, providing oversight to ensure compliance with program expectations, proper use of funds, and alignment with approved project plans.
Support grantees in comprehensive data collection and accurate reporting, helping them meet state and federal requirements and use data to improve program outcomes.
Deliver targeted training and technical assistance in key areas such as compliance, quality improvement, data reporting, and program implementation.
Develop professional development materials, reports, and other resources that communicate current research-based strategies, methods, and best practices for expanded learning opportunities.
Collaborate closely with the Family and Community Engagement team and other OSDE departments to support cross-agency projects, enhance program quality, and strengthen services for schools and communities.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude at all times; ability to build and maintain positive work relationships; demonstrate integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of your work; ability to display a high level of professionalism in communication, behavior, and appearance; ability to accept constructive feedback to increase performance.
Regular and reliable in-person attendance is required to ensure quality teamwork, performance, productivity, and collaboration; ability to demonstrate a commitment to your work and team by committing to punctuality and dependability in the work environment; this includes arriving to work on time, being present, engaged, and available to colleagues, internal and external customers.
Ability to identify and address the evolving needs and challenges of the education landscape; ability to think critically, explore new ideas, and embrace innovative approaches to improve educational outcomes for all students; apply creativity, resourcefulness, and forward-thinking in finding solutions to complex problems and driving positive change in the field of education.
Ensure our resources are utilized effectively, and our operations are streamlined; optimize our processes, eliminate redundancies, and leverage technology to enhance productivity and performance; proactively identify opportunities for efficiency gains and implement best practices.
Willingness to go above and beyond to provide outstanding assistance that exceeds expectations, ability to create positive experiences and build relationships based on trust and satisfaction; maintain a positive and helpful attitude using the appropriate language, tone, and behavior to reflect the agency in a way that leaves a favorable impression.

Benefits

Generous Benefits Allowance: Up to $21,934.08 annually, tailored to family size, for purchasing benefits.
Comprehensive Insurance Plans: Choose from a variety of insurance plans with no pre-existing conditions, exclusions, or limitations.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Manage healthcare expenses and/or dependent care with ease.
Full Participation in TRS: Enjoy employer-covered contributions (7.5% of annual salary) for Teacher’s Retirement System participation.
Generous Leave Policy: Full-time employees receive 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave in their first year.
Paid Holidays: Benefit from 11 paid holidays per year.
Employee Discounts: Access discounts with various companies and vendors.
Longevity Bonus: Earn a bonus after completing two years of service, with bonuses continuing annually thereafter.
Compensatory Time: FLSA Exempt and Nonexempt employees receive compensatory time.
Employee Assistance Program: Access support and resources through our Employee Assistance Program.