ESEA CONSOLIDATED EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position will engage in leadership, coaching, and support for the implementation and evaluation of grant programs within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This includes a high degree of collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) as well as other ADE programs areas to design, develop and support academic programming around the state which supports federal programs. This position is a leadership position which coaches LEAs to build capacity in building effective ESEA Programs. This position requires a high degree of knowledge in grants as well as school leadership with program monitoring and evaluation. This position also requires a diverse and broad understanding of all ESEA programs and associated programs like McKinney-Vento and Equitable Services. This position will also serve in special leadership and point of contact roles as assigned, and may serve as the state point of contact for any ESEA program, such as: 21St CCLC, Foster Care, Homeless, Equitable Services, Monitoring, Comparability, Professional Development, Rural Schools, Expanding and closing schools. Occasional in-state and rare out-of-state travel is required for this position. The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Requirements

• Knowledge in: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Arizona Revised Statutes, and State Board of Education rules governing public education
• Knowledge in: School leadership and District leadership with building effective federal programs which achieve student success
• Knowledge in: Methods and instructional strategies that strengthen the academic program of a school and LEA, and help provide an accelerated and enriched curriculum and a well-rounded education
• Knowledge in: State and federal budgeting and compliance procedures
• Knowledge in: The Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR), Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), and OMB Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG)
• Knowledge of and/or experience working in or managing one or more of the following programs: Title I, Title II, Title III, RLIs, Title I-D, or Title IV-A, Title IV-B, and McKinney-Vento programs
• Knowledge in: Methods of professional learning for strengthening fiscal accountability practices, allocations and compliance
• Knowledge in: Program evaluation techniques to meet the needs of at-risk students and strategies to strengthen school programs to provide an equitable and well-rounded education for all students
• Skills in: Applying systems thinking
• Skills in: Problem solving techniques, to include root-cause analysis
• Skills in: Providing differentiated technical assistance and support
• Skills in: Plan development, implementation, and evaluation
• Skills in: Creating and providing highly effective professional learning using a variety of delivery methods to a variety of audiences
• Skills in: Communicating effectively with educators, administrators, and the public
• Skills in: Budget and resource allocation
• Skills in: Budgeting and finance practices
• Skills in: Analysis, interpretation, and communication of data
• Skills in: Exemplary customer service and communication
• Skills in: Work and collaborate in teams
• Skills in: Program/project workload prioritizing, organization practices, and workflow efficiency
• Skills in: Reviewing grant applications for the required criteria, providing high leverage feedback on programs and grants, approve grant applications
• Skills in: Competence in performing day-to-day activities using Microsoft products, Adobe products, and other computing products as determined
• Ability to: Adapt to changes in compliance regulations and federal law professionally and quickly
• Ability to: Absorb, synthesize, interpret, and apply highly technical, specialized knowledge of funding and financial compliance in all entitlement funding programs
• Ability to: Partner with stakeholders to provide guidance, training, and support
• Ability to: Guide and support grantees in designing, implementing, and evaluating effective and compliant programs
• Ability to: Absorb highly technical, specialized knowledge related to the ESEA Consolidated Grant Application and other federal, state, and local programs
• Ability to: Coach district leaders in program effectiveness
• Ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to: Work independently and/or collaboratively in large or small groups as necessary
• Ability to: Communicate clearly and concisely with audiences with differing knowledge and expertise when conveying ideas, suggestions, and proposals
• Ability to: Manage multiple ongoing projects and programs to meet urgent/critical deadlines
• Ability to: Maintain a professional demeanor in daily duties and while representing the agency when working with internal and external partners/stakeholders
• Ability to: Gather and disaggregate data to make data-driven decisions and or use data provided to make recommendations
• Ability to: Assist with programs and projects at agency discretion and need
• Ability to: Manage, lead, and coach a portfolio of diverse Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across multiple program areas and grant funds
• A Bachelor’s degree in Education or Public Administration or related field, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Title programs
• Experience with Rural schools
• Experience with Equitable Services
• Experience with Foster Care Education
• Experience with McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Responsibilities

• Engage in comprehensive and collaborative performance management. Including but not limited to: Grant approvals, management, compliance and program monitoring activities for grants assigned to Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Consolidated Application, as well as other grant applications and planning tools such as: Title I-A, Title I-D, Subpart 2, Title II-A, Title III, RLIS, Title IV-A, Title V-B, McKinney-Vento
• Collaborate with Local Education Agencies to ensure effectiveness with LEA-level planning tools and grants applications
• Review planning tools and grant applications to ensure grantees are developing and implementing a compliant and effective program that is accessing and expending fiscal resources to provide equitable access to a high-quality education for all students
• Review grant applications to ensure grant funds are appropriately budgeted and expended in accordance with grant program requirements, as well as state and federal law
• Lead and participate in monitoring programs for compliance and effectiveness with the direction of the Director and Deputy Associate Superintendent
• Prepare and complete administrative and monitoring reports as well as provide grantees with guidance on state and federal budgeting and funding compliance in accordance with the Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR), Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), and OMB Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) while providing exemplary customer service
• Develop and provide differentiated professional learning opportunities, coaching, modeling, and technical assistance through face-to-face and virtual methods in collaboration with unit leadership, personnel, other ADE program areas, and/or external partners
• Engage in a high degree of collaboration with ADE program areas to improve processes, procedures, communication, and services to the field and align internal processes with grants, specifically in state and federal budgeting and funding compliance
• Serving as a point of contact with local, state, or national committees as approved by the Deputy Associate Superintendent
• Work alongside the Director and Deputy Associate Superintendent to develop, refine, and evaluate programs
• Serve at the director's direction in coordination with the Deputy Associate on projects and programs as the unit and agency determine

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior