Grant Compliance Specialist

Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County

just now•Onsite

About The Position

The Grant Compliance Specialist is a key team member and ensures the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is following the Grant Agreement with the Department of Early Learning (DEL) along with ensuring that all relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies are followed. This role involves monitoring the compliance plan governing School Readiness (SR), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) client eligibility, and provider reporting requirements as per the Division of Early Learning rules and applicable statutes. The position will assess risks based on internal monitoring and stay updated on regulatory changes, supporting the Early Learning Coalition’s commitment to its core values. This position reports directly to the Senior Grant Compliance Specialist.

Requirements

Associates degree from an accredited institution with a major in Business Administration, Early Childhood, or other related degree. A combination of education and relevant professional work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Minimum 3 years’ experience working in Early Childhood education, or a non-profit organization.
Minimum 2 years’ experience working for an Early Learning Coalition within the state of Florida.
Minimum 1 years’ experience in project management, grant writing, fundraising, donor relations and/or Board of Directors communications and support.
Demonstrated ability of contract management skills, including drafting, reviewing, and monitoring compliance with vendor and service agreements.
Knowledge of Coalition policies, DEL policies and expectations, Florida statutes, and other policies relevant to Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness contract compliance.
Understanding of contractual obligations and expectations with outside agencies.
Advanced Microsoft Office Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Successful completion of the Level 2 Background Screening Standards as set forth in s. 435.04, F.S.

Responsibilities

Act as the alternate DEL contact (“Grant Manager”) for all contractual and Grant requirements.
Assist with the review and coordination of departmental reviews of all areas of the annual draft Grant Agreement, ensuring timely execution.
Support updates to the Coalition Plan as needed, ensuring it appropriately reflects the Coalition’s operations and activities.
Follow timelines established by DEL to ensure compliance with the Grant Agreement and provide documents when required.
Meet random sampling file compliance requirements for VPK and SR clients and provider files, along with associated payment validations.
Support compliance requirements for all DEL scorecards, guides, and spreadsheets for CCRR, CG, ESD, OPM, and DA areas.
Stay up to date on all DEL policies, statutes, regulations, and internal policies or changes.
Update and train ELCHC team members on changes in rules, statutes, processes, and internal changes as needed.
Communicate with other departments when issues are discovered during monitoring to allow for technical assistance or explanation.
Act as an alternate liaison to the DEL Accountability team to oversee and prepare files, documents, and monitoring for the DEL Accountability bi-annual review.
Provide staff training when compliance issues are identified to help with resolution.
Provide guidance to Management when compliance issues are identified or recurring.
Communicate compliance expectations to all staff to make them aware of requirements.
Perform other duties as required.
Collaborate with internal teams (Programs, Initiatives & Education, Finance, Early Intervention Support Services, and Provider Supports) to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities.
Serve as an alternate liaison between the organization and external stakeholders to build support for and participation in community outreach/family engagement activities.
Prepare regular reports for leadership and board presentations.
Serve as an alternate relationship manager for funders and prospects, including thank you communications, impact reporting, and engagement touchpoints.
Represent the organization’s mission to donors, potential donors, and other external stakeholders.
Maintain a calendar of grant deadlines and ensure timely submissions and reporting.
Assist with monitoring and evaluation of grant and donor-funded projects.
Assist with all grant reporting requirements, deadlines, outcome tracking, and lead internal cross-departmental communications.
Conduct investigations of irregularities discovered by or brought to the auditor’s attention.
Respond to requests from the State Attorney, Public Defender’s Office, and other agencies; represent the ELCHC in any legal proceedings related to potential client fraud.
Receive and respond to requests from providers, clients, the Office of Early Learning, concerned parties, and partnering agencies for investigation of suspected provider and client fraud.
Act as the designated contact for all local, state, and federal government agencies related to Public Assistance, Fraud, Department of Children and Family Services, and others.
Provide Division of Public Assistance Fraud with case summaries, applications, overpayment amounts, and details for each case submitted and/or identified as potential fraud.
Obtain statements, documents, and all other related information pertaining to the potential fraud case in an appropriate format, including a full description of the facts needed in support of the potential fraud inquiry.
Secure evidence from all available sources in preparation for possible submission of fraud referral to the Department of Financial Services (DFS/DPAF).
Prepare reports for each case describing all steps taken, visits made, information documented, etc., for submission of fraud referral.
Assist with training ELC staff to help identify potential fraud in all programmatic areas of business.