Grants Administrator–Connecticut Charter Schools Program (CT-CSP)

The Mind Trust • New Haven, MI

49d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Mind Trust Connecticut (TMT-CT) is seeking a Grants Administrator to serve as the backbone of Connecticut's Charter Schools Program State Entity grant (CSP-CT). This role is crucial for managing federal financial compliance, subgrantee fiscal administration, and overall grant administration for a multi-year federal award. The Grants Administrator will ensure TMT-CT adheres to its obligations under 2 CFR Part 200 and ESEA Title IV, Part C, playing a key role in supporting the launch, replication, and expansion of charter schools serving predominantly low-income students and students of color.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public administration or related field
• 3+ years of experience managing federal grants, preferably under 2 CFR Part 200
• Demonstrated experience with subgrantee fiscal monitoring, audit review and corrective action
• Familiarity with ESEA Title IV programs or other U.S. Department of Education grants
• Strang analytic skills; proficiency in Excel or comparable financial tools
• Dedication to embracing new ideas to drive educational transformation
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively in teams and build meaningful relationships with stakeholders
• Trained Monitor to Federal Requirements, including completing annual monitor training.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Charter Schools Program (CSP) grants at the state or local level
• Knowledge of Connecticut’s charter school funding framework (ECS, DRIP, CHEFA)
• CPA, CGFM, or equivalent credential preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage the full subgrant lifecycle from RFP release through closeout, including application coordination, peer-review logistics, award documentation, subgrant agreement execution, and amendments.
• Serve as the day-to-day operational coordinator for CSP-CT, maintaining project timelines, milestone tracking, and cross-functional task management across the TMT-CT program, finance, and TA staff.
• Prepare and maintain the annual subgrant monitoring calendar, coordinating site visit scheduling, report deadlines, and CSDE oversight activities to ensure a non-duplicative, sequenced oversight calendar for subgrantees.
• Manage subgrantee onboarding, including distributing the CSP-CT Allowable Cost Guide, orienting new grantees to reporting requirements, and connecting schools to relevant TA resources.
• Maintain the central subgrantee portfolio — tracking award status, drawdown progress, risk tier, CAP status, and sustainability plan submissions across all active subgrantees.
• Support the Project Director in preparing Annual Performance Reports to the U.S. Department of Education and other required federal submissions.
• Coordinate quarterly CSDE collaboration meetings, including preparing agendas, maintaining minutes, and tracking follow-up items.
• Manage all aspects of CSP-CT grant drawdowns, reimbursements, and reporting to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Maintain budget-to-actual tracking across all grant years and prepare quarterly financial reports.
• Administer the CSP-CT Allowable Cost Guide and advise staff and subgrantees on permissible, prior-approval, and prohibited expenses under 2 CFR 200 and ESEA § 4303(h).
• Coordinate the federal Annual Performance Report (APR) financial component.
• Conduct pre-award risk assessments for all subgrant applicants per 2 CFR 200.332(b), including review of prior federal CSP awards via USAspending.gov.
• Review each subgrantee’s audited statements (including the internal-controls report and management letter) within 30 days of posting. Any audit finding or material management-letter observation results in immediate escalation to Tier 4.
• Review quarterly subgrantee financial reports; flag budget-to-actual variances exceeding 10% and escalate to Tier 4 Enhanced Monitoring as warranted.
• Review each subgrantee's annual independent audit and management letter within 30 days of posting; initiate corrective action plans (CAPs) for any findings; and review Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) reports for subgrantees expending ≥$750,000 in CSP funds in a fiscal year.
• Manage fund withholding, recoupment, and de-obligation processes for non-compliant subgrantees per 2 CFR 200.339–200.343.
• Ensure all CSP-CT expenditures comply with federal cost principles, budget categories, and period-of-performance requirements.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready grant files, including subgrant agreements, amendments, and correspondence.
• Coordinate with CSDE on shared data systems and aligned monitoring calendars under the formal MOU.
• Support annual monitor training and inter-rater reliability processes alongside the Project Director.

Benefits

• Access comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with substantial premium support
• Secure your future with a 403(b) plan featuring generous employer matching
• Gain peace of mind with life and disability benefits, ensuring financial security for you and your loved ones
• Engage in continuing education opportunities to foster growth and learning
• Prioritize work-life balance with a competitive PTO policy and paid holidays
• Our family leave, adoption assistance, and childcare reimbursements are designed to ease the journey of welcoming new additions and managing family dynamics, ensuring you have the support you need to thrive both at home and in the workplace

What This Job Offers

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