Grants & Compliance Specialist – Head Start

JBS International•Atlanta, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Early Childhood Specialist I provides grant management support and customer service to Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant recipients. As the subject matter expert for an assigned region, the specialist leads a team, coordinates daily grant-management activities, supports regional and national initiatives, and ensures accurate, timely, and compliant execution of grant activities. The role helps ensure recipients comply with grant agreement terms and federal regulations while continuously improving their operations and processes in alignment with federal policy, practice, and programs. The position oversees grant application and post-award reviews, grant-related analysis and documentation, award execution, and administrative actions. It analyzes and presents data from multiple sources, monitors performance and compliance concerns, and supports risk-mitigation strategies. The specialist guides a team providing recipients with accurate guidance and customer service, develops procedures and training resources, and helps recipients implement and monitor targeted improvement strategies. The role applies continuous quality improvement to oversight mechanisms and produces written materials such as memoranda, presentations, and correspondence. This is an onsite position based in one of the listed locations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; or Dallas, Texas. Travel may be required up to 25 percent. The position requires the ability to pass background investigations for access to federal facilities and systems. Work is primarily in a typical office environment, with moderate noise and exposure to computer screens.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in early childhood education, human services, public administration, or a related field.
Five years of progressive professional experience directly related to early childhood programs.
Two years of supervisory experience.
Experience using federal information systems, including HSES, AMS, and GrantSolutions.
Ability to work independently while coordinating a larger team.
Excellent organization and time-management skills.
Ability to write clearly and concisely, with attention to detail and audience.
Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Fluency in English, orally and in writing.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Power BI, and with Smartsheet.
Ability to pass background investigations required for access to federal facilities and systems.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including extended computer use, frequent standing and walking, and lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds for short distances.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Head Start or Early Head Start programs.
Experience with federal discretionary grants management, non-profit or for-profit program and/or financial management, and regulatory compliance monitoring and oversight.
Experience or training in federal interest, fiscal reporting, in-kind contributions, cost allocation, budgeting, and/or internal controls for Head Start programs.
Experience designing, purchasing, constructing, renovating, and/or maintaining facilities that operate Head Start programs.
Experience addressing sensitive subject matter such as child abuse and neglect.
Experience in budget analysis.
Relevant experience in federal monitoring of early childhood programs, fiscal management of early childhood programs, facilities and/or early childhood learning environments, child health and safety, Head Start program options, the Full Enrollment Initiative (FEI), and changes in scope (CiS).

Responsibilities

Oversee reviews of grant applications, budget modifications, supplemental applications, change-in-scope and facilities requests, waiver requests, and post-award requirements.
Ensure grant-related analysis and documentation are accurately recorded in federal data management systems.
Oversee execution of grant awards and related administrative actions.
Aggregate, analyze, and present data gathered from multiple sources.
Monitor and identify performance or compliance concerns and support development of risk-mitigation strategies.
Lead and guide a team providing accurate guidance and customer service aligned with Head Start Program Performance Standards and grant requirements.
Develop, refine, and implement standard operating procedures, guidance documents, training materials, and webinars.
Support grant recipients in developing and implementing targeted improvement strategies.
Monitor grant recipients’ progress in improving performance, compliance, and accountability of funded programs.
Apply continuous quality improvement approaches to evolve oversight mechanisms and promote positive outcomes for children and families.
Produce written products such as memoranda, presentations, and correspondence.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.