Program Officer

Maryland•Anne Arundel, MD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Officer plays a key role in supporting the effective administration, compliance, quality, and impact of federally funded grant programs administered by the agency. The position works directly with funded organizations and program staff to strengthen program performance, ensure compliance with federal and agency requirements, and help grantees translate requirements and expectations into strong program practices. Rather than serving solely as a compliance monitor, the Program Officer builds collaborative relationships with grantees and provides coaching, technical assistance, and strategic support throughout the grant lifecycle. The position helps identify opportunities for improvement, elevate promising practices, connect grantees to resources and peers, and use program data and other information to support continuous improvement and demonstrate impact. The Program Officer will also contribute to community outreach and engagement efforts designed to strengthen awareness of the agency's programs, understand community needs, and develop relationships with current and potential partners.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
Four years of administrative staff or professional work.
Candidates may substitute 30 college credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.
Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.
Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.
Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Nice To Haves

Completed a service program (some examples include AmeriCorps and Peace Corps)
Experience working for an AmeriCorps grantee or subgrantee
One year of customer service experience

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact and trusted partner for an assigned portfolio of grantees.
Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with grantee organizations, program staff, and community partners.
Provide ongoing coaching, technical assistance, and problem-solving support to help grantees successfully implement their programs.
Conduct regular check-ins, site visits, and other monitoring activities to understand program progress, identify challenges, and provide support.
Identify areas where grantees may need additional training, resources, or technical assistance and coordinate appropriate support.
Facilitate connections and peer learning among grantees to encourage sharing of effective practices and solutions.
Monitor assigned grants for compliance with federal regulations, grant agreements, agency policies, and program requirements.
Review program reports, performance data, policies, and other documentation to assess progress and compliance.
Identify potential compliance concerns and work collaboratively with grantees to develop corrective actions and improvement strategies.
Maintain accurate and timely records of monitoring activities, technical assistance, communications, and grantee performance.
Support formal monitoring processes, including desk reviews, site visits, corrective action plans, and follow-up activities.
Elevate significant risks, performance concerns, or compliance issues to agency leadership and collaborate on appropriate responses.
Stay current on applicable federal requirements, agency policies, and emerging issues affecting grant administration and program implementation.
Work with grantees to strengthen program design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Help grantees connect their program activities to intended outcomes and broader community priorities.
Review program performance information and identify trends, opportunities, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Use data, grantee feedback, community input, and program experience to inform agency strategy and grantmaking.
Identify promising practices and examples of program impact that can be shared across the agency and with external stakeholders.
Contribute to the development of program guidance, training materials, tools, and resources that strengthen grantee capacity.
Support agency efforts to assess and communicate the impact of grant investments.
Collaborate with other agency staff to coordinate grant administration, program support, compliance, and communications.
Contribute to grantmaking activities, including application review, program recommendations, grant modifications, and renewal processes.
Participate in internal discussions regarding grantee performance, risk, strategy, and resource allocation.
Prepare clear written summaries, reports, briefing materials, and recommendations for agency leadership and other stakeholders.
Maintain complete and accurate records in the agency's grant management systems and other required platforms.
Support development and implementation of agency policies, procedures, guidance, and training related to program administration.
Participate in special projects and agency initiatives as assigned.
Represent the agency at community meetings, conferences, trainings, and other events.
Develop relationships with community organizations, nonprofit leaders, public agencies, and other stakeholders.
Conduct outreach to increase awareness of agency programs, funding opportunities, and resources.
Gather information about community needs, emerging issues, and potential partnerships and share relevant insights with agency leadership.
Support outreach and engagement strategies that broaden participation in agency programs and strengthen connections with communities served by funded programs.