BCT Partners – Program Specialist

BCT Partners, LLC•Quinte West, ON

7d•$60,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role is onsite Monday through Friday, and candidates must reside within commuting distance of Denver, Colorado. Program Specialists perform functions related to the award, oversight and programmatic administration of discretionary grants funded through the Office of Head Start (OHS). These functions provide necessary support to the client’s staff in managing Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs. They include the review and analysis of applications, reports and other documents; providing accurate and timely guidance to recipients; and conducting site visits. Program Specialists also support Head Start recipients in improving their performance, which includes performing activities related to identifying and mitigating recipient risk factors, compliance issue corrections, and school readiness & program goal analyses. Program Specialists must be able to effectively communicate in writing and speaking with client staff, external partners and contracts, Head Start program governing bodies and executive management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college, preferably in education, early childhood education, program design and management or related fields.
At least 3 years of relevant progressive professional experience supporting and/or managing programs.
Demonstrated ability to aggregate, analyze and present data gathered from multiple sources.
Strong organizational, administrative and project coordination skills, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with staff, clients, remote colleagues and supervisors, and others.
Proven ability to effectively communicate (when speaking and writing), exercise sound judgment, ask questions and be open to the input and decisions of others.
Able to, both independently and collaboratively, solve problems, make decisions and support change.
Computer, Internet and general proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word and PowerPoint; demonstrated proficiency in utilizing a variety of web-based and off-the-shelf data management software packages.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree a plus.
Preferably early education programs.
Head Start and Early Head Start experience is not required.
Grants management experience also a plus.
Knowledge of the federal grant guidelines and the Federal Grant Life Cycle are desired.

Responsibilities

Provide necessary support to the client’s staff in managing Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs.
Accurate and timely analysis and review of funding applications according to established Regional Office timeframes and procedures.
Review and analysis of recipient program performance reports, Incident reports and complaints, information, and indicators.
Provision of accurate and timely regulatory and policy guidance to Head Start recipients, in consultation with federal staff.
Coordinate and incorporate Regional Management (RPM & SPS), TTA (Training & Technical Assistance), and Grants Specialist staff on all recipient case work.
Review and analysis of recipient waiver requests.
Review and analysis of applications for facility construction, purchase and major renovation.
Participate in all required Regional meetings and conferences.
Complete all required HHS and BCT Trainings.
Conduct monthly calls with recipients and Regional Grants Specialists covering various topics.
Participate in FA2/RAN review phone calls & initiate Discipline Incident Reports.
Assist recipients with knowledge and understanding of HSES (Head Start Enterprise System).
Process various requests including Annual Continuations, Key Hires, Waivers, Change of Scopes, COLA/Quality, Deviations, Carry-Overs, Incremental Funding, Slot Reductions & Budget Revisions.
Conduct annual site visits to recipients as part of the five-year monitoring cycle for grant oversight according to Regional Office protocols.
Activities related to the identification and mitigation of recipient risk factors, correction of regulatory compliance issues, review and analysis of school readiness and programmatic goals; and improvement of Head Start recipient performance.
Grant Applications and Awards: complete review, analysis, and administrative activities related to the OHS grant funding application and award process.
Program Performance and Monitoring: provide support services related to the programmatic administration of Head Start and Early Head Start grants.
Coordination and Collaboration: perform activities to improve and promote coordination and collaboration between OHS and internal and external parties.
Competitive Grant Process and Paneling: provide support tasks related to the competitive grant process and participate as Panel Monitors in support of competitive grant application reviews.