Grants/Contracts Specialist

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or related field and one year experience in grants, budgeting, finance, or related experience; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation is required prior to employment. Applicants within six months of meeting the minimum education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status.

Driver License required for Community Support Services:
A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment.   If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.  

Successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.
 

Position Summary

This is professional work providing administrative and operational support in all phases of grant management within an assigned County department.

An employee assigned to this classification is responsible for grant research, preparation, coordination, monitoring,  reviewing, modifying, drafting, redrafting, and writing of grants and  grant related contracts for presentation to the Department, County leadership, County Manager and/or BoCC for acceptance.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor or designee and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observation of results achieved.
 

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes   a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including:  integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Facilitates County grant proposals by searching out available grant offerings at local, state, and national levels, that are appropriate to the County revenue diversification effort.Maintains an inventory of funding resources and  information to allow  monitoring of grants and  grant related contracts to insure compliance with Federal, State, and County guidelines.

Prepares, writes, and submits grant applications utilizing desktop publishing and word processing software.

May assist other County departments in the development, writing and review of grant applications.
Analyzes grants and grant agreements, reviews language and makes modification and re-drafts, as required.
 Responsible for assigned Department and County grant and grant related contract information including coordinating and monitoring of grant funded projects, grant related contracts and expenditures.
 Coordinates and leads FEMA Reimbursement Team to establish County-wide operational procedures and filing disaster reimbursements.
 Coordinates financial audits and liaison's with FEMA and other grant/contract representatives.

Reviews and answers requests for information regarding Department and County grant and grant related contractual relationships. Maintains an on-going database of all relevant grants and grant information, as well as permanent files for grants and grant related contracts.

Evaluates compliance with grant and grant related contract requirements.

Works with and/or trains appropriate staff to prepare or assist with grant applications, process grant awards, track compliance, monitor expenditures and assist with reporting needs.
 Assists in the preparation of the annual budget with regard to grants and grant related contracts.

Represents the County on various committees and groups, as directed.

Provides periodic updates to the County Manager and Board on the status of grants in the County.

Works with lobbyists and state and federal agencies on grant issues.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

For Community Support Services:
Reviews and submits invoices for payment, compiles program data, and develops grant expenditure reports.
Drives a County vehicle and/or personal vehicle to various locations regularly to monitor contracts and/or attend community meetings.
 NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIESConsiderable knowledge of principles and practices of contract management, grant writing, and budgeting.

Considerable knowledge of Federal and State funding sources and requirements.

Knowledge of governmental accounting.

Knowledge of the Federal and State rules and regulations relating to the administration of grant programs.

Ability to perform analytical work carefully and accurately.

Ability to collect, compile and analyze statistical and fiscal data and to present logical conclusions in graphic and narrative form.

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County departments, co-workers, elected officials, associates, representatives of Federal, State and local agencies and the general public.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including public speaking and preparing written reports, memoranda and graphic presentations.

Ability to use a computer and associated software.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach and to be mobile.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, and distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$50,752.00 Annually