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Grants Specialist, Senior

Category:                    Exempt

Pay Grade:                  E22

Job Code:                    01479

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

JOB SUMMARY

Performs responsible advanced professional work writing, maintaining, reviewing and coordinating federal and state grant programs and contract administration and other assigned special projects.  Employees in this class work at a high performance level with minimum supervision and exercise a high degree of independent judgment in resolving problems.  Work includes researching, evaluating information, initiating action and preparing grants within the framework of professional grant writing techniques and existing laws, rules and regulations. An employee in this class facilitates development, review and editing of grant proposals; conducts extensive research for potential funding sources; interacts with administration and outside agencies in developing proposals for Pinellas County. In addition, employees within this class coordinate and facilitate communication efforts in the development of publications and performing public relations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all inclusive)

• Coordinates special grants projects that may range from program planning, budget preparation, research, and public relations;
• Interprets federal, state, and county regulations and guidelines on programmatic and administrative matters pertaining to grant programs;
• Prepares all documents for grant funding and maintains grant funding resource materials and publications;
• Coordinates and implements project management of various environmental activities within the department;
• Monitors environmental site inspections, prepares reports, and submits to permitting agencies for review and acceptance in alignment with various grant projects;
• Evaluates and monitors projects and contracts for federal, state and county programs;
• Develops and maintains contract specifications for purchase of a wide variety of grant services;
• Establishes and maintains systems for contract monitoring, bid specification review, grant preparation, and contract writing pertaining to grants;
• Prepares and submits various grant award applications;
• Liaison for various county organizations concerning federal, state and local funding opportunities;
• Monitors grant compliance; prepares periodic reports on fiscal status of grants and other resource programs. 
• Reviews and edits various grants construction plans;
• Writes grant applications according to format required, and submits application to department director; discusses program requirements and sources of funding available with director and/or departmental Finance Manager;
• Meets with representatives of funding source(s) to work out final details of proposal;
• Coordinates evaluation and monitoring of grant-funded programs;
• Maintains master files on grants;
• Monitors paperwork connected with grant-funded programs;
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Nine (9) years professional experience grant writing, contract negotiation and/or monitoring of various federal or state funding sources; or Associate’s degree in finance, accounting, business, public administration, or a related field and seven (7) years professional experience as described above; or Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, public administration, or a related field and five (5) years professional experience as described above; or an equivalent combination of training, education, and/or experience.  

Special Qualifications (May be required depending on area of assignment):

• Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Employee’s name must not appear on the Health & Human Services exclusion list.
• Other highly desirable knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials relevant to a position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of federal and state grant programs and the fiscal procedure required in this specialized area;
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and methods of grant acquisitions including advanced knowledge in environmental management;
• Knowledge of national, state, and local grant acquisition related laws, rules, ordinances, codes, and regulations;
• Skill in written, research and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to plan and execute a complex grant management program related to the specialized area of assignment;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other federal, state and county operational units;
• Ability to operate a personal computer and related word processing, spreadsheet and database programs;
• Ability to maintain detailed records, develop presentations of composite data and perform comparative analysis of fiscal and operational performance data.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device.
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
• Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.