Lead Program Specialist

Lead Program Specialist

We are seeking an experienced Lead Program Specialist to support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS).

In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to federal staff, providing critical support across grants management, program oversight, and stakeholder engagement for Head Start and Early Head Start programs nationwide. You will play a key role in ensuring program effectiveness, compliance, and continuous improvement while supporting mission outcomes for children and families.

This is a high-impact, client-facing role supporting complex, multi-regional federal programs.

This position is contingent upon contract award. The listed salary range is a general estimate based on current information and may vary. Final compensation will be determined based on qualifications and experience; candidates should not expect offers at the top of the range unless exceptionally qualified.

Key Responsibilities

Grants Management & Program Execution

• Support end-to-end administration of federal grants, including application review, award processing, and post-award activities
• Analyze grant applications, budgets, and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with federal regulations and program requirements
• Coordinate with grant recipients to resolve issues, negotiate revisions, and finalize documentation
• Support budget modifications, supplemental funding requests, and waiver reviews

Program Oversight & Monitoring

• Conduct ongoing monitoring and oversight of grant recipient performance
• Analyze program data, reports, and correspondence to identify risks, trends, and compliance issues
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to improve performance and ensure regulatory compliance
• Support onsite and remote monitoring reviews, including planning, execution, and follow-up reporting

Regional & National Program Support

• Provide direct support to Office of Head Start Regional Offices in managing grant portfolios
• Contribute to national initiatives, including enrollment performance, change in scope actions, and incident tracking
• Support development and implementation of standardized procedures, tools, and training

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Aggregate and analyze program, financial, and operational data from multiple sources
• Develop reports, presentations, and executive-ready materials to support leadership decision-making
• Respond to ad hoc data requests and support high-priority leadership inquiries

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a primary liaison between federal staff, grant recipients, and external partners
• Manage inquiries, complaints, and communications with professionalism and accuracy
• Participate in meetings, working groups, and collaborative initiatives across federal and partner organizations

Operational & Administrative Support

• Develop and maintain documentation, reports, and correspondence
• Support preparation of briefings, presentations, and training materials
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of required deliverables and documentation

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Public Administration, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience supporting early childhood programs (Head Start preferred)
• Experience with:
  • Federal grants management and lifecycle administration
  • Program oversight, monitoring, and compliance
  • Financial and programmatic analysis
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Analyze and synthesize complex data from multiple sources
  • Develop high-quality written deliverables (reports, memos, presentations)
  • Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Head Start or Early Head Start programs
• Prior experience in a federal or federally funded environment
• 2 years supervisory or team leadership experience

Core Competencies

• Grants management and regulatory compliance
• Program monitoring and risk assessment
• Data analysis and performance reporting
• Stakeholder engagement and customer service
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Strong written and verbal communication

Work Environment

• Onsite at OHS Regional Office with potential telework flexibility
• May require travel for site visits, meetings, and program support
• Opportunity to support cross-regional activities and national initiatives

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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