Lead Grant Specialist

Lead Grant Specialist

What began as a small clinic established by young community leaders on the West Side of Chicago in 1972 has grown into one of the largest providers of high-quality and culturally competent services focusing on counseling and crisis intervention services, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention, education, case management, community and family services. We are dedicated to rendering compassionate and effective programs to promote the quality of life by catalyzing to advocate, educate and empower individuals and their families.

This position is responsible for working with various staff within Rincon Family Services and its affiliate organizations, to ensure grant and contract service provisions meet the established and agreed upon standards of reporting, quality, and compliance requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, programmatic, operations and fiscal requirements.

At Rincon, our commitment to mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity is woven into the structure of all that we do. We value:

• Dedication - Embodying effective and transparent leadership and quality client care.
• Education Preventative programming and clinical services based on industry standards, competence and outreach.
• Accountability Consistent service delivery, measurable success, and sensible financial management.
• Advocacy Empowerment, reduction of treatment stigma, and relationship building with partners.
• Compassion Embracing culturally diverse communities and equality through sensitivity to individual needs.

With these values in mind, we promote a culture that fosters professional development and agency success. Many of our employees span an extended tenure, and we pride ourselves on developing dedicated and supported team members.

Areas of accountability include:

• Work closely with direct supervisor to ensure timely submission of grant reports, invoices, amendments, and related deliverables.
• Assist with monitoring grant reporting deadlines, deliverables, and compliance requirements across assigned programs.
• Assist with onboarding and training of Grant Specialists and program staff on grant reporting processes, forms, and procedures.
• Escalate compliance concerns, reporting delays, or funding issues to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Create and submit fiscal grant reports timely and accurately.
• Engage in continuous knowledge development regarding industry regulations, best practices, tools, techniques, and performance standards for existing, developing, and new programs.
• Partner with internal Program, Finance, and Compliance teams to ensure timely and accurate program reports and financial invoices.
• Attend external funding related meetings, as necessary, for each prospective or current grant sources.
• Maintain filing system for all contract and award letters, managing information in centralized and accessible locations.
• Work with newly established contract/grant programs for greater organizational integration to enhance compliance and work with established guidance with forms, policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• In partnership with the program directors and compliance, monitor existing contracts to ensure successful implementation and outcomes-based reporting.
• Proactively address any outcome shortcomings with agency directors in order to build strategies for outcome achievement and facilitate effective relationships with funders.
• Review audit findings and work with program staff, operations and CCO to implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Assist in identification of training needs, particularly as they relate to quality standards.
• Participate in any assigned committees.

Rincon Rewards & Benefits include:

• Health insurance
• Dental & Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Generous PTO (Paid time off)- Accrue up to 21 days in Year 1, some PTO carryover allowable.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employment may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Certain employees may qualify for City of Chicago commuter transit benefits

Rincon's Work Environment includes:

The Grant Specialist must be able to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, including transporting paperwork and other materials between a variety of on-site and off-site locations and preparing for activities that may require traveling to off-site locations for functions relating to auditing or compliance. They must be able to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, including a calculator, copier, printer, fax, and scanner. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Schedule:

• Standard hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Some flexibility available.

Language:

• Bilingual English/Spanish language competency strongly preferred.

Rincon Family Services is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements:

The knowledge and expertise that matters most include:

• A commitment to the values of the organization, including but not limited to recovery oriented, trauma-informed approaches, while demonstrating good judgment, flexibility, patience, and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters.
• Excellent ability to work on multiple projects, manage multiple deadlines and remain flexible as priorities may change.
• Excellent ability to read, interpret and assist in contract compliance requirements, including but not limited to programmatic and fiscal items.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Comfortable with consistent communication with individuals at all levels within the organization.
• Basic experience/knowledge of grants, implementation, and compliance, including but not limited to the programmatic, operational, contractual, and fiscal aspects.
• Resourceful and well organized.
• Ability to adapt and implement changing compliance requirements.
• Excellent computer, analytical and research skills. Proficient on the web, MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Pro as well as the ability to learn new software.

Position qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance and/or social services preferred.
• 1-3 years of work experience with business related functions -including but not limited to data entry, record keeping, finance reporting and interdepartmental communication.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, the rest of the Microsoft Office Suite (Office 365), Adobe Pro, the Internet, and general data entry. QuickBooks experience a plus.