Grants Management Specialist

Summary These positions are located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of Grants Management (OGM). The OGM is responsible for providing centralized services to ETA program offices for federal assistance (grants management) to ensure effective and uniform implementation of Federal and Departmental procurement and assistance regulations and guidelines within ETA. These positions are inside the bargaining unit. Responsibilities This is a career ladder progression position; the duties described below are at the full performance level, GS-12. If selected at a grade below GS-12, the incumbent will serve in a developmental capacity, wherein the work is less complex in nature and the supervisor or a senior level employee provides specific instruction and guidance. Major Duties at the GS-12 grade level: Works on grants management and cooperative agreements for one of several major grants programs within ETA; participates in the administration of grant/cooperative agreements including, but not limited to technical panel reviews of applications, building grant awards, modification reviews and processing, assisting with financial reporting, researching policy questions, resolving audits or performing closeout duties. Performs work in the development of federal assistance objectives for applicable programs in compliance with governing regulations federal assistance standards. Supports grantee financial reporting by responding to questions, conducting training, reconciling e-grants reports and assisting with system enhancements; reviews and analyzes closeout documents. Communicates with grantees regarding any closeout deficiencies and submits final closeout packages to the Closeout Grants Officer for approval; forwards audits assigned to grantees for response. Reviews and analyzes documentation submitted by grantees. Prepares Initial and Final Determinations within specified timeframes for approval by the Grants Officer; responds to various inquiries including - formal protests/appeals, congressional inquiries, program office fiscal or regulation interpretations and grantee questions. Prepares position papers/answers questions relating to the overarching program legislations, federal assistance regulations or other application laws/regulations. Performs grants management and cooperative agreement administration typically including incremental funding, reviewing and preparing modifications, , reviewing and processing grant extensions and incorporating grant revisions into the grant agreement. Assists with the preparation/review/publication of Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA's), developing and incorporating language for the FOA to ensure compliance with assistance requirements and merit review procedures; receives and controls applications. Provides guidance to program officials, grants applicants and recipients in the interpretation, application and implementation of applicable laws and regulations, policies, procedures pertaining to all aspects of federal assistance program activities, e.g., grants, cooperative and inter-agency agreement planning and solicitation through program administration, expiration and closeout, etc. Participates in various meetings and conferences in the field and at headquarters where grants and cooperative agreement items are discussed; may serve as a trainer for grantee orientations or workshops. Develops planning of negotiation strategy, participates in negotiations conducted with grantees to develop the budget and grants terms and assists in the preparation of award document for signature. Responds to official written inquiries from members of Congress, other federal agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government, public and private organizations, and interested citizens concerning specific questions about individual grants managed and/or general questions about the intricacies of grants management and federal assistance activities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications For the GS-09: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-07 in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience for GS-09 includes ALL of the following: Experience working with grants/cooperative agreements programs by providing grants-related assistance and services covering the grant life cycle; and Experience analyzing grant policies and/or procedures to provide recommendations to improve grant program operations. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination of experience and education: Possess a combination of specialized experience as described above AND graduate education as described above, which when combined would equate to at least 100%. For the GS-11: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience for GS-11 includes ALL of the following: Experience working with grants/cooperative agreements programs by providing grants-related assistance and services covering the grant life cycle; Experience evaluating and researching a variety of sources such as regulations, policies, and/or directives in order to make grant program interpretations; and Experience analyzing grant policies and/or procedures to provide recommendations to improve grant program operations. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related. OR Combination of experience and education: Possess a combination of specialized experience as described above AND graduate education as described above, which when combined would equate to at least 100%. For the GS-12: pplicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. To qualify at the GS-12 you must have experience in any of the following areas working with workforce development programs (youth, apprenticeship, adult, dislocated workers, older workers, homeless) through grants/cooperative agreements. In addition to the requirement above, you must have at least four of the five specialized experience statements below: Experience working with grants/cooperative agreements programs by providing grants-related assistance and services covering the grant life cycle; Experience developing written recommendations to senior leadership such as directives, memoranda, program guidance, regulations, etc.; Experience analyzing grant policies or procedures to provide recommendations to improve grants management; Experience developing and providing training (technical assistance) to internal and external stakeholders on grants management topics including fiscal and administrative topics including providing mentorship and technical assistance to staff; Experience participating or leading workgroups or program teams on projects. Education Requirements: There is no education substitution at the GS-12 level. Education Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB. NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date. Additional Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. For more information, Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.