BCT Partners - Head Start Program Support Specialist

About BCT We harness the power of expertise and innovation to solve complex social problems, transform lives, and create lasting change. BCT is a management consulting firm that tackles complex social problems through data analytics, innovative solutions and program management. We believe complex issues are best solved through collaboration. As a result, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that combines domain expertise, research, evaluation, technology, organizational development, and a passion for change. About the Role The Program Support Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the Office of Head Start (OHS) by managing and overseeing discretionary grants that serve children and families nationwide. This position partners closely with OHS Regional Office staff to support the full grant lifecycle, including application review, award processing, and ongoing program monitoring. The role involves analyzing grant applications, budgets, and program performance data to ensure compliance with federal requirements and alignment with program goals. The Program Specialist works directly with grant recipients to clarify requirements, resolve issues, and strengthen submissions, while also supporting competitive review processes and funding decisions. In addition, the Program Specialist helps drive program quality and accountability by monitoring recipient performance, conducting oversight activities and site visits, and identifying potential risks or compliance concerns. Through thoughtful analysis and clear guidance, the role supports recipients in improving operations, advancing school readiness outcomes, and achieving long‑term impact. This is a highly collaborative position that requires strong communication and organizational skills, with regular interaction across federal staff, external partners, contractors, and program leadership. How You Contribute to the Team Provide necessary support to the managing of Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs. Accurate and timely analysis and review of funding applications according to established Regional Office timeframes and procedures. Review and analysis of recipient program performance reports, incident reports and complaints, information, and indicators. Provision of accurate and timely regulatory and policy guidance to Head Start recipients, in consultation with federal staff. Coordinate and incorporate Regional Management (RPM & SPS), TTA (Training & Technical Assistance), and Grants Specialist staff on all recipient case work. Review and analysis of recipient waiver requests. Review and analysis of applications for facility construction, purchase and major renovation. Participate in all required Regional meetings and conferences. Complete all required HHS and BCT trainings. Conduct monthly calls with recipients and Regional Grants Specialists covering topics such as Checkpoint Data, Self‑Assessment, Enrollment, Staff Salaries and Retention, Community Assessments, Continuous Improvements, Transitions and other recipient‑specific topics. Participate in FA2/RAN review phone calls & initiate Discipline Incident Reports. Assist recipients with knowledge and understanding of HSES (Head Start Enterprise System). Process the following requests: Annual Continuations, Key Hires, Waivers (Disability, Non‑Federal Share & Teacher), Change of Scopes, COLA/Quality, Deviations, Carry‑Overs, Incremental Funding, Slot Reductions & Budget Revisions. Conduct annual site visits to recipients as part of the five‑year monitoring cycle for grant oversight according to Regional Office protocols. Activities related to the identification and mitigation of recipient risk factors, correction of regulatory compliance issues, review and analysis of school readiness and programmatic goals; and improvement of Head Start recipient performance. Program Support Specialists assigned specific recipient workloads of individual Head Start, Early Head Start, or Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grants perform the following: Grant Applications and Awards : complete review, analysis, and administrative activities related to the OHS grant funding application and award process, including comprehensive programmatic and cost review of funding applications, completion of follow‑up contact with recipients and/or applicants to obtain required information, and completion of all administrative activities related to the grant awards process. Program Performance and Monitoring : provide support services related to the programmatic administration of Head Start and Early Head Start grants through activities related to supporting the OHS goals and objectives to improve accountability, school readiness and program performance for Head Start grants and provide effective guidance, technical assistance and direction to recipients in implementing Head Start programs. Coordination and Collaboration : perform activities to improve and promote coordination and collaboration between OHS and internal and external parties, including reviewing, developing and documenting accurate and timely responses and resolutions to external inquiries and complaints; participate in meetings at Federal, State and local levels to improve and promote partnerships, collaboration and coordination among a variety of entities that support the OHS and ACF mission, goals, strategies and initiatives. Competitive Grant Process and Paneling : provide support tasks related to the competitive grant process and participate as Panel Monitors in support of competitive grant application reviews. Perform these and other reasonable tasks as assigned by management in support of BCT’s goals and objectives. What You Bring to the Table As no individual candidate meets every qualification, we encourage candidates who meet most of these requirements to apply! Educational Requirements Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education, human services, public administration, or related field, from an accredited university or college. Experience Requirements At least 2 years of progressive professional experience directly related to early childhood programs, with a preference for Head Start/Early Head Start programs. Experience measuring the performance progress, compliance and accountability of Head Start/Early Head Start programs preferred. Grants management experience is also preferred. Skills and Expertise Demonstrated ability to utilize a variety of web‑based and off‑the‑shelf data management software packages. Demonstrated ability to aggregate, analyze, and present data gathered from multiple sources. Demonstrated ability to produce high quality written products such as memoranda, presentations and correspondence. Expertise in federal monitoring of early childhood programs. Knowledge of the federal grant guidelines and the Federal Grant Life Cycle is desired. Ability to conduct research, analyze data, generate summaries and create presentations from report summaries and other resources. Strong organizational, administrative and project coordination skills, a demonstrated attention to details and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities. Computer, Internet and general proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Ability to learn and operate web‑based systems, such as those used by the Office of Head Start is also required; experience with Head Start Enterprise System (HSES), Smartsheet and SmartFlow is preferred. Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) and applicable federal, state and local laws also a plus. Communication Skills Proven ability to effectively communicate (when speaking and writing), exercise sound judgment, ask questions and be open to the input and decisions of others. Strong interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with staff, clients, remote colleagues and supervisors, and others. Able to, both independently and collaboratively, solve problems, make decisions and support change. Must be able to communicate, collaborate and interact with colleagues in a remote work environment; must participate in virtual meetings, appear on camera as needed, and contribute to meeting content as required. There are multiple factors considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align with the specified role, geographic location, education as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. BCT offers a competitive total compensation package that, for this position, includes a base salary between $60,000 and $65,000 along with a generous benefits package. BCT’s benefits include partially subsidized medical, dental and vision coverage, fully vested 401k plan with company match, company paid life and disability insurance plans, paid family leave, and a generous paid time off policy. This is a remote/telecommute position that is located in and around Philadelphia PA, Denver CO, Kansas City MO, or Washington, DC. Though we do have staff in all four time zones, BCT Partners headquarters is located on the East Coast in New Jersey. We support and encourage a strong staff community, leveraging virtual communication tools and collaborative work practices. The African philosophy of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) is an overarching value that influences our leadership and interactions. Our Client & This Project The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dedicated to fostering health and well‑being by providing federal leadership, partnership, and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services. ACF serves families, children, youth, individuals, and communities through funding, policy direction, training, technical assistance, and information services. The Office of Head Start (OHS), part of ACF, promotes school readiness of young children from low‑income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. OHS provides operating grants to local public and private organizations to deliver comprehensive child development services to low‑income children (ages birth to five years) and their families. Those working on this project will provide customer service, grants management assistance, and data management services in direct support of the ACF and OHS missions. They shall deliver responsive and efficient customer service to grant recipients to and in support of federal staff, streamline and support grants management processes, and provide effective and accurate data management services. This effort will enhance program operations, support evidence‑based decision‑making, and advance OHS objectives to promote child and family well‑being and improve school readiness for children from low‑income families. BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT JOB POSTINGS using BCT Partners' name & logo. Legitimate BCT communication will only come from bctpartners.com or recruiting+@applytojob.com emails, not free commercial services like Gmail or WhatsApp. BCT Partners will never request payment‑related details or advancement of money during the application process. All open BCT jobs are easily accessible via our website Careers page, which includes a link to our open jobs list and job application system. If in doubt about any position or potential offer, please follow up with our team: View email address on click.appcast.io. If you receive suspicious emails from someone posing as BCT Partners that ask for payment or personal information, contact us immediately at View email address on click.appcast.io. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. BCT PARTNERS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PROVIDES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ALL PERSONS. No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military and/or veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally protected classes. BCT will recruit, hire, train and promote qualified individuals in all job titles, and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, military and/or veteran status, or disability in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, which require affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. BCT Partners does not discriminate on the basis of national origin or citizenship status as provided under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. 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