Grant Coordinator II (Grant Negotiator) cc711-20534-B20-1921

The Texas Education Agency is seeking a talented individual to join a team of professionals dedicated to improving the educational outcomes for all public school students in the state of Texas. This position reports to a grant negotiation supervisor in the Grants Administration Division, which is responsible for awarding and administering over $3 billion in federal and state education grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools each year. Division staff process approximately 4,000 grant applications, 4,000 application amendments, and 2,000 budget adjustments each year.

The grant coordinator analyzes and reviews a large number of grant applications and determines if they comply with applicable fiscal and programmatic requirements, laws, regulations, guidance, and standards. Work involves extensive communication, clarification, and negotiation with grant subrecipients regarding specific requirements and budget details.

A successful candidate must be committed to providing outstanding customer service, understanding and maintaining compliance with complex program requirements for numerous grants, and helping school districts and open-enrollment charter schools use their grant funds appropriately and effectively. The professional selected for this position will work under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and is expected to help the division meet its performance goals and support the agency in fulfilling its strategic priorities.

Works under limited direction with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed at: http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx.

Essential Job Functions:

This position is responsible for the following tasks:
• Review assigned grant applications and amendments by established deadlines and according to defined performance measures, clarifying information with and assisting grant subrecipients as needed.
• Understand and maintain current knowledge of specific requirements for multiple grant programs, as well as all applicable laws, regulations, guidance, and standards.
• Make accurate adjustments to approved grant application budgets to incorporate changes in funding, processing assigned changes by established deadlines.
• Provide assistance and support to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, TEA staff, and other stakeholders regarding grant compliance issues such as allowable expenditures, budget standards, and submitting amendments.
• Provide assistance and support to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, TEA staff, and other stakeholders regarding agency procedures, systems, and databases.
• Complete user testing of modifications to the agency's online grant application system (eGrants) within tight timelines, and suggest improvements to grant-related documents such as the agency's paper grant application, applicant instructions, and internal checklists and procedures.
• Assist with other duties as needed, including training other staff in processes and procedures and maintaining division databases and systems.
• Work hours: 40 hours per week within the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Education:  Graduation from an accredited college or university.

Experience:  Two (2) years of experience in working with the fiscal, legal, or programmatic requirements of federal or state grants or contracts.

Preferred: Four (4) or more years of experience working at TEA or a regional education service center, a school district, or an open-enrollment charter school with responsibilities for developing grant applications; completing grant applications; or reviewing grant applications for compliance with established rules, and communicating and clarifying information with grant subrecipients.

Substitution:  Education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

Summary of Physical Requirements:  Regular and punctual attendance; frequent use of personal computer, telephone, copier, printers; frequent review of large volumes of paper and electronic documents; sitting for extended periods of time; work more than 40 hours per week when required to meet strict deadlines.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 

Knowledge of:  Federal or state laws, regulations, guidance, and agreements pertaining to grants administration; general administrative regulations, uniform administrative grant requirements, cost principles, financial accounting rules, and grant processes and procedures; education grants administration resources such as the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR); electronic accounting and grants administration systems; and grant application processes.

Skill in:  Consistent, detailed analysis of a large number of complex documents, both on paper and using online systems; reviewing budgets and making accurate determinations regarding reasonable, necessary, and allowable expenditures; accurately identifying compliance issues and appropriate ways to resolve them; making accurate mathematical calculations; and using Microsoft Office applications.

Ability to: Understand, interpret, and apply complex laws, regulations, guidelines, agreements, and requirements; consistently follow and apply established policies and procedures; provide outstanding customer service to a diverse group of internal and external customers; communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to explain complex requirements to a variety of audiences; maintain concentration and attention to detail in a busy, fast-paced environment; work independently to meet deadlines and answer questions from stakeholders; establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with a diverse group of internal and external staff; be flexible and organized to handle multiple and shifting priorities; use sound, independent judgment to make decisions; work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team; use established procedures for record-keeping.

NOTE:  An in-box exercise may be administered at time of  interview.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Salary is dependent on qualifications.

Positions exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will earn compensatory time off rather than overtime for hours in excess of 40 per week. May be required to work hours other than 8 to 5. May be required to work weekends and holidays.

In accordance with applicable federal and state equal opportunity laws, it is TEA's policy that no person shall be excluded from consideration for recruitment, selection, appointment, training, promotion, retention or any other personnel action, or be denied any benefits or participation in any educational programs or activities which it operates on the grounds of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status (except where age, sex or disability constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification necessary to proper and efficient administration.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires all new employees to present proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. TEA does not sponsor H1-B work visas. Males, 18 to 25 years of age, are required to present proof of selective service registration (or exemption) prior to being employed by any state agency.

There is a 60-day waiting period for health insurance coverage.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

Please note, TEA does not accept resumes.

An internal applicant who is selected for a position in their current salary group that has the same state title is not eligible for a salary increase.  An internal applicant who is selected for a position in their current salary group with a new state title may receive an increase up to 3.4%.

The Texas Education Agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.