Grants Management Specialist - Department Of State - Washington, DC

About the Agency

This position is located in the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy (PPD) located within the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) in the Department of State (DOS). SCA/PPD informs, guides, and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives in the countries of South and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, and Pakistan through public diplomacy resources and expertise across all sectors and is responsible for: coordinating U.S. foreign assistance public diplomacy to the entire SCA region, totaling more than $85 million annually. The office provides policy direction and operating guidance to officials Washington and at SCA embassies responsible for the implementation of regional assistance programs for public diplomacy; overseeing strategic planning, budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation for the Bureau’s public diplomacy goals; and provides grants management of foreign assistance awards for the SCA Bureau and for overseas SCA Embassies.

This position is within the Division of Grants Management under the direction of the Division Chief, who will provide overall management guidance, allocation, and supervision of all grants management resources. The incumbent commands a mastery of grant management and cooperative agreements principles and technical program requirements to plan and manage or make decisions or recommendations that significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of complex, long-range, or interrelated DOS policies or programs concerning federal grants and cooperative agreements; and knowledge of business strategy and program or technical requirements sufficient to perform or direct in-depth evaluations of the financial and technical capabilities, or the performance of the grantee.

This position is eligible for telework; additional criteria will be required (e.g., supervisory approval).

Duties

Serves as the primary contact for assigned grants and cooperative agreements and represents the office in discussions with recipients. Reviews award recipients’ financial and performance reporting to monitor and evaluate the progress towards the award’s objectives. Provides training and orientation for grantee community, as needed and actively participates with the Office of the Procurement Executive, SCA Budget Office, Resource Management, Office of the Inspector General, Legal, Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Office of Logistic Management in outreach activities as required.

Independently performs cost analyses of proposal budgets. Analyzes cost data submitted by applicants to substantiate direct and indirect costs. Determines reasonableness of cost offered. Conducts studies of specific questionable costs. Analyzes terms and conditions of previous awards. Applies knowledge of negotiated indirect cost rate agreements (NICRA) and negotiation strategies used to establish indirect cost rates for relevant grantees.

Screens ranked applications against eligibility criteria, review and analyzes budget estimates for ability, reasonableness and consistency with past trends. Explains the application and evaluation process to applicants and grantees and answers or resolves any questions that arise. Works closely with grantee to achieve informal resolution of disputes as they arise; and provides input and background information for formal adversarial proceedings, such as the agency’s appeal process.

Signs high-dollar grant and cooperative agreement packages on behalf of the U.S.government.

Provides expert advice and assistance to recipients and applicants in interpreting the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Federal and local laws, Federal Code of Regulations, OMB Circulars, Agency directives and policies, and other broad guidelines. Is the lead in providing advice to program staffs and recipients on Federal assistance management techniques and procedures. Reviews and recommends Bureau responses to congressional inquiries regarding grants and cooperative agreement policies, procedures or awards, and provides advice to other offices concerning their responses.

Travel Required

Occasional Travel

Routine international travel in countries where security is challenging and may require elements of physical and mental dexterity.

Relocation Authorized

No

Job Requirements

Job Requirements

Key Requirements

Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.

One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Statement of Employment & Financial Interest required prior to appointment.

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Applicants must applying for the GS-13 must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

Experience giving Public Diplomacy-related advice to grantees in Afghanistan and Pakistan regarding changes in Federal financial assistance policies and regulations.

Experience evaluating Public Diplomacy proposals for Afghanistan and Pakistan and preparing and conducting grant negotiations.

Experience tracking, reviewing and analyzing post-award financial reports, expenditure reports, and correspondence to identify financial and administrative problems for Public Diplomacy awards in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Experience signing high-dollar grant and cooperative agreement packages. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

.

Security Clearance

Secret

Additional Information