Grants Management Specialist

Summary

Help shape the future of America's maritime transportation system. As a Grants Management Specialist with MARAD's Office of Port Infrastructure Development, you will support federal grant programs that modernize and improve port infrastructure. Responsibilities include reviewing applications, monitoring awards, providing technical assistance, and helping ensure federal investments achieve intended program objectives.

Duties

As a Grants Management Specialist, you will: Administer and oversee the review and evaluation of grant applications, supporting documentation, and eligibility requirements to determine compliance with statutory, regulatory, and program requirements and recommend funding decisions. Administer and monitor a portfolio of grant-funded projects throughout the award lifecycle to ensure recipient compliance with award terms, applicable laws and regulations, performance objectives, and Federal financial assistance requirements. Serve as a technical advisor to applicants, recipients, program officials, and stakeholders by interpreting grant policies, regulations, and procedures, resolving complex issues, and providing authoritative guidance throughout the grants management process. Conduct compliance reviews, risk assessments, and program analyses to identify financial, administrative, operational, or programmatic issues; develop recommendations; and implement corrective actions to strengthen program integrity and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and award requirements. Administer and oversee grant programs that support Federal investments in America's port infrastructure by advancing national transportation, economic competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and national security objectives. Evaluate grant management policies, procedures, and business processes and recommend improvements to enhance program effectiveness, strengthen internal controls, and improve customer service. The ideal candidate for this position is a motivated professional who enjoys problem-solving, collaboration, and program management. You are comfortable reviewing information, analyzing requirements, providing customer service, and working with stakeholders to achieve program goals. Whether you are building your grants management experience or already administering complex programs, you bring strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, along with a commitment to supporting federal investments that improve the nation's port infrastructure. Requirements

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include: Experience supporting grants, cooperative agreements, financial assistance programs, contracts, or similar funding programs. Experience reviewing grant information for compliance with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or program requirements. Experience providing customer service, technical assistance, or program support to internal or external stakeholders. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience administering, reviewing, monitoring grants, or supporting grants, cooperative agreements, financial assistance programs, contracts, or similar funding programs. Experience monitoring program, financial, administrative, or compliance-related activities to ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or award requirements. Experience providing grant technical assistance, guidance, or advisory services to internal or external stakeholders. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include: Experience administering, managing, or overseeing grants, cooperative agreements, financial assistance programs, or similar funding programs, including providing authoritative guidance throughout the award lifecycle. Experience conducting grants compliance reviews, risk assessments, monitoring activities, or resolving audit findings to ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and award requirements. Experience serving as a technical advisor or subject matter expert on grants management matters, providing guidance, interpreting policy, and recommending solutions to program officials, recipients, or other stakeholders. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Technical Competence - (Grants Administration & Awards Management) – Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Compliance - (Grants Compliance, Monitoring, & Risk Management) – Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance. Customer Service - (Grant Advisory Services, Analysis & Program Support) – Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve problems, or satisfy expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. For all types of consideration, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED (For the GS-11only) if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. How You Will Be Evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. ITo receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination. You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring. Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other Information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.