Livable Communities Senior Grant Administrator

Sr. Grant Administrator (Livable Communities)

OPENING DATE

10/01/2024

CLOSING DATE

10/14/2024 11:59 PM Central

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website. 

We are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. 

  The Community Development Division is responsible for the Council's regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rent assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

The Community Development Division is a leader for racial equity within the Council and the region. Our staff, working environment, relationships, and investments reflect our commitment to racial equity. We have set the following goals to guide our work:

• Grow staff capacity and foster an equitable workplace.
• Center equity in process and priorities.
• Foster trusting relationships and deep collaboration.

The Livable Communities Act (LCA) team provides funding to help communities achieve development goals that create more housing choices, support living wage job creation, and connect jobs, housing, and regional amenities to create a more equitable region. The work unit also includes regional housing policy planning, which works with local governments to identify and plan for their future housing needs.  

   How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:  

 The Senior Grant Administrator will develop and administer grant agreements and programs of wide scope and considerable difficulty on behalf of the Metropolitan Council, provide oversight to subrecipient grant agreements, and ensure compliance with Council policies and procedures.  The Senior Grants Administrator will be involved in all aspects of grant administration including implementing designated programs, formulating goals and objectives, developing and monitoring budgets, reviewing and processing payment requests, providing technical expertise to internal and external stakeholders, and analyzing and reporting program performance.  The position will also promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity among all employees.

What you would do in this job

• Provide customer service to staff, management, and internal and external stakeholders, including promoting an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity. 
• Develop program guidelines, procedures, standards, and processes for use in grant agreement/program management; coordinate annual review of subrecipient monitoring procedures.
• Administer all grant agreements and provide quality assurance.  Ensure all local, state and federal policies and deadlines are met.  Ensure compliance with all applicable legislative, accounting, and auditing requirements. 
• Communicate key grant compliance activities to internal and external stakeholders through reports and briefings. 
• Conduct and/or coordinate site visits and audits to include, analyzing files and records, identifying problem areas; reviewing budgets and schedules; monitoring cost and programs; and developing solutions to meet program goals. 
• Provide training and technical direction to other program staff, project participants, and subrecipients. 
• Review and approve grant disbursement requests, reviewing payment claims to ensure sufficient documentation and compliance with grant agreements and funding requirements. Resolve discrepancies. 
• Prepare required grant forms, reports, and other documents. 
• Provide work direction on major grant program processes to those conducting program implementation activities (such as grant applications, subrecipient contract initiation memorandums, procurements, status reports, payment processing and grant closeouts). 
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of regulations governing federal, state and local relevant funding programs and keep current on emerging trends and grant best practices. 
• Lead close out process for expired projects and grants in funding systems including collecting final budget reconciliation and final grant reporting documents.  
• Represent the Council on matters relating to specific grant programs and on administrative matters relating to the Department's monitoring and assessment of project agreements. 
• Meet with external stakeholders which may require influencing, instructing, and negotiating to gain understanding, cooperation, and action.
• Develop and implement key grant management tools including Annual Grants Calendar, Communication Plans and Quarterly Grant Summaries, and other reports.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of completed education (in management, public policy, public administration, accounting, finance, planning, or a related field) and experience (in grant/contract administration, program evaluation, audit, finance, accounting, or planning):
 

• Master’s degree ANDtwo (2) years of experience
• Bachelor’s degree ANDfour (4) years of experience
• Associate’s degree ANDsix (6) years of experience
• HS Diploma/GED AND eight (8) years of experience

 What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications): 
   

• Experience in subrecipient grant management and compliance, preferably managing compliance with State and Federal programs. 
• Experience or an understanding of housing planning or policy and/or grant program design and implementation. 
• Experience summarizing financial and programmatic data verbally and in writing to inform decision-making.
• Experience performing audits or working in an area that is heavily audited. 
• Experience using financial data and enterprise financial systems to manage grants.
• Experience in technical writing including drafting agreements, policies and procedures. 
• Experience with grant management systems including new system integration.
• Experience fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion competency and understanding.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of budget development techniques.
• Knowledge of the principles of project management.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or equivalent software packages. 
• Effective negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders. Interactions may involve efforts to persuade and negotiate with other representatives or officials outside of the organization. 
• Intermediate skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting technical procedures, government regulations, and legislation.  
• Intermediate skills in grant/contract management. 
• Intermediate compliance-related skills (e.g., program evaluation, auditing standards, and techniques). 
• Ability to quickly learn and utilize software tools and Enterprise Systems proactively and efficiently to manage grant programs (e.g., develop reports, content management, track financials).  
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedures manuals.  
• Demonstrated cultural competence; ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals both verbally and in writing. 
• Ability to conduct data and financial analysis. 
• Promote an equitable, positive, and respectful environment.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training, external professional development opportunities, and tuition reimbursement.
• We encourage and support staff in bringing the full range of experiences and identities that define them to the workplace.
• We encourage and support staff in contributing to a dynamic work culture that improves the Council’s ability to serve the region and strives to support all employees effectively. 
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a good work/life balance.