Community Grants Administrator II - Planning

COMMUNITY GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR II - 1341

GRADE - 114

PAY RANGE - $29.51 - $42.08/hr - plus a comprehensive benefits package

https://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employment

This is a grant-funded position that focuses on home improvement. Experience either with grant administration or construction is preferred.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Performs professional grant administration duties in support of policy initiatives within the City of Manchester; performs directly related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The principal function of an employee in this class is to apply professional standards to the administration of grant funds received and distributed by the City of Manchester. The work is performed under the supervision and direction of an assigned supervisor and Planning Director, but some leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgement and initiative. Supervision may be exercised over the work of employees in the classes of administrative support and community grants administration. This class is distinguished from the class of Community Grants Administrator I by the performance of duties with less oversight, including completing projects autonomously. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees, state and federal officials, representatives of neighborhood organizations, business and community organizations, and the public. The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office environment and at on-site locations throughout the community.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL WORK:

• Performs professional grant-administration duties in alignment with the policy directives of the Office of the Mayor and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen;
• Accepts and receives state and federal grant funds;
• Processes applications for funding through various grant programs; distributes grant funds to third parties; monitors grant spending/budgets; reviews grant invoices;
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state regulations by monitoring the expenditure of funds by recipient businesses, nonprofits, and City departments;
• Assists in the writing of grant applications to federal and state agencies, as needed;
• Performs reporting, monitoring, and fund administration;
• Maintains grant documents and financial records to comply with auditing requirements of federal and state agencies;
• Works closely with Aldermen staff including the finance department to track the expenditure of grant funds;
• Gathers and analyzes demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and prepares plans, graphs, and maps;
• Reports to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and its Committee on Community Improvement regarding the receipt, accounting, and expenditure of funds from state and federal sources;
• Assists Aldermen staff and elected officials in the review of proposals and the award of funds to businesses and nonprofits;
• Writes sub-recipient agreements, mortgage deeds, and other legal documents to ensure the proper use of funds by grant recipients;
• Maintains relationships with grant recipients, answers their questions, and, when necessary, inspects their work onsite to ensure proper expenditure of funds;
• Prepares requests for proposals, reviews proposals, and awards funds;
• Develops and maintains website content;
• Explains policies, procedures, and regulations to the public, businesses, nonprofits, and related groups;
• Performs on-site inspections as needed to monitor regulatory compliance;
• Establishes procedures for collecting, summarizing, and storing programmatic data to improve program effectiveness using computers, source documents, and related;
• Prepares reports for public review, internal use, or review by outside organizations to describe projects and program goals or activities;
• Prepares and makes presentations before citizen groups, City commissions, hearing officers, and/or the Board of Mayor and Aldermen as requested;
• Determines the appropriateness and validity of data for use in various projects and makes recommendations for additional data collection as needed;
• Prepares reports to funding agencies on the status of grant-funded projects;
• Analyzes rules, laws, and regulations of other agencies;
• Coordinates the work of outside consultants;
• Provides guidance and demonstrations to new employees in similar positions;
• Keeps supervisors informed of work progress, issues, and potential solutions;
• Attends meetings and training to stay current on relevant practices and developments;
• Responds to citizen inquiries courteously and promptly;
• Coordinates regularly with others to enhance interdepartmental efficiency; and
• Performs additional duties as required by the classification.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough knowledge of grant administration activities and requirements;
• Substantial knowledge of public administration, economics, municipal finance, and federal regulation;
• Substantial knowledge of data gathering and research techniques;
• Substantial knowledge of spreadsheet software, or the ability to quickly learn;
• Some knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;
• Some knowledge of the methods used for citizen participation;
• Some knowledge of, or the ability to quickly learn, the economic and cultural history of the City of Manchester;
• Some knowledge of, or the ability to learn, computer mapping systems;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports on grant administration activities to comply with state or federally mandated reporting;
• Ability to interpret accounting reports and records and to analyze accounting data for control and reporting purposes;
• Ability to handle confidential and administrative information with tact and discretion;
• Ability to read and interpret regulations, guidance documents, maps, charts, and graphs;
• Ability to form relationships with representatives from federal agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public;
• Ability to make public presentations and represent the City in a professional capacity;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations on all facets of grant administration;
• Ability to operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Political Science, Community Development, Business Administration, or a related field; and
• Zero to two years of experience in grant administration, finance, or local government; or
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Political Science, Community Development, Business Administration, or a related field; and
• Three to five years of experience in grant administration, finance, or local government; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

REQUIRED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Driver’s License or access to transportation.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to review a wide variety of material in both electronic and hard copy form;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate a personal computer and related equipment;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to turn, reach and grasp repetitively;
• Sufficient strength and endurance, with or without reasonable accommodation to lift and carry, through a full range of motion, up to 10 pounds occasionally, 5 pounds frequently and 2 pounds consistently;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment or assigned work areas.