Grants Management Specialist
What you'd do
The positions are located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM), Awards Management Division, Kansas City, Missouri. In this position, you will be an integral member of the Awards Management Division participating in pre-award, award, and post-award phases of non-complex and complex programs for competitive grants and cooperative agreements.
Major duties
Prepare grant and cooperative agreement documents with appropriate general and special provisions. Identify, analyze, and resolve complex problems regarding administrative and legal requirements and budgetary issues. Negotiate grants for research, design, and/or development; and/or operation of specialized systems or educational activities; and long-term research and analytical studies. Ensure project costs are reasonable, allowable, and allocable in accordance with applicable cost principles and statues. Obtain agreement on arrangements between the potential award recipients and NIFA prior to making an award. Develop and incorporate into award instrument special terms and conditions needed for award administration. Execute and administer grants under broad authorities contained in enabling legislation and the annual appropriations act. Process new and continuing grant awards in accordance with legislation affecting various types of awards to ensure compliance. Provide guidance and technical assistance to a network of applicants and award recipients by interpreting a wide range of directives and guidelines. Complete close-outs including but not limited to negotiating final indirect and direct allowable costs, disposing property, obtaining release of claims, and settling claims and disputes.
What you need to qualify
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Minimum Qualifications: GS-09 Grade Level Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is assisting others in the application or administration of grants, loans, or other financial assistance; and reviewing applications for grants, loans, or other financial assistance to ensure that they meet established requirements. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination of specialized experience and education: To use this option, applicants must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year of graduate school. GS-11 Grade Level Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is reviewing grant applications or files for compliance with established regulations or to determine if costs such as services or equipment are allowable; and providing guidance on interpretation of policies or procedures for the grants application or award process. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.M., if related. OR Combination of specialized experience and education: To use this option, applicants must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the second year of graduate school. GS-12 Grade Level Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is reviewing grant and cooperative agreement applications, administering federal awards, or reviewing grant policies or procedures to ensure awards meet applicable regulations such as pre and post award requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements; and providing advice on established regulations, policies, or procedures for grant administration to grantees or cooperators. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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