Senior Grant Administrator - Saint Paul, United States - Metropolitan Council

Description

WHO WE ARE

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

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.

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

Metropolitan Transportation Services(MTS) conducts planning for the regional transportation system that includes highways, transit, aviation, freight, and bicycle and pedestrian connections. The Metropolitan Council is the region's federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization. MTS also provides direct transit service through contracts or partnerships with counties to deliver four major programs: Metro Mobility/ADA, Transit Link dial-a-ride, contracted regular-route bus service, and Metro Vanpool.

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

The Senior Grants Administrator will be involved with all aspects of grant administration including planning and 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. This position represents MTS in cross-divisional grant projects and is a primary point of contact for Regional Administration, Metro Transit and external subrecipients.

What you would do in this job

• Provides customer service-centric approach with staff, management, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops program guidelines, procedures, standards, and processes for use in grant contract/programs management; coordinates annual review of federal subrecipient monitoring procedures for Transportation Division (MTS and Metro Transit).
• Administers all grant agreements and provides quality assurance. Ensures all local, state and federal policies and deadlines are met. Ensures compliance with all applicable legislative, accounting, and auditing requirements.
• Communicates key grant compliance activities to internal and external stakeholders through reports and briefings.
• Conducts and/or coordinates 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.
• Provides training and technical direction to other program staff, project participants, contractors, and subrecipients including developing the annual FTA subrecipient monitoring training.
• Reviews and approves grant disbursement requests, reviewing payment claims to ensure sufficient documentation and compliance with grant agreements. Resolves discrepancies.
• Prepares required grant forms, reports, and other documents.
• Provides work direction on major Metropolitan Transportation Services grant processes to those conducting program implementation activities such as internal grant applications, subrecipient contract initiation memorandums, procurements, milestone progress reports, payment processing and grant closeouts.
• Develops and maintains a working knowledge of regulations governing federal, state and local transit funding programs and keeps current on emerging trends and grant best practices.
• Leads close out process for expired projects and grants in funding systems including providing final budget reconciliation and final grant reporting documents.
• Represents Metropolitan Transportation Services in grant conversations and cross-divisional projects.
• Develops and implements key grant management tools including Annual Grants Calendar, Communication Plans and Quarterly Grant Summaries, and other reports.
• Represents MTS and the Council on matters relating to specific grant programs and on administrative matters relating to the department's monitoring and assessment of project contracts.

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

Any of the following combinations of experience (in grant/contract administration, program evaluation, audit, finance, or transportation planning) and completed education (degree field of study in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Transportation Planning, or related field):

• High school diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience
• Associate degree with six (6) years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with four (4) years of experience
• Master's degree with two (2) 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 federal programs generally or Federal Transit Administration programs specifically.
• 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 content management systems generally or with SharePoint or Application Xtender specifically.
• Experience contributing to an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values cultural diversity among all employees.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have:

• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of budget development techniques.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or equivalent software packages.
• Effective negotiation skills with stakeholders both inside and outside of MTS and the Council. Interactions with others generally require influencing, instructing, and negotiating with individuals to gain their understanding, cooperation, and action. Interactions may involve efforts to persuade and negotiate with other representatives or officials outside of the organization.
• Intermediate skills in reading, analyzing and interpreting professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
• 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 program (e.g., develop reports, content management, track financials).
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedures manuals.
• Ability to conduct data and financial analysis.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals both verbally and in writing and 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 and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

Additional information

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $ $56.60 hourly / $78,000 - $117,728 annually
Anticipated Hiring Range: $ $42.56 hourly / $78,000 - $88,525 annually
*Salary is determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, our total compensation package, and internal pay structure.

What your work environment would be:
Work is performed in a standard office setting and may require travel between primary work sites to other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email .