Grants and Compliance Specialist, City of Evanston, IL
NATURE OF WORK:
This position evaluates, prepares reports, and advises public and private sector administrators on feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and/or regulatory conformance of projects and programs funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) entitlement programs from the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development. Responsible for monitoring projects and programs assisted by the City using federal grant funds, including Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) compliance with Federal and local government requirements.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):
• Assists in the development of annual applications for CDBG and provision of technical assistance to potential applicants.
• Develops subrecipient agreements and report forms for CDBG, HOME and ESG.
• Conducts environmental reviews for CDBG, HOME and ESG projects and programs, including Requests for Release of Funds as needed.
• Reviews and evaluates external and City funding applications for CDBG, including program/project descriptions, budget and staffing estimates to determine feasibility and compliance with grant requirements; monitors spending by subrecipient and category.
• Collects and evaluates quarterly and semi annual program reports for all external and City programs/projects. Conducts desk monitoring, site visits and on-site monitoring of CDBG, HOME and ESG programs and projects for compliance with federal requirements.
• Takes part in reviews at which eligibility of applicants for assistance through ESG and HOME TBRA is determined/approved, as needed.
• Helps prepare the annual Action Plan and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, including opening activities and entering data into HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS).
• Monitors and ensures compliance of NSP2, HOME and CDBG rental and home ownership projects with long-term affordability requirements.
• Coordinates implementation of the CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area plan, including reporting outcomes against goals in the five-year Consolidated Plan.
• Reviews CDBG, HOME, ESG and NSP2 draw requests for payment to contractors and subrecipients and prepares and submits vouchers for payment.
• Works with City Purchasing and Compliance staff to ensure coordination of projects funded wholly or in part with federal grant funds to ensure compliance with HUD Section 3 requirements and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts on CDBG and HOME construction projects, as well as with the City Local Employment Program and M/W/EBE, as appropriate.
• Prepares and submits annual Section 3 and 2516 Contractor/Subcontractor Reports, and semi-annual 4710 Labor Standards Enforcement Reports to HUD; prepares and submits FFATA reports as required for CDBG and ESG.
• Assists with NSP2 grant closeout, including reviewing spending by beneficiary type, long-term affordability requirements by tenure, land banking plans and other requirements; ensures activities are accurately entered in HUD DRGR system as required.
• Develops and implements special projects as needed; may assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Assists with marketing and promotion of programs, including updating content on City webpages.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
Must possess a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Non-Profit Management, or substantially similar area. Possession of a master’s degree is preferred.
This position evaluates, prepares reports, and advises public and private sector administrators on feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and/or regulatory conformance of projects and programs funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) entitlement programs from the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development. Responsible for monitoring projects and programs assisted by the City using federal grant funds, including Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) compliance with Federal and local government requirements.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):
• Assists in the development of annual applications for CDBG and provision of technical assistance to potential applicants.
• Develops subrecipient agreements and report forms for CDBG, HOME and ESG.
• Conducts environmental reviews for CDBG, HOME and ESG projects and programs, including Requests for Release of Funds as needed.
• Reviews and evaluates external and City funding applications for CDBG, including program/project descriptions, budget and staffing estimates to determine feasibility and compliance with grant requirements; monitors spending by subrecipient and category.
• Collects and evaluates quarterly and semi annual program reports for all external and City programs/projects. Conducts desk monitoring, site visits and on-site monitoring of CDBG, HOME and ESG programs and projects for compliance with federal requirements.
• Takes part in reviews at which eligibility of applicants for assistance through ESG and HOME TBRA is determined/approved, as needed.
• Helps prepare the annual Action Plan and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, including opening activities and entering data into HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS).
• Monitors and ensures compliance of NSP2, HOME and CDBG rental and home ownership projects with long-term affordability requirements.
• Coordinates implementation of the CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area plan, including reporting outcomes against goals in the five-year Consolidated Plan.
• Reviews CDBG, HOME, ESG and NSP2 draw requests for payment to contractors and subrecipients and prepares and submits vouchers for payment.
• Works with City Purchasing and Compliance staff to ensure coordination of projects funded wholly or in part with federal grant funds to ensure compliance with HUD Section 3 requirements and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts on CDBG and HOME construction projects, as well as with the City Local Employment Program and M/W/EBE, as appropriate.
• Prepares and submits annual Section 3 and 2516 Contractor/Subcontractor Reports, and semi-annual 4710 Labor Standards Enforcement Reports to HUD; prepares and submits FFATA reports as required for CDBG and ESG.
• Assists with NSP2 grant closeout, including reviewing spending by beneficiary type, long-term affordability requirements by tenure, land banking plans and other requirements; ensures activities are accurately entered in HUD DRGR system as required.
• Develops and implements special projects as needed; may assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Assists with marketing and promotion of programs, including updating content on City webpages.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
Must possess a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Non-Profit Management, or substantially similar area. Possession of a master’s degree is preferred.
Must possess two (2) or more years of work experience of grants management, program/project development and/or management.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record and must have use of personal vehicle.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to use Internet search engines, word processing software, email, and Windows operating systems.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Communication: Ability to read business letters, memoranda, technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to write business letters, memoranda, abstracts, and financial reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ability to be conversant in theory using principles and methods of effective and persuasive speaking. Ability to speak before audiences with poise, voice control and confidence, using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to work with and relate to a diverse group of citizens from varying socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills in dealing with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Self motivated, disciplined, organized, and reliable.
• Innovative, creative, resourceful and independent thinking.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
Light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Type of physical demands: balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces); stooping (bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist); crouching (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine); reaching (extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction); handling (seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hands); fingering (picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily); feeling (perceiving attributes of objects such as size, shape,, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in skin, particularly those of finger tips); talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word); hearing (perceiving the nature of sounds by ear); seeing (the ability to perceive the nature of objects by eye); far vision (clarity of vision at 20 feet or more); near vision (clarity of vision at 20 inches or less); depth perception (ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are, including safety to oneself and others); field of vision (observing an area that can be seen up and in a given point, when required to see a large area while keeping the eyes fixed); accommodation (adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus, especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from the eye); color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).
SUPERVISION:
Reports to the Housing and Grants Administrator within the Community Development Department who outlines work assignments, reviews work in progress, and completed work. Works closely with all relevant departments/divisions to assist and inform in the processing of planning related issues and policies; best practices as appropriate. Employee is expected to provide leadership/guidance to all City departments in administration and management of grant-funded programs and projects. Guidance is provided via the strategic plan, City Code, City policies and procedures, applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and Consolidated Plan to ensure that planning initiatives are met. Work is evaluated at least annually with respect to progress toward achieving goals, leadership, communication skills, customer service, ability to work productively and effectively with employees at all levels in the organization as well as elected and appointed officials, community groups and the general public.
PUBLIC CONTACT:
The employee has regular and frequent contact with department and division employees and other City employees; regular contact with individual citizens and groups, including elected officials. Presentations during public meetings are part of the scope of work for this position.
SELECTION METHOD:
Structured Oral Interview
TYPE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST:
Qualifications Assessment
LIFE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST:
To apply for this position, please apply online at www.cityofevanston.org on or before 07/10/2015.