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Grants and Compliance Specialist, Evanston, IL

https://careers-cityofevanston.icims.com/jobs/1234/grants-and-compliance-specialist/job?mobile=false&width=969&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=-360&jun1offset=-300


Grants and Compliance Specialist

All times are in Central Daylight Time.
Location 
US-IL-Evanston
Job Type 
Regular Full-Time
Department 
Community Development
Salary 
$30.11/hour-$37.03/hour
Posted Date 
7/17/2017
Job Closing Date 
7/31/2017

More information about this job:

Nature of Work/Essential Functions:

*Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for range.

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 with federal entitlement grant funds and Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2), as well as City Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to maintain compliance with Federal and local requirements. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):
  • Develops annual applications for CDBG and provides technical assistance to potential applicants, particularly in Public Facilities and Infrastructure and Housing categories
  • Produces subrecipient agreements, contracts 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 grants and federal cross-cutting requirements; monitors spending by project/program and category
  • Collects data and prepares quarterly or semi-annual progress reports for all funded programs/projects. Conducts desk monitoring, site visits and on-site monitoring of CDBG, HOME and ESG programs and projects for compliance with federal and local requirements, including organizational capacity requirements of the Omni Circular, OMB 2 CFR Chapter II, Part 200 
  • Takes part in staff reviews at which eligibility of applicants for assistance through CDBG, HOME and 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 NSP2, HOME, CDBG and AHF rental and home ownership projects annually to ensure compliance with long-term affordability, tenant and homebuyer income restrictions, and other 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 that projects funded wholly or in part with federal grant funds meet HUD Section 3, minority- and woman-owned contracting goals, and comply with Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, following federal regulations
  • 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 by the Transparency Act; assists with the City’s annual federal Single Audit
  • Assists with NSP2 grant compliance, including long-term affordability requirements by tenure, land banking plans and other requirements; ensures activities and expenditures are entered in HUD DRGR system and quarterly and annual reports are submitted, 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

Minimum Requirements:

Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Non-Profit Management or related degree. 
Must possess two years’ experience in grants management, program/project development, real estate management and/or compliance;or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this job.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and safe driving record
  • Considerable knowledge of and ability to use Internet search engines, word processing, spreadsheets, email, and other software
  • Familiarity with relational databases; ability to enter data and run reports in loan management systems such as CDM.
  • 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 residents from varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds 
  • Excellent organizational, project management and customer service 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).

Additional Information:


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 goals 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 residents and groups, including elected officials.  Presentations during public meetings are part of the scope of work for this position.

Chosen candidates will be subject to a qualifying pre-employment medical examination and drug/alcohol screen.

The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities.  Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact the Facilities Management Office at 847-866-2916 (voice) or 847-448-8052 (TTY).
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