Appalachian Regional Commission
Washington, DC
ARC has two grants management specialist positions open in the Program Operations Division (POD):
- Workforce Development Specialist
- Infrastructure Specialist
The positions provide staff support and technical assistance to a variety of stakeholder groups, including local governments, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other ARC partners. Staff leverage their existing experience and gain new expertise to further the Commission's goals by coordinating development activity within the Region and encouraging project activity to promote growth and development.
Grants Management Specialist (Workforce Development) —Candidates should have experience in at least one or more of the following areas of specialization: Workforce development; instructional systems design; training design and delivery; higher education administration; youth leadership and development.
Grants Management Specialist (Infrastructure) —Candidates should have experience in at least one or more of the following areas of specialization: Physical infrastructure systems (water/wastewater); water resource management; local food systems; downtown/main street revitalization; rural brownfields.
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbents will be responsible for managing a portfolio of ARC-funded projects, including planning and coordination, project and program development, grant application review, and general grants management duties. In addition, the incumbents will provide guidance to the Commission in their areas of expertise. The incumbents will help formulate ARC strategies, identify best practices, develop alliances or partnerships with other organizations, implement and monitor projects, and provide technical analysis to ensure consistency with ARC planning and program development requirements.
The incumbents will provide technical expertise to the Commission and the states and serve as a broker and advocate for programs that help implement ARC's strategic plan . As grants management specialists, the incumbents must be able to work collaboratively with communities and state representatives throughout various stages of project development. In this role, the incumbents will provide adequate monitoring and guidance and appropriate intervention to support the grantees' successful implementation of ARC-funded projects, both programmatically and financially. Other duties include making public presentations at meetings and conferences; traveling generally within the Appalachian Region; and assisting with continuous process improvement efforts within the Program Operations Division and the agency as a whole.
Qualifications Required
- Master's degree in a program area related to the field of expertise is preferred.
- Examples for the Workforce Development Specialist position include: Workforce development, training development, public administration, instructional systems design, education, community college administration, or related program.
- Examples for the Infrastructure Program Manager position include: Regional/urban planning, public administration, sustainable development, environmental science, or related program.
- A minimum of two years of specialized experience that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of this kind of work would include experience in community, economic, or workforce development, with an emphasis on rural areas and an appreciation for barriers in rural areas and an ability to creatively pursue solutions suited to low-income rural areas.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Prior to hire, the selectee must successfully complete a federal background investigation.
Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position:
- Experience in at least one of the areas of specialization listed above.
- Experience in grants management.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as in teams and to manage multiple projects.
ARC follows the General Schedule Salary Table of the federal government. ARC's NF-1101-11 is equivalent to the federal grade GS-11. Pay will be commensurate with experience.
These are not federal positions; however, if a federal employee is selected for one of the positions and transfers without a break in service of more than three calendar days, he/she is entitled to continue his/her retirement, life and health insurance benefits, and leave entitlements. A non-federal selectee will be offered a generous, comparable benefits package.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following documents.
- A complete and up-to-date resume.
- A cover letter that identifies which position you are applying for and describes your background and qualifications as they relate to the qualifications listed above for the particular position.
Appalachian Regional Commission
Human Resources Office, Suite 700
1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009-1068
Email: hr@arc.gov
Fax: 202.234.8599