BCT Partners - Head Start Program Support Specialist

About BCT

We harness the power of expertise and innovation to solve complex social problems, transform lives, and create lasting change. BCT is a management consulting firm that tackles complex social problems through data analytics, innovative solutions and program management. We believe complex issues are best solved through collaboration. As a result, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that combines domain expertise, research, evaluation, technology, organizational development, and a passion for change.

The Program Support Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the Office of Head Start (OHS) by managing and overseeing discretionary grants that serve children and families nationwide. This position partners closely with OHS Regional Office staff to support the full grant lifecycle, including application review, award processing, and ongoing program monitoring.

The role involves analyzing grant applications, budgets, and program performance data to ensure compliance with federal requirements and alignment with program goals. The Program Specialist works directly with grant recipients to clarify requirements, resolve issues, and strengthen submissions, while also supporting competitive review processes and funding decisions.

In addition, the Program Specialist helps drive program quality and accountability by monitoring recipient performance, conducting oversight activities and site visits, and identifying potential risks or compliance concerns. Through thoughtful analysis and clear guidance, the role supports recipients in improving operations, advancing school readiness outcomes, and achieving long‑term impact.

This is a highly collaborative position that requires strong communication and organizational skills, with regular interaction across federal staff, external partners, contractors, and program leadership.

• Provide necessary support to the managing of Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs.
• Accurate and timely analysis and review of funding applications according to established Regional Office time frames and procedures.
• Review and analysis of recipient program performance reports, incident reports and complaints, information, and indicators.
• Provision of accurate and timely regulatory and policy guidance to Head Start recipients, in consultation with federal staff. Coordinate and incorporate Regional Management (RPM & SPS), TTA (Training & Technical Assistance), and Grants Specialist staff on all recipient case work.
• Review and analysis of recipient waiver requests.
• Review and analysis of applications for facility construction, purchase and major renovation.
• Participate in all required Regional meetings and conferences. Complete all required HHS and BCT trainings.
• Conduct monthly calls with recipients and Regional Grants Specialists covering topics such as Checkpoint Data, Self‑Assessment, Enrollment, Staff Salaries and Retention, Community Assessments, Continuous Improvements, Transitions and other recipient‑specific topics. Participate in FA2/RAN review phone calls & initiate Discipline Incident Reports.
• Assist recipients with knowledge and understanding of HSES (Head Start Enterprise System).
• Process the following requests:
  Annual Continuations, Key Hires, Waivers (Disability, Non‑Federal Share & Teacher), Change of Scopes, COLA/Quality, Deviations, Carry‑Overs, Incremental Funding, Slot Reductions & Budget Revisions.
• Conduct annual site visits to recipients as part of the five‑year monitoring cycle for grant oversight according to Regional Office protocols.
• Activities related to the identification and mitigation of recipient risk factors, correction of regulatory compliance issues, review and analysis of school readiness and programmatic goals; and improvement of Head Start recipient performance.

Program Support Specialists assigned specific recipient workloads of individual Head Start, Early Head Start, or Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grants perform the following:

• Grant Applications and Awards
  : complete review, analysis, and administrative activities related to the OHS grant funding application and award process, including…