Grants & Contracts Specialist, Senior

Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist

Seattle's Human Services Department (HSD) funds and operates programs and services that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community – families and individuals with low incomes, children, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, people experiencing homelessness, older adults, and persons with disabilities. HSD seeks nine dedicated Senior Grants & Contracts Specialists to join its Homelessness (HMLS) Division.

Senior Grants and Contracts Specialists will support this mission by developing, managing, and monitoring contracts related to HSD's homelessness prevention, diversion, outreach, shelter, housing, and behavioral health service contracts using federal, state, and local funding. Services may be contracted directly with community-based providers or via subcontracting agreements with local governments/governmental authorities. This position will monitor nonprofit organizations and local government agencies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local fund source requirements and program guidelines.

Activities include preparing contract documents, evaluating reports, providing technical assistance to agencies, and utilizing judgment to make policy and programmatic recommendations to leadership. This position will report to a Homelessness Division Grants and Contracts Supervisor.

• Support department and division goals including the Race & Social Justice Initiative, Results Based Accountability Framework, and workplace values and expectations.
• Develops, prepares, and negotiates project, agency, and consultant service agreements and amendments with community-based nonprofit organizations and local government agencies, including program goals and objectives, performance standards, reporting requirements, budgets, etc.
• Ensure compliance with city, state, and federal regulations, including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Seattle Municipal Code (SMC); provide technical assistance to agency providers.
• Ensure programmatic and contract compliance through effective monitoring and oversight of agreements by conducting site visits and reviewing agency documents such as monthly and quarterly invoices and reports, client files, administrative records, and agency policies and procedures.
• Recommends program, contract, and funding modifications that support effective and efficient homelessness and behavioral health services.
• Serve as liaison with community organizations; respond to contractor issues related to client health and safety, non-compliance, and constituent concerns.
• Reviews and monitors monthly invoices; ensures amounts charged comply with contract provisions and applicable laws, rules, and regulations; approves release of funds to reimburse contractor; may conduct annual fiscal assessments and semi-annual analysis of contractor expenditure reports.
• Support agencies in meeting complex program requirements through technical assistance, training, and corrective actions, when required. Act as a key resource for policy implementation to support high-quality programs and services.
• Act as a liaison between internal partners, external partners, and community providers. Work effectively with all parties to collaboratively address issues, provide policy guidance, and share information.
• Drafts contracts and contract amendments, invoices, reports, correspondence, and other written material.
• Learns and proficiently uses key systems (Masterworks, People Soft 9.2, SharePoint, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and more).
• Performs other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in a Business or Public Administration, a human services field or related field

Experience: Two years of professional experience in contract administration, budget management, planning, or human services administration.

OR: An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing contracts and monitoring for compliance with fiscal and programmatic standards.
• Experience implementing, analyzing, and/or ensuring compliance with complex County/State/Federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in the provision of services to vulnerable populations.
• Experience in providing technical assistance to strengthen compliance with contract terms or service delivery.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with peers, external partners, and those in leadership positions.
• Understanding of race & social justice principles and impacts of systemic racism and oppression on communities served by our Human Services Department.
• Extensive knowledge of human service programs and providers, including through…