Public Health Specialist III - Grants & Contracts

The Public Health Specialist III - Grants & Contracts position is responsible for protecting public health through program collaboration and service integration. Working with a high level of professional judgment, this position supports grant lifecycle management, budget analysis, and procurement. It ensures grant, financial, budget, and procurement documents are managed in full compliance with county policies, established procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements, including the accurate and timely preparation and submission of required progress and final reports. This position works directly with multidisciplinary teams and serves as a lead technical resource related to budgetary, financial, grant, and procurement issues. This position provides leadership through cross-program efforts, designs grant management strategies, and is accountable for ensuring assigned tasks are completed on time, meet quality standards, and comply with applicable laws, policies, and funding requirements.

Duties may include vetting grant opportunities and managing a portfolio of public grants, and following established county and department grant processes, timely submissions of applications, invoices and reports. This position supports annual budget development, conducting financial analysis and projections, assists with budget monitoring, preparing monthly county budget-to-actual reports, ensuring accurate accounting and fiscal compliance. It performs technical, coordination, administrative and analytical functions for County bidding and procurement materials and supplies. It supports oversight of public health contracts, MOUs, Service Orders, purchase orders, and monitors payments, implements revisions, amendments, and assists with analysis of costs and projections. Acts as a liaison for public health and the County finance office by resolving any questions, encumbrance issues, amendments or other issues that may arise during the contract period.  Supports the implementation of grant-funded activities by coordinating documentation, preparing draft reports, and monitoring assigned reporting requirements; participates in meetings, trainings, and workgroups and providing program updates as requested; and ensures assigned activities comply with applicable public health laws, policies, and ethical standards. May serve as a work lead, and provide guidance as assigned.

Essential functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics.  The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks. Reasonable accommodations, as defined under the American with Disabilities Act, will be made when possible.

Participates in meetings of the assigned unit/program including (if applicable): one-on-ones with supervisor, staff huddles, unit/program/division/funder meetings, department All Staff meetings, and other meetings and trainings as required or applicable.

Serves as a subject matter expert for assigned unit/program; participates in ongoing development of subject matter expertise for assigned unit/program. 

Tracks, monitors and manages expenditures associated with Federal, State and local grants.  Ensures compliance with all required financial reporting.

Monitors program activities to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local public health laws, regulations, funding requirements, and ethical standards.

Prepares reports, briefings, presentations, and technical summaries for leadership, funders, and stakeholders.

Identifies potential compliance issues, program risks, or operational inefficiencies and coordinates resolution using established risk-management principles.

Maintains accurate and organized records and related data in accordance with established protocols, and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies.

Collect and manage programmatic and partner data to support reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.

Review progress reports, budgets, and deliverables for accuracy and adherence to funding specifications; assist with resource planning, budget tracking, and justification of program needs.

Establishes and maintains effective relationships between La Plata County Public Health Department and other county department’s staff, representatives of other agencies and organizations, partners/stakeholders and members of the community.

Maintains sensitive and confidential client and program information in accordance with HIPAA, departmental policies, and program confidentiality requirements.

May be required to participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities, including activation during public health emergencies, in accordance with agency plans and policies.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Regular and predictable attendance is required.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities for this position would be:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in public health, accounting, or finance, and three years of healthcare, public health, or related government agency experience.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid Driver's License preferred 

Knowledge of:

Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, coordinating, and monitoring work activities to meet program goals and deadlines.

Quality assurance standards, continuous quality improvement methods, and performance-monitoring practices applicable to public health programs.

Basic project management principles, including planning, scheduling, coordination, and tracking of program activities and deliverables.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements and principles related to the protection of sensitive and confidential health information.

Applicable public health laws, codes, regulations, standards, and policies relevant to assigned program areas.

Grant lifecycle management, including opportunity assessment, application development, award administration, fiscal monitoring, reporting, and closeout requirements.

Federal, state, and local regulations governing public health funding, procurement, contract administration, and fiscal compliance.

County budgeting processes including budget development, governmental accounting standards, internal controls, encumbrance processes, and financial reporting systems.

County procurement regulations, competitive bidding processes, and contract negotiation frameworks applicable to government operations.

Risk management and compliance monitoring principles related to publicly funded programs.

Performance measurement and reporting standards required by grantors and regulatory bodies.

Public health program funding structures and integration across multidisciplinary service areas.

Skill in:

Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing competing work demands, and assigning, tracking, and monitoring work performed by self and others within established guidelines.

Applying attention to detail and accuracy in completing assignments, reviewing documents, managing data, and preparing reports.

Interpreting and applying applicable laws, regulations, codes, policies, and standards to program operations and decision-making.

Exercising tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment while operating within established policies and supervisory direction.

Communicating clearly, professionally, and effectively in both oral and written formats, including presentations, reports, technical documents, and correspondence.

Maintaining strong organizational skills, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and ensuring a high level of accuracy and reliability in work products.

Facilitating meetings, workgroups, and community coalitions by guiding discussion, building consensus, managing diverse perspectives, and supporting productive outcomes in alignment with program objectives and established guidelines.

Managing and prioritizing a complex portfolio of public grants and contracts with independent oversight of fiscal performance, compliance requirements, and reporting timelines.

Conducting financial analysis, forecasting, cost projections, and variance assessments to inform budget planning and operational decision-making.

Interpreting and applying funding regulations, procurement standards, and fiscal policies to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.

Preparing and reviewing comprehensive grant applications, fiscal reports, technical documentation, and compliance submissions.

Coordinating procurement and contract processes, including preparation of bid materials, review of vendor proposals, and oversight of amendments and encumbrances.

Identifying fiscal, contractual, or compliance discrepancies and developing corrective action strategies within delegated authority.

Serving as a liaison with County Finance and external funders to resolve complex budget, contract, and encumbrance issues.

Communicating complex fiscal and regulatory information clearly to multidisciplinary teams and leadership.

Designing and implementing grant management strategies that strengthen accountability and operational effectiveness.

Ability to:

Handle multifaceted assignments involving changing priorities, ambiguity, complexity, and time-sensitive demands.

Work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of multidisciplinary teams.

Develop, strengthen, and sustain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to advance public health objectives.

Apply evaluation findings to support planning, decision-making, and report preparation.

Effectively communicate and interact with individuals and groups from diverse economic, racial, ethnic, age, and social backgrounds.

Develop and maintain positive, professional, and productive working relationships with colleagues, partners, and community stakeholders.

Maintain accurate, complete, and timely records and demonstrate responsible stewardship of data, including sensitive and confidential information, in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

Exercise substantial independent professional judgment in interpreting and applying fiscal, contractual, and regulatory requirements within established authority.

Analyze complex financial, contractual, and programmatic information to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation.

Monitor compliance across multiple funding streams and implement corrective actions to ensure adherence to legal and contractual obligations.

Utilize tools for financial forecasting and budget-to-actual variance analysis.

Lead cross-program coordination efforts related to grant management, budget integration, and procurement alignment.

Ensure stewardship of public funds through rigorous documentation, monitoring, and fiscal accountability practices.

Adapt to evolving funding requirements, regulatory updates, and shifting fiscal priorities while maintaining compliance and operational continuity.

Provide technical guidance and work-lead direction to staff on grant, budget, and procurement processes as assigned.

Non-Discrimination and EEO Statement

La Plata County prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with La Plata County on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or genetic information.

La Plata County is an equal opportunity employer and assures equal employment opportunities for protected classes, persons with disabilities and for covered veterans.  Covered veterans include: special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans, or any other veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized.

Inquiries regarding La Plata County's equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to:

Director of Human Resources

1101 E 2nd Avenue

Durango, CO 81301

Tel:  (970)382-6361

Fax:  (970)375-7985

Email: HRHelpdesk@lpcgov.org

Salary : $57,782 - $64,293