GRANT SPECIALIST

Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA), a division of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, Salisbury, MD

The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA) envisions a community where job seekers, educational and training institutions, businesses, and non-profit institutions come together to strengthen workforce readiness programs and employ residents at livable wages in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester (which includes Ocean City, MD) Counties.  LSWA-funded programs support workforce development initiatives including Workforce Innovative Opportunity Act (WIOA) programmatic funding.  Residents of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland benefit from the state and federal grant-funded investment in training and jobs for the short and long term. LSWA targets historically underserved populations and areas, communities of color, women, and other groups facing labor market barriers.    As we enter the post-pandemic era, funds for training initiatives, on-the-job training, and supportive services are being made available to meet the multi-industry demand for workers in this region.

Summary of Work:

The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA) Grant Specialist will have expertise to oversee programmatic activities, budgets, and report for multiple federal, state, and private grants. The grant specialist will work directly with the LSWA Director and coordinate with the Department of Finance to ensure all project tasks are on schedule, balance and allocate grant budgets, and prepare quarterly, annual and final reports to be submitted to funding agencies. The Grant Specialist will also pursue new funding sources, and craft new funding proposals to grant agencies.  The Grant Specialist will coordinate and manage multiple grant projects including balancing year-to-year project budgets, gathering data on outcomes from multiple sources, writing reports, and drafting contracts.

Specific tasks include:

• • Collaborate with LSWA Director to identify metrics and collect data for reporting and assessment.
  • Lead the writing and submission of monthly, quarterly and annual performance reports as required by funding agencies.
  • Maintain project budgets
  • Support and collaborate with LSWA Director in identifying, writing, and submitting new grant proposals.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.  This position reports to the LSWA Director.

Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

• Analytical
  • Synthesizes complex or diverse information
  • Collects and researches data
  • Uses intuition and experience to complement data
  • Designs work flows and procedures. Documents all steps in procedures.
• Design
  • Generates creative solutions
  • Translates concepts & information into images
  • Uses feedback to modify designs
  • Applies design principals
  • Demonstrates attention to detail
• Problem Solving
  • Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner
  • Gathers and analyzes information skillfully
  • Develops alternative solutions
  • Works well in group problem solving situations
  • Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics
• Project Management
  • Develops project plans
  • Coordinates projects
  • Communicates changes and progress
  • Complete projects on time and budget
  • Manages project team activities
• Technical Skills
  • Assesses own strengths and weaknesses
  • Pursues training and development opportunities
  • Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills
  • Shares expertise with others

Interpersonal

• Customer Service
  • Manages difficult or emotional customer situations
  • Responds promptly to customer needs
  • Solicits customer feedback for service and assistance
  • Meets commitments
• Interpersonal Skills
  • Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming
  • Maintains confidentiality
  • Listens to others without interrupting
  • Keeps emotions under control
  • Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things
• Oral Communication
  • Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations
  • Listens and gets clarification
  • Responds well to questions
  • Demonstrates group presentation skills
  • Participates in meetings
• Written Communication
  • Writes clearly and informatively
  • Edits work for spelling and grammar
  • Varies writing style to meet needs
  • Presents numerical data effectively
  • Able to read and interpret written information
• Teamwork
  • Balances team and individual responsibilities
  • Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views
  • Gives and welcomes feedback
  • Contributes to building a positive team spirit
  • Puts success of team above own interest
  • Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives
  • Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed

Leadership

• Visionary Leadership
  • Displays passion and optimism
  • Inspires respect and trust
  • Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision
  • Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates

• Change Management
  • Develops workable implementation plans
  • Communicates changes effectively
  • Builds commitment and overcomes resistance
  • Prepares and supports those affected by change
  • Monitors transition and evaluates results
• Leadership
  • Exhibits confidence in self and others
  • Inspires and motivates others to perform well
  • Effectively influences actions and opinions of others
  • Accepts feedback from others
  • Gives appropriate recognition to others
• Quality Management
  • Looks for ways to improve and promote quality
  • Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness

Organization

• Business Acumen
  • Understands business implications of decisions
  • Displays orientation to profitability
  • Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition
  • Aligns work with strategic goals
• Cost Consciousness
  • Works within approved budget
  • Develops and implements cost saving measures
  • Contributes to profits and revenue
  • Conserves organization resources
• EEO
  • Demonstrates knowledge of EEO Policy
  • Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences
  • Promotes a harassment-free environment
• Ethics
  • Treats people with respect
  • Keeps commitments
  • Inspires the trust of others
  • Works with integrity and ethically
  • Upholds organizational values
• Organizational Support
  • Follows policies and procedures
  • Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time.
  • Supports organization’s goals and values
  • Benefits organization through outside activities
  • Supports affirmative action and respects diversity
• Strategic Thinking
  • Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals
  • Understands organization’s strengths & weaknesses
  • Analyzes market and competition
  • Identifies external threats and opportunities
  • Adapts strategy to changing conditions

Self-Management

• Judgement
  • Displays willingness to make decisions
  • Exhibits sound and accurate judgement
  • Supports and explains reasoning for decisions
  • Includes appropriate people in decision-making process
  • Makes timely decisions
• Motivation
  • Sets and achieves challenging goals
  • Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles
  • Measures self against standard of excellence
  • Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals
• Planning/Organizing
  • Prioritizes and plans work activities
  • Uses time efficiently
  • Plans for additional resources
  • Sets goals and objectives
  • Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks
  • Develops realistic action plans
• Professionalism
  • Approaches others in a tactful manner
  • Reacts well under pressure
  • Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position
  • Accepts responsibility for own actions
  • Follows through on commitments
• Quality
  • Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
  • Looks for ways to improve and promote quality
  • Applies feedback to improve performance
  • Monitors own work to ensure quality
• Quantity
  • Meets productivity standards
  • Completes work in timely manner
  • Strives to increase productivity
  • Works quickly
• Safety and Security
  • Observes safety and security procedures
  • Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines
  • Reports potentially unsafe conditions
  • Uses equipment and materials properly
• Adaptability
  • Adapts to changes in the work environment
  • Manages competing demands
  • Changes approach or method to best fit the situation
  • Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events
• Attendance/Punctuality
  • Is consistently at work and on time
  • Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent
  • Arrives at meetings and appointments on time
• Dependability
  • Follows instructions, responds to management direction
  • Takes responsibility for own actions
  • Keeps commitments
  • Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.
  • Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan
• Initiative
  • Volunteers readily
  • Undertakes self-development activities
  • Seeks increased responsibilities
  • Takes independent actions and calculated risks
  • Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities
  • Asks for and offers help when needed
• Innovation
  • Displays original thinking and creativity
  • Meets challenges with resourcefulness
  • Generates suggestions for improving work
  • Develops innovative approaches and ideas
  • Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others’ attention

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with clarity and efficiency
• Ability to work effectively with staff
• Ability to respond calmly to complex and urgent issues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to manipulate complex statistical information
• Ability to develop and manage effective tracking and monitoring systems
• Knowledge of major office computer systems and spreadsheet software related to the field of work (Quick books-Profit and Loss Financial Systems, Microsoft Excel)
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field and (3) years of administrative, progressively responsible experience, of which at least one (1) year entailed working with budgeting, expenditures, and/or procurement, preferably in a non-profit organization or post-secondary institution.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and four (4) years related progressively responsible experience, of which at least one (1) year entailed working with budgeting, expenditures, and/or procurement, preferably in a non-profit organization or post-secondary institution.
• Attendance in Quarterly Finance meetings and monthly LSWA Staff meetings is required and takes place at the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance-American Job Center in Salisbury, MD.
• Very high skills – Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, and/or board of directors.
• Highest skills – Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquires or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors.

Language Skills

• High skills – Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

• Intermediate skills – Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

• Very high skills – Ability to solve practical problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills

• Expert knowledge of major office computer and spreadsheet software related to the field of work (Quickbooks – Profit and Loss Financial Systems, Microsoft Excel)

Other Skills and Abilities

Working knowledge of the State of Maryland and federal regulations (OMB, 2CFR200, Edgar)

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Stand – None, less than 1/3
• Walk – None, less than 1/3
• Sit - – 1/3 to 2/3
• Use hands to finger, handle or feel 1/3 to 2/3
• Reach with hands and arms 1/3 to 2/3
• Climb or balance– less than 1/3
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl-less than 1/3
• Talk or hear 1/3 to 2/3
• Taste or smell – None
• Lift weight or exerts force
  • Up to 10 pounds – less than 1/3
  • Up to 25 pounds – less than 1/3
  • Up to 50 pounds – None
  • Up to 100 pounds – None
  • More than 100 pounds – None

• Physical Demands
  • Close vision
  • Distance vision
  • Color vision
  • Peripheral vision
  • Depth perception
  • Ability to adjust focus

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Environmental Conditions
  • Wet or humid conditions (non-weather) – None
  • Work near moving mechanical parts – less than 1/3
  • Work in high, precarious places – None
  • Fumes or airborne particles – None
  • Toxic or caustic chemicals – None
  • Outdoor weather conditions – None
  • Extreme cold (non-weather) – None
  • Extreme heat (non-weather) – None
  • Risk of electrical shock – None
  • Work with explosives – None
  • Risk of radiation – None
  • Vibration – None
• Noise level in the work environment is usually
  • Very quiet conditions
  • Quiet conditions
  • Moderate noise

Salary : $26 - $29