Grant Compliance Specialist

The Grant Compliance Specialist is a key team member and ensures the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is following the Grant Agreement with the Department of Early Learning (DEL) along with ensuring that all relevant laws regulations and internal policies are followed Monitoring the compliance plan governing School Readiness (SR) Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) client eligibility and provider reporting requirements are conducted as per the Division of Early Learning rules and applicable statutes. As a result of internal monitoring risks will be assessed and regulatory changes will be kept up to date. This position will support the Early Learning Coalitions commitment to honoring the core values. This position reports directly to the Senior Grant Compliance Specialist.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
Grant Compliance:

• Alternate DEL contact (Grant Manager) for all contractual and Grant requirements.
• Assists with the review and coordination of departmental reviews of all areas of the annual draft Grant Agreement ensuring timely execution of the annual Grant Agreement.
• Supports updates to the Coalition Plan as needed ensuring the Coalition Plan appropriately reflects the Coalitions operations and activities.
• Follow timelines established by DEL to ensure compliance with Grant Agreement and provide documents when required.
• Meet random sampling file compliance requirements for VPK and SR clients and provider files along with associated payment validations.
• Supports with compliance requirements for all DEL scorecards guides and spreadsheets for CCRR CG ESD OPM and DA areas.
• Stay up to date on all DEL policies statutes and regulations and internal policies or changes.
• Update and train ELCHC team members on changes in rules statutes processes and internal changes as needed.
• Communicate with other departments when issues are discovered during monitoring to allow for technical assistance or explanation.
• Alternate liaison to DEL Accountability team to oversee and prepare files documents and monitoring for DEL Accountability bi-annual review.
• Provide staff training when compliance issues are identified to help with the resolution.
• Provide Guidance to Management when compliance issues are identified or recurring.
• Communicating compliance expectations to all staff to make them aware of requirements.
• Perform other duties as required.

Contract Management:

• Collaborate with internal teams (Programs Initiatives & Education Finance Early Intervention Support Services and Provider Supports) to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities.
• Serve as an alternate liaison between the organization and external stakeholders to build support for and participation in community outreach/family engagement activities.
• Prepare regular reports for leadership and board presentations.
• Serve as an alternate relationship manager for funders and prospects including thank you communications impact reporting and engagement touchpoints.
• Represent the organizations mission to donors potential donors and other external stakeholders.
• Maintain a calendar of grant deadlines and ensure timely submissions and reporting.
• Assists with monitoring and evaluation of grant and donor funded projects.
• Assists with all grant reporting requirements deadlines outcome tracking and lead internal cross departmental communications.

Fraud Compliance:

• Conduct investigations of irregularities discovered by or brought to the auditors attention
• Respond to requests from the State Attorney Public Defenders Office and other agencies; represent the ELCHC in any legal proceedings related to potential client fraud
• Receive and respond to requests from provider client Office of Early Learning concerned parties and partnering agencies for investigation of suspected provider and client fraud
• Designated contact for all local state and federal government agencies related to Public Assistance Fraud Department of Children and Family Services and others
• Provide Division of Public Assistance Fraud with case summaries applications overpayment amount and details for each case submitted and/or identified as potential fraud
• Obtain statements documents and all other related information pertaining to the potential fraud case in an appropriate format to include a full description of the facts needed in support of the potential fraud inquiry
• Secure evidence from all available sources in preparation for possible submission of fraud referral to the Department of Financial Services (DFS/DPAF)
• Prepare reports for each case describing all steps taken visits made information documented etc. for submission of fraud referral
• Assists with training ELC staff to help identify potential fraud on all programmatic areas of business

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates degree from an accredited institution with a major in Business Administration Early Childhood or other related degree. A combination of education and relevant professional work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 3 years experience working in Early Childhood education or a non-profit organization.- Required
• Minimum 2 years experience working for an Early Learning Coalition within the state of Florida.- Required
• Minimum 1 years experience in project management grant writing fundraising donor relations and/or Board of Directors communications and support - Required
• Demonstrated ability of contract management skills including drafting reviewing and monitoring compliance with vendor and service agreements.
• Knowledge of Coalition policies DEL policies and expectations Florida statutes and other policies relevant to Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness contract compliance.
• Understanding of contractual obligations and expectations with outside agencies.
• Advanced Microsoft Office Skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• This position requires successful completion of the Level 2 Background Screening Standards as set forth in s. 435.04 F.S.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/WORK CONDITIONS

• Work Environment: This job operates in a general office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones copiers and scanners. While performing the duties of this job the employee frequently interacts with staff providers and the public via telephone email or in person.
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job the employee will be required to sit for prolonged periods at a desk utilizing a computer to review online paper documents. The employee will also be required to lift and move up to 25 pounds.
• Position Type and Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position. Standard hours of work are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However evening and weekend hours will be required as needed.