JOB LISTING

JOB TITLE:       Grants Specialist
FLSA STATUS:   Non Exempt
REPORTS TO:    Finance Director        
GRADE LEVEL:             10
SALARY RANGE:  $49,892 - $63,862
HIRING RANGE:   $49,892 - $57,875

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), formed in 1969 through a bi-state compact between California and Nevada and ratified by the U.S. Congress, is mandated to protect the distinctive alpine environment of the Lake Tahoe region while providing opportunities for orderly growth and development through its land-use planning and regulatory authorities. TRPA is one-of-a-kind, and its mission represents an unprecedented mandate to plan for and create equilibrium among environmental, economic, and social values at both regional and local levels. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

The grant specialist provides overall financial, grant compliance and project management support for various Environmental and Transportation programs carried out by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).   These programs are funded through grants from various Federal, State, and local sources.

• Manage accounting processes and grant compliance requirements for state and federal funded grant programs.
• Prepare quarterly grant invoices.
• Review/or assist in the preparation of grant quarterly progress reports, as well as interim and final narrative reports per funder’s requirements.
• Administer contracts including negotiation of terms, tracking, and compliance with contractors, consultants and vendors.
• Manage and update forecasts of the various funding sources.
• Serve as liaison between potential funding agencies and the TRPA staff.
• Assist staff with grant proposal preparation by coordinating timelines, developing budgets, editing proposal drafts, interpreting agency and funding sources philosophy, policies, regulations and guidelines and completion of applicable grant application forms.
• Assist with the augmentation of the annual work program and Agency budget.
• Perform reoccurring month-end closing entries, reconciliations, transaction research, accounts receivables, cash receipts, accounts payable, purchase orders, internal controls, and audits

• BS/BA in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or related field with two years’ experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent Excel skills
• Ability to use other Microsoft Office products
• Solution and results oriented
• Focused hard worker
• Detail oriented
• Ability to take initiative and self-motivate
• Ability to develop creative and innovative solutions
• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively
• Ability to integrate disparate viewpoints into a creative solution
• Ability to act effectively within a team
• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced environment, set priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to understand and interpret complex rules and regulations
• Ability to properly account for and budget all grant transactions
• Ability to think critically, creatively, and holistically
• Must have a strong customer service focus

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Communication:   Communicates well both verbally and in writing. Uses appropriate formal style of business and technical writing. Submits quality, proofread written documents and clearly organizes and expresses ideas. Participates in and comes prepared for meetings, shares information and ideas with others. Has the ability to clearly communicate ideas to others in a variety of situations.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness:  Takes initiative and can self-motivate. Manages workload, handles information flow, prioritizes tasks, and never says “It’s not my job.”  Develops good work procedures, manages time well. Incorporates state of the art business practices to accomplish results, and can identify and eliminate operational redundancies.
• Internal and External Customer Service:   Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, says, “yes, and here’s how,” is always available for customers, assumes responsibility for solving customer problems, understands Agency guidelines and services, maintains a pleasant and professional image.
• Problem Solving and Solution Seeking:   Recognizes problems as a member of an integrated decision making team. Systematically gathers information, breaks down problems and complex issues into smaller components. Demonstrates an understanding of underlying issues and the difference between critical details and unimportant facts. Uses good judgment.
• Relationship and Partnership Building:   Has good listening and interpersonal skills, and the ability to put oneself into another’s shoes (empathetic).  Builds strong relationships and communicates effectively with a variety of constituents inside and outside of the Agency.  Demonstrates flexibility and open-mindedness, solicits performance feedback, and values and handles constructive criticism of both self and Agency. Is a positive ambassador of the Agency at all times.
• Strategic Plan Implementation Focus:   Accepts assigned roles and responsibilities.  Monitors own project progress, consistently delivers on milestones and action items on schedule and within budget. Effectively uses associated technology tools including Accela and Success Factors to track progress and to own accountability. Can course correct for continual improvement based on new information (Plan, Do, Check).

POSITION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

• Budgets and Cost Controls:           Plans for and uses resources efficiently, always looks for ways to reduce costs, creates accurate and realistic budgets, tracks and adjusts budgets, contributes to budget planning.
• Computer Skills:  Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, keeps abreast of changes, learns new programs quickly, uses computers to improve productivity.
• Job Knowledge:   Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, keeps job knowledge current, is in command of critical issues.
• Personal Organization:   Keeps information organized and accessible, maintains clean/functional work space, works systematically/efficiently, and manages time well.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• ANALYSIS:
  Gathers and interprets data dealing with complex problems and situations.
• DECISION MAKING:
  Utilizes own judgment and own interpretation of general guidelines when making decisions, informs management of actions and suggests changes to policy in future.
• DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT:
  May act as lead or help others with skills.
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
  Acts as project coordinator, working with more senior project manager.
• COMMUNICATION LEVEL:
  Requires ability to communicate detailed information either verbally or in writing.  Answers questions and clarifies points.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

1. Office environment
2. Bending, stooping
3. Using office equipment, key board
4. May require driving an agency vehicle

AGENCY BENEFITS:

Agency staff members receive 27 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance plan; and membership in Agency retirement plan.

Please mention you learned of this employment opportunity on the Careers In Government website.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Any qualified person interested in this position should submit their resume and a letter of interest to Michele Chouinard, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, P. O. Box 5310, Stateline, Nevada, 89449 for immediate consideration. Fax: 775.588.4527; E-mail:  hr@trpa.org    No relocation assistance available.