Charter School Grant Specialist (Education Specialist IV)

Texas Education Agency; Texas; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Health insurance

Dental & vision coverage

Paid state holidays

Wellness programs

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) seeks a Charter School Grant Specialist to manage and monitor the CSP, SFIG, CSSIG, and related charter grant programs. This role supports LEAs across Texas and ensures timely deliverables and compliance with grant requirements.

The position requires up to 25% travel, with flexible work location within Texas for qualified candidates. A resume and cover letter are required with applications, and national criminal history background checks are required for

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
• At least four (4) years of experience in the education sector or with grant administration.
• Experience with charter schools or federal grants is preferred.
• Ability to communicate complex material clearly to multiple stakeholders.
• Highly organized with project planning and monitoring skills.
• Experience with grant management, budget analysis, and fiscal compliance.

Responsibilities

• Support the Texas Charter School Program grant, State Facilities Incentive grant, and state funded charter grants.
• Support, evaluate, and monitor CSP and SFIG grantees and ensure eligibility and compliance.
• Track progress and milestones by analyzing grant applications, budgets, and expenditures.
• Collaborate with Grants Administration and other internal teams to implement CSP, SFIG, CSSIG, and Closed Charter grants.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to grant implementation and monitoring.

Education

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state.

Core Values

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students.
• We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them.

Job Description

Position Overview: The Division of Charter School Authorizing supports 200+ Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide high-quality public-school options for Texas students. The Charter School Grant Specialist will play a critical role in ensuring that Texas' charter school portfolio is among the highest performing in the nation. The Charter School Program (CSP) grant provides funding to support the creation of new, innovative A/B rated charter schools and the replication and expansion of existing high-quality charter schools. The State Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) provides federal supplemental facilities funding to high-performing charter schools.

The Charter School Grant Specialist will support the agency's administration of its $149.2M+ Charter School Program grant, the $66.8M State Facilities Incentive grant, the Charter School Support and Improvement (CSSIG) grant, and the Closed Charter Records Custodian grant.

The Charter School Grant Specialist reports to the Charter School Grant Manager in the Division of Charter School Authorizing.

This position requires up to 25% travel, based on business needs, to support program initiatives, collaboration, and operational priorities.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Applicants must also complete the required short answer responses as part of the application questionnaire. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1 - Support the Texas Charter School Program grant, State Facilities Incentive grant and state funded charter grants: Provide support on the implementation of Texas' $149.2M Charter School Program grant, $66.8M State Facilities Incentive Grant, and state funded charter grants. Support the work to ensure all grant timelines and deliverables are met.

2 - Support, evaluate, and monitor CSP and SFIG grantees: Utilize guidance documents, communication plans, and trainings related to grant eligibility requirements and application processes in communication with LEAs. Provide support and assist with monitoring activities to ensure grantee compliance with grant requirements.

3 - Track progress and milestones: Gather and analyze data related to grant applications, budgets, and expenditures to generate reports and track subgrantee progress toward project objectives.

4 - Collaborate and coordinate with related teams: Work with internal agency teams including Grants Administration to implement the CSP, SFIG, CSSIG and Closed Charter grant programs.

5 - Recommends improvements: Evaluate and recommend adjustments to continuously improve the implementation and monitoring of the CSP, SFIG, CSSIG and Closed Charter grants.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in the education sector or comparable experience with grant administration

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Experience working with charter schools or with the administration and monitoring of federal grants and statewide education laws is preferred
• Experience organizing information and executing processes for large projects
• Ability to concisely communicate complex material to a variety of stakeholders
• Highly organized with ability to develop and execute project plans and progress monitoring tools
• Skill in qualitative and quantitative analysis; and creating MS PowerPoint, Excel, and Word-based toolkits, guides, and resources
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve
• Demonstrates outstanding personal relations skills including excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with grant management, budget analysis, and fiscal compliance of state/federal funds
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, guidance, and agreements pertaining to grants administration
• Ability to correctly interpret complex laws, regulations, guidelines, agreements, and follow policies and procedures
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in planning, organizing, performing duties, and working under minimal supervision

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance.

Benefits include

• Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page.