Compliance Specialist I

City of Atlanta; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Atlanta’s Department of Grants and Community Development seeks a Compliance Specialist I to evaluate and enhance compliance standards across HUD programs. You will monitor procurement, records, environmental reviews, and reporting, ensuring timely CAPER data and open records responses.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in business or legal studies and at least two years of related experience, with strong analytical, training, and collaboration skills across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Legal Studies; 2 years related experience.
• Licensure or professional certifications relevant to the position.
• Preferred: Certified Occupancy Specialist, Rent Calculation Specialist, NAHRO.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present compliance reports to senior management.
• Provide training in procurement compliance, ethics, and policy development.
• Research and interpret local, state, and federal law.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with HUD regulations across COA programs.
• Coordinate with departments and participate in environmental reviews.

Skills

Legal compliance concepts

Regulatory understanding

Training others

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Legal Studies

Job description

Job Description

Department of Grants and Community Development

Compliance Specialist I

Posting Expires: September 9, 2026

Salary Range: $62,000 - $68,000/annually

Provides subject matter expertise on compliance and policy issues to the grants department by proactively evaluating, reviewing, and enhancing compliance standards and processes within the City of Atlanta Department of Grants and Community Development. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with HUD regulations and governmental requirements across various City programs. This entails coordinating HUD monitoring visits, responding to findings, and aiding in the development of reports like the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), while also maintaining accurate records of HUD notices and policy alerts. Additionally, the role oversees project monitoring, assists in policy development, and conducts property inspections to ensure adherence to standards. This position also conducts quality assurance inspections for concessions operations and facilitates ongoing compliance and training for City workforce housing properties. The objective is to ensure program compliance and provide recommendations based on assessments. Responsibilities also include conducting thorough analysis and impartial reviews of procurement projects and files to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures and city procurement code.

Supervision Received

Direction received is very general and focuses on end results and is typically collaborative in nature.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares and presents monthly, quarterly and annual compliance reports to senior management to address disciplinary and/or corrective actions, along with policy and process improvements.
• Provides specialized advice and training in the areas of procurement compliance and ethics, internal investigations, audits, records management, release of public records, data privacy, and policy/process development.
• Researches and interprets local, state, and federal law to determine the effect on procurement operations and service delivery.
• Assesses systemic compliance issues and assist in the design and development of corrective compliance policies and procedures.
• Directs and participates in special projects or performs other duties as requested.
• Ensures Open Record Act Requests are processed within the mandated time frame.
• Position plans own work and project schedules and sequences.
• Serves as part of the department's Center of Excellence team and cooperatively develops policy and procedural guidance for the entire department. Manages special projects as directed. Provides training to employees on various compliance issues.
• Participate in review of NOFA applications.
• Maintain Risk Tool Process, adherence to schedule, documentation completion and storage for CDBG, ESG and HOME programs in preparation for monitoring activities.
• Assist with selection process of contracts to be monitored during each cycle for accuracy and readiness.
• Monitor, conduct and assist in the tracking of technical assistance for the City of Atlanta’s CDBG, ESG, HOPWA, and HOME portfolio.
• Research and provide updates on HUD guidance and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate changes to regulations, best practices, notices etc. in a timely manner to compliance management and all impacted parties.
• Assist with resolving identified compliance issues, identify issues and conducts research to find alternative solutions.
• Participate in research and evaluation of proposed contractual obligations and agreements.
• Monitor compliance with applicable contractual agreements.
• Analyze federal, state, and local legislative proposals for impact on assigned functions.
• Ensure compliance with contractual agreements and legislative proposals.
• Coordinate and collaborate with CoA departments to provide information and serve as a resource.
• Attend and participate in professional work sessions; stay abreast of new developments within assigned area of responsibility; maintain knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations.
• Review projects for applicability and level of Environmental Review required: Exempt, CENST, CEST, Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.
• Review completed ERR with associated existing contracts and/or projects to determine applicability during the internal audit, risk analysis and/or monitoring processes.
• Active participation in the Interdisciplinary meetings.
• Assist in the collection of data to internal auditors and external auditors
• Ensure that all associated files are tracked and stored per established protocol, and maintain compliance management systems.
• Assist with maintenance of all compliance management systems.
• Perform Part 58 reviews for CDBG, HOME, and HOPWA projects.
• Perform quality assurance inspections and audits for retail locations.
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints.
• Maintain accurate documentation of compliance violations and inspections.
• Assist in writing standard operational policies and procedures for compliance.
• Coordinate with other departments to provide information and resources.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Qualifications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of legal compliance concepts, processes, and tools of profession.
• Knowledge of relationships with legal departments among related organizations and functions.
• Knowledge of basic Environmental Review Requirements.
• Well-developed administrative and technical skills within the legal department.
• Skills in organizing and presenting information, proposals, etc.
• Ability to resolve virtually all types of compliance issues.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to build effective relationships within the organization.

Minimum Qualifications: Education and Experience - Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Legal Studies , or equivalent field required.

Two (2) years of related experience.

Licensures and Certifications - Position would be expected to have licensure or professional certifications appropriate to the position.

Preferred Requirements - Certified Occupancy Specialist, Rent Calculation Specialist, NAHRO.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a professional office setting with regular computer use and occasional field or site visits, meetings, and trainings as required.

Lifting Requirements

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Work Schedule

This position follows the City’s hybrid work schedule policy as assigned by the Department of Human Resources Commissioner and requires in-person work at City worksites/facilities at least four (4) days per week, with the option to work remotely one (1) day per week, based on eligibility, departmental needs, and supervisor approval. The hybrid work schedule is subject to change at any time to five (5) days in-person work.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.