Director, Grant Administration

District of Columbia Public Schools; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

District of Columbia Public Schools is seeking a Director, Grant Administration to lead grant strategy, compliance, and resource alignment across DCPS. This role oversees the full grant lifecycle from proposal through closeout, including federal, intradistrict, and private grants, and partners with OSSE and DHCF for Medicaid billing and reimbursement.

You will supervise a team of grant professionals, ensure adherence to regulations, drive data-driven budgeting, and build cross-department

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five to seven years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience managing federal grants and navigating complex regulatory environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Executes high-level budget management for all grants throughout the fiscal year.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical expertise to district offices, schools, and external partners regarding grant requirements, allowable expenditures, budgeting, and implementation.
• Collaborate with program, finance, procurement, and operational leaders to align grant funding with district priorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, laws, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Lead Medicaid billing/reimbursement initiatives in partnership with OSSE and DHCF.
• Supervise and develop a team of grant professionals responsible for grant administration and compliance monitoring.

Skills

Budget management

Grant administration

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Federal grants

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy (OFS) is a catalyst for ensuring excellence, equity, and efficiency to ensure DCPS achieves our goals for our students. We want employees who recognize and embrace the importance of a strong partnership between schools and Central Services. When Central Services runs efficiently, and provides high-quality customer service, our school-based employees can concentrate on educating our children and leading our schools. By combining financial planning with strategic planning, thisofficesupports DCPS with activelyidentifyingresources, costs and budget and aligning them with our mission and goals.

Divisions/Teams:TheOfficeofFiscal Strategy is organized intofourdivisions

Finance: Ensures school and centralservicesfinances areallocatedandexpendedin alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, in a manner that fosters transparency, maximizes funds, promotes equity, and ensures compliance with requirements.

ContractsandAcquisitions:Provides procurement services to schools andCentral Services programs through contract and purchase order processes in alignment with District and Federal procurement laws and regulations.Manages andfacilitatesthe procurement of goods and services for all DCPS schools and central services, thatfosters transparency, maximizes buying power, promotes equity of spending with local vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements.

Operational Finance(Core):Works to improve organizational effectiveness and to ensure daily fiscal operations are managed efficiently across DCPS. TheOperational FinanceTeam advocates for DCPSprogramsand schoolsby shepherding collaboration with procurement, budget, and HR teams.Operational Financeprovides oversight to ensureequitable, transparent, and compliant personnel and non-personnel spending through quality customer service.

Fiscal OperationsSystems:Supports schools and central services by leading OFS’s efforts to design efficient and effective operational finance structuresand processes. Promotes agency financial data literacyby leading finance data visualization initiatives that equipDCPS stakeholders withcomprehensive information.

TheFinance Divisionwithin theOfficeofFiscal Strategyincludesfour teams:

School Finance:Oversees the annual budget formulation process for DCPS schools, including the allocation of resources,engagingand collaborating with internal and external budget stakeholders, and publishing school budget reports and information. The team ensures that the allocation of resources is aligned to the agency's vision and strategic priorities.

Budget Strategy:Oversees annual development and implementation of agency budget, including coordination of new policies and programs as directed by DCPS leadership. Budget Strategy works to solve long-term budget challenges, improve budget processes across the agency, andservesas key relationship holder with OCFO.

Grant Administration:Oversees and manages all direct federal, intradistrict, and private grants.The team ensures that DCPS is following all relevant federal grant regulations, and that all grants areexpendedin accordance withthe approved grant application.

Monitoring and Program Support:Exists to ensure implementation, guidance, and compliance of federal government mandates that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must provide to schools. The team works with school leaders and service providers to understand best practices foroperatinga successful federal program in public and private schools, and oversees fiduciary responsibilities as outlined in ESSA, Titles I-IV.

The Director, Grant Administration provides strategic leadership and oversight for the administration and management for direct federal, intradistrict, and private grants. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and grant-specific regulations, while maximizing the effective and efficient use of grant resources to support agency priorities and strategic goals. The Director oversees the full grant lifecycle, from proposal development and application submission through implementation, monitoring, reporting, and closeout.

In addition, the Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for Medicaid billing and reimbursement activities in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). This includes ensuring accurate and timely billing, maximizing eligible Medicaid reimbursement, monitoring compliance with applicable Medicaid requirements, resolving complex reimbursement and billing issues, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen processes, controls, and revenue recovery.

The Director leads a team responsible for providing technical assistance, guidance, and expertise to internal and external stakeholders on grant development, administration, compliance, fiscal stewardship, and program implementation. The position serves as a key advisor supporting grant strategy and resource alignment that advances the district's operating plan and educational priorities.

Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or this position are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Consumer credit check (as applicable).

The Director, Grant Administration will report to the Deputy Chief, Finance.

Position Overview

• Finance: Ensures school and centralservicesfinances areallocatedandexpendedin alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, in a manner that fosters transparency, maximizes funds, promotes equity, and ensures compliance with requirements.

• ContractsandAcquisitions:Provides procurement services to schools andCentral Services programs through contract and purchase order processes in alignment with District and Federal procurement laws and regulations.Manages andfacilitatesthe procurement of goods and services for all DCPS schools and central services, thatfosters transparency, maximizes buying power, promotes equity of spending with local vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements.

• Operational Finance(Core):Works to improve organizational effectiveness and to ensure daily fiscal operations are managed efficiently across DCPS. TheOperational FinanceTeam advocates for DCPSprogramsand schoolsby shepherding collaboration with procurement, budget, and HR teams.Operational Financeprovides oversight to ensureequitable, transparent, and compliant personnel and non-personnel spending through quality customer service.

• Fiscal OperationsSystems:Supports schools and central services by leading OFS’s efforts to design efficient and effective operational finance structuresand processes. Promotes agency financial data literacyby leading finance data visualization initiatives that equipDCPS stakeholders withcomprehensive information.

• School Finance:Oversees the annual budget formulation process for DCPS schools, including the allocation of resources,engagingand collaborating with internal and external budget stakeholders, and publishing school budget reports and information. The team ensures that the allocation of resources is aligned to the agency's vision and strategic priorities.

• Budget Strategy:Oversees annual development and implementation of agency budget, including coordination of new policies and programs as directed by DCPS leadership. Budget Strategy works to solve long-term budget challenges, improve budget processes across the agency, andservesas key relationship holder with OCFO.

• Grant Administration:Oversees and manages all direct federal, intradistrict, and private grants.The team ensures that DCPS is following all relevant federal grant regulations, and that all grants areexpendedin accordance withthe approved grant application.

• Monitoring and Program Support:Exists to ensure implementation, guidance, and compliance of federal government mandates that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must provide to schools. The team works with school leaders and service providers to understand best practices foroperatinga successful federal program in public and private schools, and oversees fiduciary responsibilities as outlined in ESSA, Titles I-IV.

The Director, Grant Administration provides strategic leadership and oversight for the administration and management for direct federal, intradistrict, and private grants. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and grant-specific regulations, while maximizing the effective and efficient use of grant resources to support agency priorities and strategic goals. The Director oversees the full grant lifecycle, from proposal development and application submission through implementation, monitoring, reporting, and closeout.

In addition, the Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for Medicaid billing and reimbursement activities in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). This includes ensuring accurate and timely billing, maximizing eligible Medicaid reimbursement, monitoring compliance with applicable Medicaid requirements, resolving complex reimbursement and billing issues, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen processes, controls, and revenue recovery.

The Director leads a team responsible for providing technical assistance, guidance, and expertise to internal and external stakeholders on grant development, administration, compliance, fiscal stewardship, and program implementation. The position serves as a key advisor supporting grant strategy and resource alignment that advances the district's operating plan and educational priorities.

Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or this position are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Consumer credit check (as applicable).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Executes high-level budget management for all grants throughout the fiscal year.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical expertise to district offices, schools, and external partners regarding grant requirements, allowable expenditures, budgeting, and implementation.
• Collaborate with program, finance, procurement, and operational leaders to align grant funding with district strategic priorities and operational goals.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and grant-specific regulations, laws, policies, and reporting requirements.
• Provides financial recommendations and leads the development of new processes to build efficiency with the use of grant funds.
• Provides strategic leadership and oversight of Medicaid billing and reimbursement in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), including monitoring billing activity, reimbursement collections, compliance requirements, including audits, and the resolution of denials and reimbursement issues.
• Supervise and develop a team of grant professionals responsible for grant administration, compliance monitoring, technical assistance, and stakeholder support.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for grant-related audits, monitoring reviews, and inquiries from funding agencies and both internal and external stakeholders.
• Anticipates, identifies, and resolves complex obstacles by developing strategic solutions across the agency as well as for specific initiatives.
• Builds relationships across departments and offices to drive collaboration and interacts with and responds effectively to urgent requests from multiple internal and external DCPS stakeholders.
• Connects with both the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer on a regular basis to ensure compliance with federal regulations and proper expenditure of funds.
• Identifies and systematizes successful operational and project management methods across the agency.
• Drives the gathering and analysis of budget data for internal and external reporting; and evaluates, on quantitative and qualitative bases, effectiveness of previous resource allocation decisions towards meeting established goals and objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five to seven years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience managing federal grants and navigating complex regulatory environments preferred.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [e-mail].