Director of Federal Programs

Applitrack; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 113,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

The Allentown School District seeks a Director of Federal Programs to lead fiscal oversight, compliance and performance for Title I, 21st Century, and related grants. The role reports to the Chief of Performance Management, Equity and Accountability and will coordinate district‑level programs ensuring funds are spent in accordance with grant guidelines.

You will supervise the Federal and State Grant Department, collaborate with district leaders and external partners, and drive timely reporting

Qualifications

• Master's degree in educational leadership, educational supervision, or related field.
• Five years of experience in public education, including central office or K-12 settings.
• Experience with fiscal monitoring of budgets and grant compliance.

Responsibilities

• Ensures all aspects of the Grant Award are followed with fidelity.
• Oversees proposal submission, budget narratives, and alignment to district priorities.
• Manages post-award administration, procurement follow‑through, and monthly reconciliations.
• Monitors federal program implementation and district compliance with federal guidelines.
• Supervises the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Programs including reporting and renewals.
• Collaborates with parents, staff, and external stakeholders for needs assessments and planning.

Skills

Grant management

Budget monitoring

Federal programs

Communication skills

Time management

Grant writing

Education

Master's degree in educational leadership

Job description

Location: Administration Center - Allentown, PA

Director of Federal Programs

Salary: $113,210-$158,494

Qualifications

• Masters degree with a major in educational leadership, educational supervision, or a related field
• Minimally five (5) years of successful experience in public education, including central office, elementary or secondary education
• Experience with ongoing fiscal monitoring of budgets and spending and programmatic compliance of grant guidelines
• Five (5) years of experience in successful grant proposal writing and grants management preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of grant award life cycle including proposal submission, post award management and administration
• Prior experience with Title Programs to include compliance and reporting
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with managing time, documentation and competing priorities

Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Summary

The Director of Federal Programs will work under the guidance of the Chief of Performance Management, Equity and Accountability to ensure fiscally responsible implementation, monitoring and compliance of all Federal Programs including, but not limited to, all Title Programs, community collaborations such as Nita M. Lowey 21st Century programs and other post-secondary partnerships such as Gear Up.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures all aspects of the Grant Award is followed with fidelity.
  • Proposal and Submission:
    • Understands grant guidelines and allowable expenses
    • Creates or supports others with narrative and budget
    • Ensures proposals align to district priorities
    • Submits grants in accordance to guidelines.
  • Post Award Management and Administration:
    • Ensures procurement is followed
    • Collaborates with grant accountants to complete monthly account reconciliation,
    • Implements quarterly review meetings of all grants
    • Ensures that plans are in place to ensure that grants are spent down in accordance to the grant guidelines
• Monitors the effective implementation of all Federal Programs and Grants to ensure that the Allentown School District is in continuous compliance with all Federal guidelines.
• Ensures Equitable Consultations for Non-Public Schools and monitors the implementation of the Non-Public programs.
• Ensures that all purchases utilizing Federal Funds follows the procurement process outlined in the Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG).
• Writes Requests for Proposals as needed in compliance with Procurement Policies
• Ensures alignment between federal expenditures, Future Ready Comprehensive Plans, and ASD's Strategic Framework.
• Supervises the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Programs including staff, program components, application renewals, monthly expenditure reports and quarterly reports.
• Monitors the Time and Effort Reports of all staff who are paid by Federal Funding.
• Ensures that building Title I budgets are created through an equitable and objective process that reflects poverty rankings
• Negotiates and manages contracts, agreements, and Memos of Understanding for good or services that are purchased with Federal Funds.
• Collaborates with parents, community members, school staff, district administrators, as well as other internal and external stakeholders to conduct the required Needs Assessments for Title IV. Ensures the voice of all stakeholders in the creation of the District Comprehensive Plan.
• Works collaboratively with administrators to ensure that Title I funds, and other grants are linked to parent and family engagement activities
• Remains current in studies and training of best practices in Title guidelines, procurement and family engagement and keeps informed of federal regulations.
• Works collaboratively with the departments in the design, and implementation of projects and programs that will meet the specific needs of students with specialized needs.
• Works collaboratively with the Chief of Performance Management, Equity & Accountability to ensure that Title I funds, school improvement funds and all other grants are linked to the strategic plan and the data reflecting student achievement needs such as the PSSA and other data that are used to inform continuous instructional improvement.
• Researches grant opportunities for the purpose of developing additional funding resources for both current and proposed services, programs and administrative operations as well as serving as a clearinghouse for potential grant funding opportunities.
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by the Superintendent, Chief of Performance Management, Equity & Accountabilityor his/her designee.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises the entire Federal and State Grant Department, to include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning and coordinating work responsibilities; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining staff; addressing complaints, and resolving problems. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the district's policies and applicable laws.