Grant Project Manager

New York State Homes & Community Renewal; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Promotions

Work-life balance

Paid parental leave

Paid family leave

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is seeking a Grant Project Manager for the Office of Community Renewal’s State Housing grants team. You will manage a portfolio of grant projects from application review to payment processing, and provide technical assistance to awardees and staff.

The role involves travel and extensive collaboration with not-for-profits and local governments to advance Access to Home, Mobile & Manufactured Home Replacement, and RESTORE programs, while ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in humanities, planning, economic development, public administration, business, or related field plus two years of work experience in community development.
• Affinity toward technology.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of how to work effectively in and with diverse communities.
• Experience performing administrative duties with speed and accuracy without constant supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with attention to detail and professionalism.
• Ability to research and retrieve information.
• Well organized and self-motivated with ability to work under pressure and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Strong Excel and Word skills; experience with PDF forms preferred.

Responsibilities

• Under the general direction of the Program Director, provide support in the administration of grant projects.
• Manage a portfolio of grant contracts through funding, development, and compliance phases.
• Review applications, manage approval and funding process, and prepare documents and contracts.
• Present projects and attend off-site meetings; provide technical assistance to program grantees.
• Draft memos, correspondence, reports, manuals and presentations as needed.
• Attend community development meetings, conferences, webinars, and workshops.
• Maintain database records and generate reporting outputs.
• Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Diversity & inclusion awareness

Research skills

Self-motivation

Attention to detail

Administrative experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in humanities, planning, economic development, public administration, business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Applicants must include a cover letter and resume for review. A writing sample is recommended and will be requested for candidates selected for interviews.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State.

This position is with HCR's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC). This is not a civil service position and does not require a civil service exam. Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications outlined below to be considered.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. HCR is committed to developing a workforce that represents the diverse population of New York State. HCR embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

The Office of Community Renewal (OCR) administers a combination of State and Federal funding resources to develop or support programs that provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate-income persons.

Position Summary:

HCR is looking for a new staff member to join the Office of Community Renewal’s State Housing grants team. This team manages grant projects awarded to not for profits and units of local government through the Access to Home, Mobile & Manufactured Home Replacement and RESTORE programs.

The Grant Project Manager position includes management of a portfolio of projects throughout the full lifecycle of a grant: reviewing grant applications, preparing grant agreement materials, processing payment requests, monitoring project progress, and providing technical assistance to applicants, awardees, and staff.

Daily activities primarily include interacting with grant awardees to provide guidance and technical assistance. Other office duties such as answering questions by phone and email, researching and troubleshooting difficult issues and scenarios, reviewing and editing written materials, and attending internal meetings as needed. Occasionally the days may include traveling to visit grantees to provide technical assistance and monitor projects.

While the position requires significant administrative work and effort, it offers unique opportunities to become familiar with communities throughout the State while supporting interesting, meaningful affordable housing projects that benefit low-and- moderate income New Yorkers. The ideal candidate for this position 1) is organized and able to work independently, 2) possesses excellent written and oral communication skills, 3) is curious and eager to contribute to process and procedural improvements, and 4) is detail oriented while able to also maintain a long-term view of the goals for the program.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Under the general direction of the Program Director, the Grant Project Manager provides support in the administration of the grant projects. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Understand and articulate program rules and regulations of the program.
• General management of a portfolio of grant contracts, including the tracking and monitoring of projects through funding, development, and compliance phases. Specifically:
  • review of applications, management of approval and funding process, and preparing approval documents and contracts;
  • presenting projects and attending off-site meetings;
  • providing and directing technical assistance to program grantees to ensure comprehension of program regulations and requirements; and
  • Review and process all program-related payment requests and contracts.
• Carry out routine office activities such as answering and routing phone calls, copying, transcription, filing, data entry, handling incoming and outgoing e-mail, and mail, and other tasks as needed.
• Draft memos, correspondence, reports, manuals, presentations, or other documents as needed.
• Provide database record keeping and reporting support.
• Attend, participate, conduct presentations and/or assist with preparation for community development meetings, conferences, webinars, and workshops.
• Special projects and general program-related support and assistance, as needed.

This position requires occasional travel. Amount of travel varies throughout the year.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree inhumanities,planning,economic development,public administration, business, or related field plus two (2) years of work experience in community development. Comparable, relevant work experience will be considered*
• Affinity toward technology;
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Understanding of how to work effectively in and with diverse communities;
• Demonstrated experience performing administrative duties with speed and accuracy without immediate and constant supervision;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with attention to detail and professionalism in all communications;
• Ability to research and retrieve information;
• Well organized and self-motivated with ability to work under pressure, while prioritizing and managing multiple tasks;
• Strong Microsoft Excel and Word skills required, experience with PDF forms preferred;

*Substitutions: four years of specialized experience or associate’s degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelors degree; J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will be expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE A RESUME

WHAT WE OFFER AT NYS HCR:

• Extensive benefits package including participation in New York State’s Health Insurance Program and New York State & Local Employees’ Retirement System.
• Promotional opportunities for dedicated professionals.
• Work-life balance benefits including a 37.5-hour work week, opportunity for compressed scheduling, and paid time off benefits (vacation, sick, personal days, and federal holidays).
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
• Paid Family Leave.
• As a New York State employee, you may qualify to participate in theFederal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under anaccepted repayment plan and while working full-time for aneligible employer.

ABOUT NEW YORK STATE HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL:

Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, HCR is a vibrant, innovative agency that integrates and leverages New York State’shousing resources. We have offices in New York City, Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse, and employ a diverse workforce of professionals who are hard-working and committed to serving low- and moderate-income families. Our mission is far-reaching, encompassing single and multifamily housing finance, home improvement, rent regulation, housing subsidies, and community development. We partner regularly with a variety of public and private stakeholders.

Achieving this mission requires a wide range of skills and backgrounds in public policy, administration, real estate, construction, finance, law, and many other areas of expertise. We seek to provide a workplace environment that is productive, flexible, accountable, ethical, and caring. Our employees are empowered to make a difference where they live and work. We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, retirement, and family-friendly policies.

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)