Program Support Specialist

Kids for the Future; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Flexible time off

Professional development

Team events

Job summary

VPD Government Solutions seeks a Program Support Specialist to provide professional grants management, program administration, and customer service support to the Office of Head Start across nationwide initiatives.

The role involves reviewing grant applications, monitoring, data analysis, reporting, and technical assistance to recipients, collaborating with regional and central offices, and supporting national initiatives like FEI and CiS.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of progressive professional experience directly related to early childhood programs, with a preference for Head Start/Early Head Start programs.
• Ability to use web-based and off-the-shelf data management software.
• Ability to aggregate, analyze, and present data from multiple sources.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and produce high-quality written products.

Responsibilities

• Provide grants management and program administration support for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership grants.
• Review, analyze, and process grant applications, continuation applications, supplemental funding requests, budget modifications, and other grant actions.
• Support grant award processing, post-award administration, and grant closeout activities.
• Review grant recipient reports, monitoring reports, Quality Improvement Plans, community assessments, self-assessments, correspondence, and other program documentation.
• Identify potential programmatic, operational, fiscal, or compliance issues requiring Federal attention.
• Prepare memoranda, reports, presentations, correspondence, and other written products supporting grant administration.
• Provide technical assistance and customer service to grant recipients consistent with OHS policies and procedures.
• Participate in grant oversight activities including recipient meetings, monitoring preparation, onsite reviews, post-review activities, and follow-up communications.
• Assist with implementation of national initiatives including FEI, CiS, under-enrollment activities, incident reporting, and other Central Office priorities.
• Coordinate with Regional Offices, Central Office, OGM, contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Support development of training materials, webinars, presentations, and standard operating procedures.
• Assist with workflow improvement initiatives and operational process enhancements.
• Perform other grants management and program support activities assigned by the Government.

Skills

Grant management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

HSES

GrantSolutions

AMS

Smartsheet

Job description

• Location 1621 S Hayes St Apt A,Arlington, VA, 22202-5558,United States
• Base Pay $45,000.00 - $60,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

Description

The Program Support Specialist provides professional grants management, program administration, and customer service support to the Office of Head Start (OHS) in administering Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership grants. This position supports Federal staff by performing grant application reviews, recipient oversight, program monitoring, data analysis, recipient communications, technical assistance, and administrative activities that strengthen program performance, ensure regulatory compliance, and support the effective delivery of OHS services nationwide. The Program Support Specialist works collaboratively with Regional Office and Central Office staff to support discretionary grant administration and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Provide grants management and program administration support for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership grants.
• Review, analyze, and process grant applications, continuation applications, supplemental funding requests, budget modifications, and other grant actions.
• Support grant award processing, post-award administration, and grant closeout activities.
• Review grant recipient reports, monitoring reports, Quality Improvement Plans, community assessments, self-assessments, correspondence, and other program documentation.
• Identify potential programmatic, operational, fiscal, or compliance issues requiring Federal attention.
• Prepare memoranda, reports, presentations, correspondence, and other written products supporting grant administration.
• Provide technical assistance and customer service to grant recipients consistent with OHS policies and procedures.
• Participate in grant oversight activities including recipient meetings, monitoring preparation, onsite reviews, post-review activities, and follow-up communications.
• Assist with implementation of national initiatives including Full Enrollment Initiative (FEI), Change in Scope (CiS), under-enrollment activities, child incident reporting, and other Central Office priorities.
• Coordinate with Regional Offices, Central Office, Office of Grants Management (OGM), contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Support development of training materials, webinars, presentations, and standard operating procedures.
• Assist with workflow improvement initiatives and operational process enhancements.
• Perform other grants management and program support activities assigned by the Government.

Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of progressive professional experience directly related to early childhood programs, with a preference for Head Start/Early Head Start programs.
• Demonstrated ability in utilizing a variety of web-based and off-the-shelf data management software packages.
• Demonstrated ability to aggregate, analyze, and present data gathered from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and produce high-quality written products such as memoranda, presentations, and correspondence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting OHS or ACF.
• Experience with Head Start Enterprise System (HSES), GrantSolutions, AMS, and Smartsheet.
• Experience supporting Federal grants management, monitoring reviews, recipient oversight, technical assistance, and process improvement initiatives.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Public Administration, or related field from an accredited university or college.

Summary

Why work for VPD?

• VPD is proud to be a certified Great Place to Work in 2022-2023 & 2025 and named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America for 2025! See more about what our employees think! Working at VPD Government Solutions | Great Place to Work®
• Robust employee benefits package beginning on 1st of the month following hire date including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) with 5% employer matching
• Flexible time off program
• Opportunities for professional development
• Employee-centric work culture including company sponsored events, happy hours, and team-building opportunities, frequent communications/information sharing from Leadership, supportive and positive teamwork environment, “open door” policy, etc.

VPD is Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• VPD Uses E-Verify - Right to Work Poster

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

• EEOC Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
• EEO is the Law - Federal Contractors/Subcontractors
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Additional Information

• Remote, Hybrid, or Onsite? Hybrid
• What type of citizenship does your contract require? U.S. Citizen