Grants Management Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Programs Office (PO). OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities for a GS- 1109-11/12/13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Serves as Grants Management Specialist in the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Programs Office (PO), with responsibility for programmatic and fiscal oversight, planning, development, implementation, and assessment of grant programs that support state, local, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities and address chronic and emerging criminal justice challenges nationwide. Develops and reviews grant solicitation materials by identifying program priorities, establishing eligibility criteria, drafting application instructions and evaluation criteria, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations and agency policies. Prepares award documentation including grant award letters, special conditions, and terms and conditions by analyzing programmatic and fiscal requirements, incorporating regulatory provisions, and coordinating with program officials and legal counsel. Manages grant closeout processes by reviewing final financial and programmatic reports, verifying resolution of outstanding issues and deliverables, ensuring compliance with closeout procedures, and processing administrative closeout in grants management systems. Conducts program assessments and evaluations by analyzing performance data from grant activities, identifying trends and areas for improvement, evaluating program effectiveness, and developing recommendations to enhance program operations and outcomes. Serves as liaison and technical resource by responding to inquiries from grantees, applicants, and stakeholders regarding grant policies and procedures, interpreting federal regulations and program requirements, and providing guidance on grant administration matters.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Grants Management Specialist, at GS-1109-11/12/13, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below. For GS-13: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Conducted complex grant post-award financial management activities such as reviewing budget modifications, evaluating cost reasonableness and allowability, overseeing and validating expenditures ensuring full compliance, and ensuring expenditures aligned with approved budgets and federal regulations, identifying patterns, resolving issues, and guiding others on best practices. Managed grant pre-award coordination activities by reviewing grant applications, assessing applicant qualifications and proposed activities, verifying compliance with solicitation criteria, and preparing evaluation documentation for large or complex discretionary and formula grants. Conducted compliance reviews of grant awards by analyzing financial and progress reports, assessing compliance with federal requirements and award terms, and providing technical assistance to grantees regarding reporting and regulatory obligations. For GS-12: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Conducted grant post-award financial activities, such as reviewing budget modification requests, identifying issues related to cost allocation or compliance, program activities aligned with approved budgets, identifying potential risks or inconsistencies and recommending corrective actions. Conducted pre-award activities, including reviewing grant applications for completeness and eligibility, evaluating applicant qualifications and proposed activities, verifying compliance with solicitation requirements, identifying potential issues and risks, and documenting findings to support award decisions. Conducted grant compliance reviews by analyzing financial and programmatic reports, identifying areas of non-compliance with federal requirements and award terms, and providing guidance to grantees on corrective actions and regulatory obligations. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Supported grant post-award financial monitoring by reviewing budget modification requests for completeness, verifying expenditure documentation, checking costs against approved budgets, and tracking compliance with federal financial regulations. Assisted with grant pre-award coordination by conducting initial reviews of grant applications for completeness and eligibility, verifying required documentation, assessing compliance with basic solicitation criteria, and preparing application summaries for evaluation panels. Supported grant compliance monitoring activities by reviewing grantee financial and progress reports, identifying discrepancies or missing information, documenting findings, and communicating reporting requirements and deadlines to grantees. Substitution of Education for Experience: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. if related. Combination of Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements. Online Assessment:This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 11/19/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): All Grade Levels (GS-11, 12, 13): Reading Comprehension Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork GS-11 and 13 only: Learning GS-13 only: Decision Making Influencing/Negotiating You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 11/19/2026. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume. After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment which is part of your application.

Education

For the GS-12 and GS-13 level: You must me