GRANT ANALYST

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Position Overview

The Division of Early Childhood is seeking to hire an energetic and detail-oriented manager to oversee childcare contracts. This position develops contracts that promote the enhancement of current and proposed services in childcare settings and provides leadership and facilitates collaborations with public and/or private partners to enhance quality and build capacity in childcare settings. This position also oversees the development of Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA)-related contract language, deliverables, performance measures, and standards to support the business and fiscal capacity of Site Administered Child Care programs, Family Child Care Networks, and other direct childcare service contract grantees. In addition, this position reviews and analyzes data to develop recommend strategies for contract improvement or expansion; creates periodic reports and evaluations on childcare; and interprets Departmental/Division policies related to childcare programs. The Division of Early Childhood (DEC) is one of six divisions within the Illinois Department of Human Services. DEC serves to strengthen and centralize Child Care, Early Intervention, and Home Visiting within DHS. The DEC vision is for Illinois’ young children and families to have the supports they need to achieve their full potential.  The DEC mission is to enhance access to programs and services that support whole child development. DEC is committed to the following guiding values - Whole Child Focus, Quality Service Delivery, Equity, Relentless Pursuit of Mission, Respect & Dignity, and Stability & Sustainability.

Essential Functions

• Serves as the Fiscal Management Grant Analyst statewide for Early Intervention and Home Visiting within the Division of Early Childhood (DEC).

• Ensures the completion of monthly, quarterly, and/or annual written and/or statistical fiscal management documents/reports for Early Intervention and Home Visiting.

• Conducts extensive reviews of grantees’ Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQs) results for Early Intervention and Home Visiting.

• Collaborates with the Early Intervention and Home Visiting to place or remove a grantee/vendor on/from the IDHS/State Stop Pay List.

• Represents the Bureau Administrator and/or Unit Manager at internal and external conferences, retreats, workgroups, think tanks, training events, and/or meetings.

• Participates in activities that advance the DEC/Strategic Plan and DEC/Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice (DEIRJ) Plan, using a trauma-informed and equity lens in the implementation and support of the DEC program and operational objectives and outcomes.

• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration.

• Requires two (2) years of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Specialized Skills

• Of the two (2) years of required experience, requires two (2) years of professional experience in designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating budgetary controls and fiscal management policies, procedures, processes, guidelines, and/or templates in adherence with state and federal mandates (GATA 2CFR 200 or other similar requirements) by participating in multifaceted state and federal grantmaking administrative activities (e.g., developing and monitoring of state/federal fiscal year budgets, generating, analyzing, and interpreting mandated reporting; developing, reviewing, and approving grants and contracts; and developing, modifying, and editing fiscal year spending plan amendments and reconciliation processes) within a private or public organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional work experience in designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating budgetary controls and fiscal management policies, procedures, processes, guidelines, and/or templates in adherence with state and federal mandates (GATA 2CFR 200 or other similar requirements) by participating in multifaceted state and federal grantmaking administrative activities (e.g., developing and monitoring of state/federal fiscal year budgets; generating, analyzing, and interpreting mandated reporting; developing, reviewing, and approving grants and contracts; and developing, modifying, and editing fiscal year spending plan amendment and reconciliation processes) within a private or public organization. 

• Three (3) years of professional work experience in developing, reviewing, and implementing a public or private organization’s State Fiscal Year budgets and corresponding grant and contract documents, including the thorough completion of other corresponding state and/or federal mandates. 

• Two (2) years of professional work experience in conducting extensive research and analyzing and interpreting fiscal data and information to identify significant reporting variances, shortfalls, underspending, and fiscal spend-down obligations while also confirming the corresponding statutory authority of expenditures.  

• Two (2) years of professional work experience facilitating in-person and virtual meetings or workgroups and resolving fiscal issues through problem-solving, sound judgment, and critical thinking, which includes navigating changing priorities and providing technical assistance in developing Notices of Violation and implementing and evaluating Corrective Action Plans for short- and long-term solutions. 

• Two (2) years of professional work experience in generating, interpreting, and analyzing written and/or statistical reports, using Business Objects, Power BI, Microsoft Office Suite, graphs, charts, and/or maps [e.g., two-dimensional or Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic System Information (ArcGIS)]. 

• One (1) year of professional work experience in understanding the basic purpose of Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting within designed time frames and format.  

Conditions of Employment

• Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive.

*All conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.