Incoming Grant Officer

Senior Planning Specialist (Incoming Grants Officer)

Montgomery County Government, Department of Housing and Community Affairs

About the Department of Housing and Community Affairs

DHCA works to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing, maintain existing housing in a safe and sanitary condition, preserve the safety and quality of residential and commercial areas, ensure fair and equitable relations between landlords and tenants, and support the success of common ownership communities – all with a focus on reducing racial inequities and climate change impacts.

About the Position

This position is located within the Director’s Office at DHCA and will serve as the Department’s Grant Officer and Liaison.  Under the supervision of DHCA’s Deputy Director, the employee will search for, research, and prepare applications for Federal and State grant opportunities by collaborating with other County agencies and stakeholders to support departmental programs and operational needs. 

The Grants Officer/Senior Planning Specialist must independently explore, review, analyze, and prepare for potential grant opportunities available to support DHCA’s critical program operations and service delivery.  The expected job assignments includes reviewing and evaluating Federal, State, and other grant funding opportunities, coordinating with all involved County agencies and stakeholders, and writing and preparing grant applications to secure funding support for DHCA’s programs.  The position also coordinates with multiple DHCA programs across the Department to prepare necessary information for inclusion in grant applications.  To meet the requirements of County grant application procedures, the Specialist must obtain approvals for all submittals from within DHCA and by other County departments such as the Office of Grants Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the County Attorney’s Office, and the County Executive’s Office.  The Specialist must ensure that all required documentation is prepared with accuracy and in a timely fashion.  Meeting deadlines is essential.  The employee must efficiently research, analyze, and summarize requirements of complex grant offerings and applications. 

The position will assist in establishing internal procedures for completing DHCA grant applications and become familiar with all required grant submission portals and processes. 

The Specialist must be highly organized, have excellent writing, coordination, and analytical skills.  A work-related writing sample may be required from those selected for final review.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Seeking out potential funding opportunities to support DHCA programs, priorities, and responsibilities;  
• Monitoring grant award notifications and notifying appropriate department staff of award status;
• Evaluating and recommending grant opportunities that are suggested by the Office of Grants Management;
• Coordinating the department’s response to incoming grant opportunities;
• Gathering data and condensing programmatic information to make it understandable for grant applications;
• Writing and preparing grant applications for submittal to Federal, State and other funding sources;
• Acting as a liaison between DHCA and other County departments, such as the Office of Grants Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of the County Attorney, and the County Executive’s Office, and other stakeholders for the internal processing of grant applications;
• Submitting completed grant applications to Grants.gov or other relevant portals;
• Coordinating with DHCA staff on receiving grant awards, including any required response to the grantor; and
• Performing other duties or special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Five (5) years’ experience in grant prospecting, research, and writing with specialization relating to affordable housing and/or community development or a specialization appropriate to the assignment of the position.

Education: Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with a Bachelor's degree in public administration, public policy, community development, urban planning, or a related field.   

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education or experience may be substituted. 

 To apply, go to http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr/staffing/careers.html, Careers →

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