Grants Compliance Specialist, Southern Region

Board of Water and Soil Resources

  • Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
  • Date Posted: 02/22/2024
  • Closing Date: 03/07/2024
  • Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Board of Water & Soil Resources /MAPE
  • Division/Unit: BWSR / Southern Region
  • Location: Mankato or Rochester
  • Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
  • Days of Work: Monday – Friday
  • Travel Required: Yes – Est. up to 25% of the time
  • Salary Range: $30.55 – $45.02 / hourly; $63,788 – $94,001 / annually
  • Job Class Option: Grants/Contracts
  • Classified Status: Classified
  • Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 – MN Assoc of Professional/MAPE
  • FLSA Status: Exempt – Professional
  • Hybrid work Eligible: Yes
  • Supervisor: Ed Lenz
  • Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

This position exists to implement a comprehensive grants oversight program for the Board of Water and Soil Resources, a state granting agency, and ensure grant program policies and practices comply with all State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations.

Responsibilities include:

  • Participate in financial monitoring and/or reconciliation of grant expenditures by grantees.
  • Represent the agency during grantee site visits to verify assurances of expenditures, performance, and assess the internal control environment.
  • Provide assessment and evaluation of statutory changes, updates to Office of Grants Management policies, and grant policy and procedures.
  • Maintain documentation from reconciliations and other oversight activities, ensure consistency in standards, formats and retrievability.
  • Represent the agency and give presentations at public meetings and interagency teams and address inquiries concerning grant programs so that accurate information is timely.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, natural resources, public administration, or a related field.

And

Two (2) years of professional-level experience in grant management, administration or compliance involving evaluating, administering, accounting for, training and/or monitoring of grants proposals, grants agreements, or grant recipients.

Or

Two (2) year degree in business administration, finance, accounting, agricultural business, natural resources, public administration, or a related field.

And

Five (5) years of professional-level experience in grant management, administration or compliance involving evaluating, administering, accounting for, training and/or monitoring of grants proposals, grants agreements, or grant recipients.

  • Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures with the ability to effectively interpret and communicate those to grant recipients.
  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and knowledge of state/federal laws and regulations pertaining to the processing of financial transactions. 
  • Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze guidelines, statutes, contract agreements, amendments, and work programs in order to interpret and apply these to individual circumstance or situations.
  • Organizational skills and computer and software abilities sufficient to create and maintain policies, procedures, reports, spreadsheets, financial analyses, databases, and correspondence.
  • Communication skills (written and oral) sufficient to establish strong working relationships with clientele, work effectively as a team member, and carry out work assignments.
  • Ability to work under deadlines and adapt to ever-changing program requirements, financial resources, and administrative change; and ability to identify issues, resolve disputes, and recommend solutions.
  • Ability to evaluate program results to assure work quality and continually improve work processes.
  • Human relations, coaching, collaborative, persuasion, and team building skills sufficient to effectively work with diverse interests, gain cooperation for new approaches, and resolve complex financial problems with internal and external partners.
  • Proficient in the use of word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel including utilizing technologies in virtual meetings.
  • Requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s License: a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds. This is a basic driver’s license. Operators may also tow vehicles/trailers as long as the gross combination weight does not exceed 26,000 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in in business administration, public administration or public policy, library and information science, or a related field.
  • Knowledge of State Accounting Systems
  • Six (6) years of professional work experience in grants administration, compliance, accounting, business administration or related field.
  • Procedural understanding of the grant programs administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Physical Requirements

Requires occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as file folders, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. This job may require walking or standing to a significant degree on rough terrain or may involve sitting most of the time with pushing and pulling of arm and/or leg controls.

Additional Requirements

This position requires an unrestricted Class D Driver’s License with a clear driving record.

It is policy of the Board of Water & Soil Resources that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. All job offers are contingent upon passing the following components:

  • Employment Reference Check
  • SEMA4 Records Check
  • Criminal History Check
  • Conflict of Interest Review
  • Education/License Verification
  • Driver’s License DMV Check

Application Details

How to Apply 

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of the MN Careers page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

If you have questions about the position, contact Edward Lenz at ed.lenz@state.mn.us or 507-766-6374.

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Patricia Sweep at patricia.sweep@state.mn.us.

Why Work for Us 

Diverse Workforce 

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found: 

  • 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission 
  • 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs 
  • 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job 
  • 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule 

Comprehensive Benefits 

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include: 

  • Public pension plan 
  • Training and professional development 
  • Paid vacation and sick leave 
  • 11 paid holidays each year 
  • Paid parental leave 
  • Low-cost medical and dental coverage 
  • Prescription drug coverage 
  • Vision coverage 
  • Wellness programs and resources 
  • Employer paid life insurance 
  • Short-term and long-term disability 
  • Health care spending and savings accounts 
  • Dependent care spending account 
  • Tax-deferred compensation 
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
  • Tuition reimbursement 
  • Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program 

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota. 

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.

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