The purpose of this position is to be a Senior Advisor to the Division Manager of the Homeland Security Division which is a unit of up to 10 full time employees, within the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), that is primarily responsible for managing and administering federal funds received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), such as the Homeland Security Grant Program, comprised of the State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), Nonprofit Security Grant, State and Local Cyber Security Investment Program, as well as other state and federal grant programs as assigned by the Executive Director. The Division is also responsible for coordinating and completing the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) as well as the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), as required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Senior Advisor assists the Division Manager and works with the Special Projects Manager by attending critical meetings upon request as it relates to this funding portfolio, which may include but not limited to the UASI Working Group, State Interoperability Executive Committee, Boston Area Maritime Security Council, and other homeland security related forums.

It is the responsibility of the Senior Advisor to assist the Division Manager with ensuring that homeland security activities are 1) coordinated among internal and external entities, including state agencies, local government entities, and the homeland security planning regions and 2) consistent with the goals and objectives of the Commonwealth's State Homeland Security Strategy, and 3) support closing capability gaps or sustaining capabilities, as identified in the THIRA/SPR. This position is critical to the implementation of the Commonwealth's strategy toward enhancing interactions with the federal, regional and local partners to protect the people who live in, work in and visit the Commonwealth from future acts of terrorism or other catastrophic events. The Senior Advisor will ensure that funded homeland security efforts statewide will proceed in a coordinated, consistent manner, adhering to the central homeland security strategy. The primary purpose of this role is to assist the Division Manager and division staff by ensuring that all federal and state grant administration rules and regulations are being met; identify and recommend improvements to OGR's grants management processes; ensure all federal reporting requirements are being met, provide guidance and support to staff managing subrecipients, and find, apply for and secure new competitive homeland security related grant opportunities on behalf of the Commonwealth.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)

• Supervise staff assigned and assist with the administration of DHS and other related federal and state grant programs and ensure internal and external compliance with rules and regulations. This is accomplished by attending DHS training; tracking and understanding DHS information bulletins and grant guidance; clearly presenting updated federal financial assistance guidelines grant guidance to staff and sub-recipients; establishing grant monitoring goals and procedures; coordinating with the Division Manager and Special Projects Manager responds to information requests from DHS, other federal and state entities, and the media; maintaining accurate spreadsheets of award amounts, sub-recipient award amounts, expenditure amounts, pass through amounts, and obligation and expenditure deadlines, preparing funding recommendations for the Executive Director; coordinating with other states to seek grants management best practices and lessons learned for improving OGR;s policies and procedures; and meeting with and reporting to DHS staff regarding federal grant spending and operations.
• Assist the Division Manager and Special Projects Manager with overseeing the administration in state homeland security-related grant programs. This is accomplished by working with the team on developing spending and programmatic guidelines for OGR sub-recipients and reinforcing state appropriation language; developing and implementing policies regarding proper procurement, reimbursement, and reporting; and reviewing grant applications and delivering funding recommendations to the Executive Director of OGR
• Upon request of the Division Manager, coordinate state homeland security related activities with other local, regional, state, and federal entities. This is accomplished by working with the staff to assist locals and regions with the development and implementation of mutual aid agreements, training and exercise programs, emergency operation plans, response and recovery plans, emergency communications plans, and continuity of operations plans via funding and technical assistance; conducting bi-weekly conference calls and meeting at least quarterly with homeland security regions to reinforce the state and national homeland security priorities and share relevant information/resources; developing goals and funding guidelines for state agencies and authorities to implement statewide homeland security efforts such as information sharing, resource database development, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive detection, mitigation and response; coordinating the evaluation and implementation of upgrades, as necessary, to information communications and other technology capabilities; conduct coordinated stakeholder engagement and data collection among multiple stakeholders to update the THIRA/SPR, as required
• Represent OGR, when asked by the Division Manager and/or Executive Director, by attending assigned meetings, coordinating meeting agendas, and making presentations, as necessary; informing participants about latest federal homeland security funding opportunities, priorities, initiatives; coordinating key initiatives as they relate to the National Preparedness Goal, the State Homeland Security Strategy, and the THIRA/SPR; following up with participants, on behalf of OGR, in a timely manner

Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience. II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience. III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience. IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

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