DescriptionProgram Specialist #1HighPoint professionals focus on helping government agencies and companies implement their most critically strategic initiatives. The role of Program Specialist #1 contributes to HighPoint by serving as a senior program and grants management advisor responsible for strengthening recipient capacity, supporting federal grant competitions, and enhancing program performance across DCDDP discretionary and demonstration grant programs.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:- Lead the design and delivery of targeted technical assistance and training (T&TA) strategies that strengthen recipient capacity, improve performance, and address compliance risks across DCDDP grant programs.
- Develop and implement standardized processes for identifying high-risk recipients, assessing technical assistance needs, matching subject matter experts to recipients, and measuring engagement outcomes.
- Provide specialized consultation, coaching, and capacity-building support to grant recipients, including one-on-one engagements and customized assistance plans.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on discretionary and demonstration grant programs, providing strategic guidance and recommendations to federal leadership, program staff, and external stakeholders.
- Support the development, revision, launch, and administration of Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs), including funding announcements, briefing materials, applicant guidance, and grant competition communications.
- Plan and execute outreach initiatives, webinars, workshops, and educational resources that expand awareness of funding opportunities and increase participation among underserved communities.
- Manage and support grant competition activities, including reviewer recruitment, reviewer and panel manager training, panel operations, technical reviews, application assessments, funding recommendations, and applicant eligibility reviews.
- Provide programmatic, policy, and grants administration support, including drafting guidance documents, policy memoranda, federal notices, grants communications, standard operating procedures, and other program documentation.
- Oversee grant portfolios by monitoring recipient performance, supporting risk-based monitoring frameworks, conducting portfolio reviews, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations and program requirements.
- Support organizational operations through stakeholder coordination, executive support activities, event planning, process improvement initiatives, and compliance with federal information security and records management requirements.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:- Advanced knowledge of federal grants management, discretionary grant programs, NOFO development, recipient monitoring, and compliance oversight.
- Expertise in technical assistance delivery, capacity building, organizational development, and performance improvement strategies.
- Strong understanding of federal policies, regulations, and guidance related to grant administration, program implementation, and risk management.
- Exceptional written communication skills with experience developing policy documents, funding announcements, reports, briefing materials, federal correspondence, and operational guidance.
- Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate trainings, webinars, workshops, and technical assistance engagements for diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience conducting program assessments, risk analyses, portfolio reviews, and performance evaluations to support informed decision-making.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across federal agencies, grant recipients, consultants, and community partners.
- Ability to analyze complex programmatic and operational challenges and develop practical, results-oriented solutions.
- Strong project management, organizational, and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.
- Knowledge of federal information security requirements, records management practices, and compliance standards, including FIPS 199 safeguards.
EDUCATION AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, Political Science, Communications, or a related field.
- Master's degree preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in federal grants management, program administration, technical assistance, capacity building, community development, or federal program operations.
- Ability to travel up to 10-20% as needed.
A reasonable estimate of the current range is $120,000-132,000 
