Technical Assistant, Grants and Related Programs

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Chief Equity and Innovation Officer, this position provides central support for the Howard County Public School System’s grant initiatives, facilitating collaboration between internal staff, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and community stakeholders. The role is responsible for the technical and administrative support for grant awards, from assisting with applications and reporting to maintaining detailed budget trackers and processing financial transactions within the Workday system. By providing technical assistance and reviewing diverse datasets, including financial, demographic, and academic metrics, the Technical Assistant will support compliance with regulations while driving continuous improvement in grant management and resource allocation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience:

• Five years of administrative support/clerical experience including experience monitoring budgets, performing account reconciliation, and creating financial reports.

Experience requirements may be met by substituting education (up to a bachelor’s degree) for experience on a year-for-year basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Experience using Workday or similar enterprise-wide accounting software.
• Experience with budget and grant management including reporting and compliance.
• Experience providing technical support to internal and external stakeholders and using independent judgement to solve problems.
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders in a public school system.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

• Collaborates with, and liaises between, fiscal and program teams to establish, maintain, and communicate key information and processes for grant award budgeting and expenditures.
• Initiates, processes, and tracks grant-funded requisitions, purchases and invoice payments in Workday.
• Ensures grant-funded procurement processes comply with applicable federal, state and local guidelines.
• Provides technical assistance and administrative support to grant managers, grant project managers, and fiscal clerks.
• Analyzes financial, demographic, workforce, attendance, and academic data and determines inconsistencies to support continuous improvement in grants management.
• Assists with annual development of grant applications.
• Assists in ongoing state and federal grant reporting.
• Collaborates on shared projects both within the division and across the school system.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including community partners.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

Knowledge

• Thorough understanding of federal (EDGAR/2 CFR 200), state, and local grant regulations, including procurement standards and allowable costs.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting principles, specifically regarding budget formulation, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in enterprise resource planning software, specifically Workday, for requisitioning, purchasing, and invoice processing.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative data sets, including demographic, workforce, attendance, and academic metrics used for educational evaluation.
• Knowledge of the grant application lifecycle and the administrative requirements for state and federal reporting.

Skills

• Advanced skill in using Workday or similar financial management platforms to track complex fiscal cycles.
• Analyzes large datasets to identify inconsistencies, trends, and areas for continuous improvement in program management.
• Expert interpersonal and liaison skills, acting as a bridge between technical fiscal teams and program-oriented teams to ensure mutual understanding.
• Strong organizational skills used to provide technical assistance to grant managers and fiscal clerks.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for reporting results and collaborating with community stakeholders.

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively within a diverse division to align shared policies and goals.
• Meticulous attention to detail and ability to ensure all procurement and financial actions remain strictly compliant with varying regulatory guidelines.
• Ability to detect fiscal inconsistencies and develop proactive solutions to improve grant management efficiency.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders, community members, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple grant timelines and reporting deadlines simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Working Hours

The duty day for this position is eight hours including a one-hour duty-free lunch.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
 
Supplemental Application Questions

This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.

1) Please list the position(s) you have held in which you have provided general clerical or administrative support that includes monitoring budgets, performing account reconciliation, and creating financial reports. Then provide one specific example of your experience for each of these three areas of responsibility.

2) Please describe any experience you have using Workday or similar enterprise-wide accounting software. Include in your response the position(s) in which you gained this experience and the specific tasks or functions for which you were responsible.

3) Please describe any experience you have with budget and grant management including reporting and compliance. Include in your response the position(s) in which you gained this experience as well as the amount and types of funds (i.e.: budgeted or grant) you managed.

4) Please provide up to two examples of experience you have providing technical support to internal and external stakeholders and using independent judgement to solve problems. Include in your response the position(s) in which you gained this experience.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

Applicants may be required to complete a skills assessment prior to or during the interview process.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade 21 on the Technical Central Office and School Based salary scale. Step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA-ESP Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at sandy_saval@hcpss.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.