Fort Valley State University (FVSU), the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 undergrad and graduate students. The university is in Peach County, the original site of the Georgia's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre campus makes FVSU Georgia's second-largest public university in terms of area.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology (CAFST) grants compliance specialist will work collaboratively to manage all aspects of operational financial activities in the college and to ensure compliance with private state and federal policies, procedures, regulation and statues. The incumbent will as work in close collaboration with the FVSU Office of Business and Finance, Office of Sponsored Programs and Office of Legal Affairs as necessary.

This position interprets NIFA grant management policies, procedures, and practices. It also oversees, reviews, analyzes and evaluates grant/assistance applications, plans, and estimates and plays a key role in grant compliance reviews to ensure their success.

This position reports to the Dean and Director of 1890 Research and Extension Programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Support, and enhance the efforts of grants personnel.
• Assist faculty and staff in grant implementation and post-award budget management.
• Work with faculty and staff to identify and resolve budget and compliance issues.
• Provide guidance for internal and external program audits and reviews in Research and Extension.
• Verify agency conformance with reporting requirement of federal, state, and local agencies; attend training, meetings, and workshop to stay abreast of current developments as requested both internally and externally.
• Plans, organizes and directs regulatory enforcement activities to ensure that all applicable statutes, rules, and regulations are met.
• Implements processes, standards and baseline thresholds for measurement, monitoring, reporting, mitigation and remediation of identified risks.
• Serve as audit liaison between the college (CAFTST) and the university.
• Implement and interpret state and federal grant/assistance management policies in CAFST commonly associated with 1890 institutions.
• Monitoring and assessing recipient performance and compliance with all award terms and conditions; ensures alignment with established performance measures.
• Preparing, processing, issuing, and tracking grants/assistance awards and compliance with reporting requirements.
• Initiating, planning, and conducting surveys and studies to recommend changes to policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Initiating and/or recommending that audits are performed as necessary.
• Resolving audit findings or monitoring audit resolution in partnership with resolution officials.
• Overseeing, reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating post-award compliance.
• Prepare summaries and tools to communicate and track ongoing requirements.
• Create policy documents and bulletins to boil down required compliance activities, including contracting requirements, submission of budgets, submission of funding requests and other activities through the grant compliance period.
• Prepare and retain compliance documents.
• Prepare and share trackers and other collaboration tools to ensure due dates are identified and met.
• Demonstrate ability to share information and constantly learn new processes and technology.
• Serve as a signatory on Personnel Action Notifications (PANS) involving Research and Extension Funds
• Perform other duties as assigned to fulfill the objectives of this position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Advise and assist project directors and University support offices to ensure compliance with policies set forth by the University and external agencies including responding to questions from principal investigators and interpreting of expenditure policies of the University and the funding agency.
• Keep abreast of changes in policies and regulations of granting agencies.
• Works in close collaboration with the FVSU Office of Business and Finance, Sponsored Programs and Legal Affairs.
• Research and summarize information on government regulations pertaining to grants and contracts.
• Create, review, and submit Land Grant Program equipment requests for Federal and state match purchases.
• Serve as a committee member on 1890 USDA Facilities Grant projects led by Dean and Facilities manager.
• Function to ensure proper expenditures and prepare administrative reports as required in collaboration with Lead Accountant of CAFT
• Monitor status of procurement and accounts payable processes in collaboration with Fiscal Operations of CAFST.
• Other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, law, business, finance or related field from an accredited college or university is required. Master's degree is preferred.
• Five or more years' experience in grants management.
• Professional job-related experience of managing and directing staff, budgets, grants and working with government or community-based organizations.
• Must have strong communication and professional skills with at least 4 years of relevant work experience. An equivalent amount of training and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of grant management, grants accounting, budgeting, technology, and have operational management skills to incorporate job skills across all departments along with the ability to train staff on the necessary financial management skills necessary to perform job duties.
• Ability to interpret complicated federal and state statues, rules and regulations pertaining to applicable and understand federal grants management systems.
• Knowledge of USDA-NIFA guidelines
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of federal and state financial regulations, and university financial policies and procedures
• Knowledge of accounting and accounts receivable principles, methodology, and practices.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart information to a range of clientele and/or media sources.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, and administer complex recordkeeping systems and procedures.
• Ability to write reports containing technical information.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Knowledge of faculty and/or staff hiring procedures.
• Knowledge of budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Knowledge of software to quantify and illustrate complex financial reports, comparisons, impacts, and/or projections. Proficient in ERP software (i.e. Banner).
• Knowledge of financial/business analysis techniques.
• Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of cashiering and cash management principles, systems, procedures, and standards.
• Outstanding interpersonal, and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
• Ability to supervise and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
• Employee development and performance management skills.

The individual must have the ability to perform duties on own initiative, exercising judgement, making sound decisions while receiving minimal supervision. The employee must exhibit a good working relationship with people and be highly dependable in planning, implementing, and reporting activities. Must be able to relate to socially disadvantaged rural/urban populations as well as other professionals.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited physical effort required.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653