Director - Grants

Mesquite ISD - Compensation Plans

Administrative Compensation Plan

Pay Grade: 5
Shift Type: Full-Time
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports To: Assistant Superintendent - Finance/Operations

 EMPLOYMENT BEGINS: As soon as possible

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

• Directs and oversees the day-to-day financial administration of the District's federal, state, and local grants from planning through closeout, including budgeting, expenditure monitoring, financial reporting, and fiscal compliance. The Director coordinates grant accounting with the Accounting Department and partners with campus and instructional leaders to develop funding plans that meet grant requirements and support program goals while accounting for student needs, staffing, and campus schedules.

QUALIFICATIONS: 
Education/Certification:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, public administration, education, or a related field.
• TASBO certification preferred.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Demonstrated understanding of TEA's school district accounting requirements, including account coding and applicable financial guidance. Ability to apply that guidance to grant transactions and resolve coding errors.
• Working knowledge of federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), EDGAR, and applicable grant requirements, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Part B).
• Ability to apply audit and compliance requirements across all assigned grants, maintain audit-ready records, and work with Accounting to prepare the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and reconcile it to the general ledger.
• Knowledge of the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program and its reporting requirements.
• Ability to listen to campus and instructional staff, understanding how funding decisions affect student services, and applying grant fiscal requirements to day-to-day decisions.

EXPERIENCE:

• Five years of progressively responsible grant management experience. Experience in a Texas public school district preferred.
• Prior supervisory experience and demonstrated ability to work with finance staff on grant budgeting, coding, and reporting and with campus and instructional leaders on implementing grant-funded programs

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Lead the financial administration of Title I, Part A, the district's primary grant funding source. Coordinate campus allocations, required reservations, budgets, amendments, and carryover. Monitor spending and help campuses resolve issues before grant deadlines.
• Work with principals, instructional leaders, and program managers to align Title I budgets and expenditures with student needs and strategies in the Campus Improvement Plan or applicable schoolwide plan. Help campuses identify allowable ways to fund planned activities.
• Train principals and campus staff on Title I compliance, including planning, allowable expenditures, proper coding, and required documentation. Follow up with campuses to help resolve compliance issues.
• Train campus staff on Title I parent and family engagement requirements. Guide campuses in developing engagement policies and school-parent compacts with families, holding the annual Title I meeting, and documenting family input and participation. Help staff budget for allowable engagement activities and maintain supporting records.
• Maintain documentation of the district's method for allocating state and local funds to campuses and the calculations supporting Title I supplement-not-supplant compliance.
• Coordinate Title I budget and expenditure information for applications, required reports, and monitoring responses.
• Direct regular reviews of budgets, expenditures, payroll, encumbrances, and spending deadlines. Resolve exceptions with program owners and confirm costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and documented.
• Coordinate grant-funded position and payroll reviews with HR, Position Control, Payroll, and program managers. Verify funding and required approvals before staffing commitments and monitor changes in assignments or funding.
• Oversee reconciliations to the general ledger and award records. Coordinate drawdowns, reimbursements, indirect cost recovery, final expenditure reports, and closeout with Accounting.
• Coordinate preparation and independent review of the Texas Education Agency's GFFC ICRP Additional Costs Workbook, Comparability Computation, IDEA-B LEA Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Compliance submission, and ESSA LEA MOE Report. Coordinate timely submission as assigned.
• Track grant deadlines and maintain the financial records and supporting documentation needed for audits and grantor reviews.
• Review compliance with grant fiscal requirements and work with program staff to verify that program requirements are met.
• Assist in maintaining and updating the district's written federal grant policies and procedures in accordance with EDGAR and Uniform Guidance. Train campus and department staff on how to apply these procedures to grant purchases, expenditures, and supporting documentation.
• Lead planning for formula and competitive grants. Assess funding opportunities, allowable uses, matching commitments, staffing needs, and sustainability with program leaders and Finance.
• Provide timely guidance and training on eligible activities, purchases, staffing, amendments, and documentation. When a proposal raises a compliance concern, explain the requirement and help the program manager identify a compliant option.
• Oversee applications, budgets, amendments, program evaluations, and required reports. Coordinate submissions and certify them when formally designated, following documented preparation and review.
• Work with campus and program leaders to align budgets and expenditures for other assigned grants with the applicable campus, district, or grant plan. Help staff identify allowable funding options and document how expenditures support planned activities.
• Supervise, develop, and evaluate assigned Grants staff. Establish work assignments, service expectations, backup coverage, and independent review of submissions.
• Keep the supervisor and district leadership informed of grant spending, upcoming deadlines, funding risks, and issues requiring attention.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinator, administrative assistant, and others as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Mental Demands:

• Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress; coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.

Physical demands/environmental factors:

• Prolonged sitting, occasional bending/stooping, pushing, pulling, and twisting
• Repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding, and use of mouse; occasional reaching
• Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
• Frequent districtwide travel; routine statewide travel; some late hours

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.