[Hiring] Grants & Contracts Supervisor @City of Seattle

Role Description

Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) funds and operates programs and services that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community – families and individuals with low incomes, children, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, people experiencing homelessness, older adults, and persons with disabilities. HSD seeks two dedicated Grants & Contracts Supervisors to join its Homelessness (HMLS) Division to oversee the day-to-day operations of its Contracts unit, which develops and manages homelessness prevention, diversion, outreach, shelter, housing, and behavioral health service contracts using federal, state, and local funding. This position ensures contracted non-profit, for profit, and government partners provide high-quality services in compliance with funding and program requirements.

• Support department and division goals including the Race & Social Justice Initiative, Results Based Accountability Framework, and workplace values and expectations.
• Hire, onboard, train, and provide direct supervision to 6-8 Sr. Grants and Contracts Specialists.
• Administer approximately $75M in homelessness and behavioral health contracts.
• Delegate and oversee team workloads; conduct performance management: annual work plans, performance reviews, regular supervision meetings, team trainings, and monthly unit staff meetings.
• Ensure accuracy and quality of staff work products, including contracts, invoices, monitoring reports, and external communications.
• Ensure staff proficiency in key systems (Masterworks, PeopleSoft9.2, SharePoint, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and more).
• Ensure compliance with city, state, and federal regulations (HUD, CRF, WAC, RCW, SMC); provide technical assistance to staff and agency providers.
• Oversee development, management, and monitoring of human service contracts to ensure high-quality services respond to participant, program, and community needs.
• Distill complex policy direction into clear workflows, standard operating procedures (SOP), tools, and actionable guidance in a fast-paced work environment.
• Serve as liaison with community organizations; respond to contractor issues related to client health and safety, non-compliance, and constituent concerns.
• Develop and implement innovative systems to improve team and provider operations.
• Communicate programmatic and policy updates to team and providers; invites and integrates feedback into programmatic decisions, when possible.
• Partner with the HMLS Policy and Planning unit on funding processes (e.g., Request For Proposals, Request For Qualifications).
• Consult with Contracts Manager and HMLS Division Director on contractor performance or personnel matters.
• Contribute to building a supportive workplace culture where staff can grow and thrive.
• Serve as key member of Contracts Unit lead team (two supervisors and one manager).

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in public administration, human services, or related field.
• Experience: Minimum three years professional experience in contract administration, human services administration, or related field, including one year equivalent to a City of Seattle Sr. Grants and Contracts Specialist.
• OR: A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides equivalent background.

• Experience supervising staff or serving in a lead staff capacity.
• Ability to achieve results through effective coaching and delegation.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice.
• Experience coordinating or contracting human services.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint).
• Master of Public Administration, Master of Social Work, or another advanced degree relevant to this role.
• Experience with contract management: funding processes, provider relations, developing results-oriented contracts, monitoring for programmatic/fiscal compliance.
• Possesses strong understanding of key concepts in homelessness and health services, such as housing first, harm reduction, trauma informed care, and progressive engagement; or, evidenced ability to learn new human service concepts.
• Ability to interpret and distill complex policy direction and regulatory requirements into clear workflows, SOPs, and actionable guidance.
• Ability to maintain and foster psychological safety in ambiguous, dynamic environments; experience with change management.
• Ability to tailor supervisory duties to team members’ strengths, knowledge, and needs; experience with adaptive management.
• Resourcefulness in problem solving and strong judgement.
• Successful candidates bring to this role a passion for contracting and monitoring homelessness, health, or other highly complex human services; experience supervising high performing teams; and an earnest commitment to race and social justice.

Benefits

• The full salary range for this position is $47.39 - $55.19 an hour.
• The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

Hiring Process

• Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:
• Completed NEOGOV online application.
• Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.
• Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
• Supplemental questionnaire responses.
• Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, which may include a detailed background check, pre-placement physical exam, and/or full driver's abstract, dependent upon position.