Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Title

Quality Assurance Specialist

Agency

Texas Division of Emergency Management

Department

Quality Assurance Unit

Proposed Minimum Salary

$7,353.68 monthly

Job Location

Austin, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

General Description:

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is an emergency response entity, and this status can affect working hours, travel, and change in duties as needed.

The Quality Assurance Specialist, under general direction, performs highly complex compliance review work for the Quality Assurance Unit of the Quality Assurance and Grant Production Division. Examines TDEM grant operations and financial systems and evaluates efficiency, effectiveness of controls, accuracy of records, and compliance with TDEM policies and procedures and state and federal statutes and regulations. Assists in developing and overseeing implementation of TDEM standardized compliance guidance, processes, and procedures. May train others. This position works with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This position reports to the Unit Chief, Quality Assurance.

• Salary is a fixed rate.
• This position is located on-site and not subject to telecommuting.

Essential Job Duties And Responsibilities:

• Provides technical support and researches, plans, and ensures compliance with program assessment and administrative activities related to TDEM federal and state grants administration.
• Ensures grantee and subrecipient compliance with conditions of grants by monitoring and analyzing   agreements, contracts, expenses, activities, hazard mitigation plans, and federal and state regulations.
• Conducts special projects, program analysis and research.
• Participates in the development of program goals and objectives.
• Develops, assesses, and recommends program guidelines and procedures.
• Develops complex grant proposals, including detailed budgets, narratives, and supporting documentation. 
• Conducts compliance reviews of policies, regulations, rules, and procedures related to recovery and mitigation to ensure compliance.
• Responsible for identifying grant opportunities, preparing grant applications, securing grants of all types, and assisting in the management of approved grants in specified functional and program areas.
• Performing detailed cost analyses.
• Reviewing and analyzing performance reports from grantees while preparing progress reports and identifying areas for improvement.
• Interprets laws, regulations, and policies related to the administration of grants and agreements.
• Participating in working groups on grant management issues or projects.
• May facilitate financial or electronic audits.
• Interprets policies, rules and TDEM, state and federal regulations.
• Prepares comprehensive reports, correspondence and other documents related to program activities.
• Compiles and interprets data to assist in the identification of operational risk and makes recommendations based on documentation and relevant information.
• Maintains records and files.
• Participates in cross-functional work groups composed of internal and external department, local, state and/or federal stakeholders to develop program objectives, work plans, and projects in the grants management system.
• Assists in the implementation, change management, evaluation, and resolution of issues related to the TDEM Grants Management System (GMS) or related systems.
• Assist in the review and implementation of requirements for grant programs.
• May represent TDEM in working groups, meetings or other events related to program activities.
• Analyzes newly enacted legislation and reports all new requirements to management along with any recommended compliance action plan.
• Collects and oversees the preparation of training and operational manuals and/or job aids.
• May provide guidance and assistance to internal or external stakeholders with general program activities.
• May serve as a lead worker to assist other staff.
• Face-to-face and person-to-person interactions are required.
• Ability to travel 5%.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Maintains a regular work schedule and work extended hours when needed.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education – Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited four-year university or college or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience – Four (4) years of experience in compliance review, emergency management, auditing, program administration or other related work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of accepted auditing standards or other transferable knowledge.

*Additional work experience of the type described above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester hours is equivalent to one (1) year of experience. A completed advanced degree in a relevant field may also be substituted in lieu of work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Working knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly assimilate information related to Emergency Management, TDEM, State and Federal regulations, legislation, guidelines, policies, and procedures, grant eligibility and reporting requirements.
• Considerable knowledge of accounting, auditing and business practices, principles, rules regulations and terminology.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public and grant administration.
• Considerable knowledge of methods of resource management, including the acquisition, allocation and distribution of various types of financial assistance and disaster relief.
• Considerable knowledge of the TDEM Grants Management System (GMS).
• Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to grants and contract administration, of business administration principles and practices, and of research and budgeting processes.
• Ability to exercise poise, tact, diplomacy, and an ability to establish and maintain positive, working/professional relationships with internal/external customers.
• Organized, flexible, and able to effectively prioritize in a multi-demand and constantly changing environment; able to meet multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines without sacrificing accuracy, timeliness, or professionalism. 
• Ability to construct and deliver clear, concise, and professional presentations to a variety of audiences and/or individuals.
• Ability to quickly and efficiently access relevant information and be able to utilize and/or present research and conclusions in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to examine complex data and information, discern variations and similarities, and be able identify trends, relationships, and causal factors, as well as grasp issues, draw accurate conclusions, and solve problems or detect irregularities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information and situations while adhering to applicable laws/statutes/policies related to access, maintenance, and dissemination of information.
• Ability to work other than normal working hours during emergencies and disasters.

Registration, Certification Or Licensure:

Successful completion of IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, IS-800 within 12 months of employment.

*Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed at:

http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions

*Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.