Grants Management Specialist

About the role

This position is part of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Department of Energy within the Acquisition Division. As a Grants Management Specialist, you will serve as a recognized financial assistance authority, leading high-impact negotiations and shaping strategic grant programs across the Department of Energy.

What you will do

• The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office office works to unleash the full potential of America's hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy.
• We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans.
• As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement.
• Veterans shape the future of energy At the full performance level, GS-14, Grants Management Specialist, you will: Serve as a senior technical advisor to DOE program offices, coordinating project requirements, formulating financial assistance strategies, and ensuring solicitations clearly articulate government needs and comply with federal regulations.
• Lead multi-disciplinary negotiation teams in establishing terms, conditions, schedules, and cost structures for high-value, complex assistance awards, ranging from $2 million to over $2 billion, while serving as a authorized agent of the Government.
• Manage post-award actions for grants and cooperative agreements, including issuing amendments, negotiating modifications, monitoring recipient performance, overseeing subcontractor surveillance, and conducting formal award closeouts.
• Conduct in-depth financial and administrative analyses to ensure costs are allowable, reasonable, and allocable, while investigating and resolving compliance issues, performance deficiencies, and audit findings.
• Review, interpret, and draft high-level financial assistance policies and standard operating procedures, while evaluating program metrics and performance trends to improve overall contracting and grant operations.
• Represent the agency as a technical authority on committees, conferences, and working groups, providing guidance to leadership, external recipients, congressional offices, and oversight entities such as the GAO.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

How you will be evaluated

Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online assessment that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

Your score will place you into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified". You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.

Do not provide a separate narrative written statement.

Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Use specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Attention to Detail Contracting/Procurement Customer Service Decision Making Financial Analysis Financial Assistance Mechanisms Flexibility Grants Management Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in.

CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Non-Competitive Hiring Authority for Military Spouses: If you are a military spouse eligible under this authority, and you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position, you will be referred to the selecting official for consideration on a separate list specific to only military spouses.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the in Well Qualified category (or higher).

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/23/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click***

Documents you must provide

• duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.
• Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable.
• It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.
• For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
• CTAP/ICTAP Eligible Applicants: To receive selection priority, you must submit the following documentation with your application: Proof of Eligibility: A copy of your agency-issued Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, a copy of your separation SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) noting transition/displaced status, or other official agency documentation confirming your eligible status.
• Proof of Performance Rating: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/rating of record, which must include: Your final rating (must be at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent); and The rating scale/guide (explaining what each level/numeric score means), unless the rating scale is clearly defined on the appraisal document itself.
• Note: While a formal performance appraisal is highly recommended and requested to expedite your evaluation, if your agency-issued RIF separation notice or other official separation documentation explicitly states that your performance was at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent) and notes your rating of record, it may be accepted in lieu of a formal performance appraisal.
• Failure to provide any documentation proving a rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent will result in the loss of your priority consideration.
• For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
• Military Spouse, if applicable, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
• For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
• Do not provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.
• You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated in your application and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
• Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application or cheating on the assessment may result in removal from consideration.
• Responses to assessments must be prepared solely by the applicant.
• The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot) to draft, edit, or generate responses is strictly prohibited and may result in removal from consideration.

What to expect next

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application.

Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your submission was successful. After the closing of the announcement, we will review applications.

If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. We will notify you of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links. *** - 30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran Repository 2026 for Department of Energy Headquarters and their associated field offices. *** - Schedule A Repository 2026 for Department of Energy Headquarters and their associated field offices.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: *** Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available. Equal employment opportunity policy.

Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: *** Veterans Information: *** Selective Service Registration: *** The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant.

An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and emailing the form to the Administrative Investigations Program at ***.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.