Title: Office of Safer Communities Grant Program Specialist

State Role Title: Prog Admin Specialist II

Hiring Range: The starting salary range is $70,000 to $75,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept of Criminal Justice Svcs

Location: Dept of Criminal Justice Serv.

Agency Website: www.dcjs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT

ROLE TITLE: Program Administration Specialist II      
Working Title: Office of Safer Communities Grant Program Specialist      
Position #: 00365 & 00417     

The Department of Criminal Justice Service is seeking to hire two collaborative and innovative team players to serve as full-time regional grant program specialists – one for the Western and Central regions, and one for the Eastern and Northern regions -- in the Office of Safer Communities. These positions will be responsible for grant monitoring, evaluating, and supporting DCJS grant-funded programs, primarily those addressing violent crime through the Operation Ceasefire Grant Program and the Firearms Violence Prevention and Intervention Grant Program. These positions will be full-time telework positions after a period of training, with occasional in-person expectations. The successful employees must live in Virginia and will travel frequently within the Commonwealth.

We are seeking individuals with experience and knowledge of the criminal or juvenile justice system and the ability to communicate and provide grant compliance technical assistance. Each position is tasked with grant monitoring, evaluating, and supporting DCJS grant-funded local and nonprofit organizations and agencies which are addressing violent crime in their communities. Grant monitoring responsibilities include ensuring that organizations comply with federal and state grant conditions, adhere to approved budgets, have proper financial documentation and practices, and meet programmatic goals. Each position also supports program implementation and development by providing technical assistance and training to grantees, and participating in grant application review and renewal processes. Those selected for this role will ensure that organizations meet programmatic goals, comply with federal and state grant conditions, and adhere to approved budgets. Duties of these positions also include evaluating program costs, goals, objectives, and outcomes to best serve the communities in Virginia.

These full-time positions are a part of the Department’s Division of Programs and Services, Office of Safer Communities and Youth Services Section. Public service offers the opportunity to do important rewarding work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you want to be part of an agency that cares about our constituents, rigorously advocates and promotes opportunities for all Virginians, we’d love to have you join us!

What you will do:
• Monitor grantee programmatic and financial performance and evaluate compliance with grant guidelines.
• Ensure that organizations comply with grant conditions, adhere to approved budgets, have proper financial documentation and practices, and meet programmatic goals.
• Support program implementation and development by providing technical assistance and training to grantees.
• Participate in grant application review and renewal processes.
• Ensure compliance with terms and conditions of grants pertaining to progress and expenditure reporting, and maintain records on all grants administered.
• Provide technical assistance, support, and guidance to potential and approved grant recipients on grant conditions and assurances, grant program administration, and understanding of sub-grantee responsibilities to promote grant compliance.
• Provide support and guidance to violent crime-related programs and others as assigned in order to promote the development and improvement of criminal justice services in Virginia.
• Prepare, revise, review, and update resource materials as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional experience working in the human services field.
• Experience ensuring compliance with grant performance measures and financial reporting requirements, or comparable experience.
• Experience with grant funded programs and activities, for example grant review, grant monitoring, reporting activities, or comparable experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret policies and procedures specifically related to grant guidelines and contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to compose narrative reports, policies, correspondence, and other resource materials.
• Excellent and effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of personnel both internally and externally.
• Strong work ethic and exceptional customer service skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to travel, including overnight.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to think strategically and cross culturally, and independently implement new initiatives and projects.     
• Documented experience working as an active, contributing team member, as well as an independent and self-motivated employee.
• Demonstrated ability to meet critical deadlines, handle multiple assignments, changing priorities, and ensure timeliness and quality of completed assignments.

Additional Considerations

• Experience managing a grant from a federal agency or DCJS.
• Considerable knowledge of methods, standards, procedures, and practices of compliance grant monitoring.
• Demonstrated knowledge of criminal justice intervention and prevention work.
• Familiarity with relevant local and statewide prevention, intervention, and enforcement policies or practices.
• Experience with research on root cause of firearms violence, or intervention and prevention of firearms violence.
• Experience providing technical support.
• Experience conducting desk reviews.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice, juvenile justice, or other related system in a professional setting.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations.
• Documented experience in rural services and community engagement.

Special Instructions

Interview candidates may be required to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of work. The candidate selected for the position must successfully complete a criminal background investigation and complete and submit a Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) which will be entered into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. The individual may also be responsible for submitting an annual Statement of Personal Economic Interest. In addition, the selected candidate who begins original employment or re-employment in this position must serve a 12-month probationary period effective from the date of employment. The starting salary range is $70,000 to $75,000 plus the state’s benefits package.

Applications for this position are only accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home. All applications should be submitted by 11:55 pm on April 27, 2026. The application and supplemental questions must be completed in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position. Fax, email, or mail applications will not be accepted. Résumés and cover letters may be attached to the online application.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at (804) 225-4399 to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply. The Department also encourages and invites veterans to apply.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to your account at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home for the status.

Contact Information

Name: Kourtney Dudley

Phone: (804) 786-5491

Email: kourtney.dudley@dcjs.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.