Grants & Contracts Supervisor

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.

Responsibilities

• 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; invite and integrate 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

• Minimum 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.
• Desired Qualifications:
  • 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.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is $47.39 - $55.19 an hour.

Benefits

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. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website.