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Hartford Public Schools

Director of Budget and Grants Management, Office of Financial Management (N144-2

Hartford Public Schools, Hartford, Connecticut, us, 06112


REPORTS TO : Chief Financial Officer

SUPERVISES : Senior Financial Planning and Grants Coordinator and Financial Planning and Grants Coordinators

POSITION SUMMARY : The Director of Budget and Grants Management is a key leadership role within our school district, responsible for overseeing the strategic financial planning and management of all funds, including special allocations. This position plays a crucial role in ensuring the financial health and compliance of the district while supporting its educational mission.

The Director of Budget and Grants Management is expected to:

Provide leadership in developing, coordinating, and managing comprehensive budgets and financial plans

Oversee the monitoring and allocation of all funds, including special and grant-based resources

Align financial strategies with Hartford Public Schools' goals and strategic commitments

Ensure compliance with Board of Education, City, State, and Federal government policies and regulations

Facilitate the successful implementation of education programs through strategic financial management

Collaborate with various stakeholders to optimize resource utilization and support educational outcomes

Drive financial transparency and accountability across the district

This position requires a commitment to public education and the ability to navigate the unique challenges of urban school district finance. The Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of Hartford Public Schools and supporting its mission to provide high-quality education to all students.

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of public sector finance, and the ability to translate complex financial concepts into actionable strategies that support educational excellence.

TYPICAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES :

Develop, coordinate, and manage comprehensive budgets and financial plans

Oversee the monitoring and allocation of all funds, including special and grant-based resources

Develop and implement guidelines for the district's multi-year financial plan, annual budget, and grant budgets

Ensure the annual budget process aligns with Board of Education timelines

Provide expert financial analysis of current and future financial trends, including a five-year financial forecast

Develop and maintain an executive financial dashboard and industry benchmarking model

Maintain expert knowledge of the district's automated financial management systems (currently MUNIS)

Ensure compliance with Board of Education, City, State, and Federal government policies and regulations

Prepare and analyze operating budget reports

Develop and deliver persuasive presentations and interpretive budget analysis to Board of Education, City Council, Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut State Department of Education, and other stakeholders as directed

Effectively explain the budget process and resource allocation decisions to constituent groups

Provide scenarios and analysis for collective bargaining agreements and negotiations; participate in collective bargaining negotiations as required

Monitor fiscal activities of revenue funds

Oversee the publication of Operating Budget Detail publications

Provide guidance on the development and management of State, Federal, and private grant-funded programs

Ensure compliance with program, budget, and financial mandates for grant funds

Implement budgetary and fiscal controls for grant management

Facilitate the coordination of complex entitlement grants, including Title I programs

Organize and deliver appropriate on-going training to enable effective discharge of the following support functions:

Budget monitoring and year-to-date budget reporting

Grant spending and draw down monitoring

Compliance with rules, policies, and procedures for use, monitoring, and reporting of general and special fund expenditures

Grant workshops for the purpose of increasing district staff skills in obtaining funds

Act as liaison to support school and district administrators in the strategic management of district resources, including development of monitoring and reporting tools and regular cycles of budget reviews, to optimize resource utilization

Review budget requests to determine conformance to the district's fiscal policies, departmental functions, and historical trends in budget

Develop annual goals and objectives for the budget and grants management team consistent with and in support of district goals and priorities

Supervise the work of the budget and grants management office staff

Train staff in budget analysis, formulation, and administration methods

Regularly review and implement improvements to office practices, policies, procedures, and systems

Recommend changes in procedures related to financial analysis and planning

Identify, develop, and implement improvements to budget and grants management systems

Attend and conduct training sessions, conferences, and workshops as necessary and required

Perform all other duties as assigned by Supervisor

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, and EXPERIENCE REQUIRED :

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, public administration, or related field; advanced degree preferred

Eight (8) years’ experience in municipal and government with emphasis in school district financial or budget management.

Three (3) years supervisory/management experience preferred

Comprehensive knowledge of public sector multi-fund budget and finance procedures and practices

Excellent financial analysis skills with the ability to provide recommendations based on analytical findings

Commitment to public education and ability to navigate urban school district finance challenges

Service orientation towards supporting schools and departments

High ethical standards and confidentiality

Expertise in state and federal reporting and guidelines

Working understanding of capital outlay funds, construction, and facilities maintenance

Ability to maintain proper financial records in a systematic and retrievable manner

Ability to prioritize workflow, adjust to changes in work assignments, and work well with others to complete required projects/reports

Ability to work independently

Strong interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills

Proactive and responsive communication skills, both oral and written

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and financial management software (experience with MUNIS is advantageous)

Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and within time constraints

Demonstrated ability to evaluate staff in accordance with Board policies and practices

Ability to establish and maintain positive effective working relationships with staff and administration

Willingness to attend training sessions, conferences, and workshops as necessary

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS : Connecticut certification in School Business Administrator (085) or the ability to acquire such certification within one year from hire is required.

SALARY AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT : This non-bargaining position has a 12-month work year. The salary range is $125,000 - $150,000

EVALUATION : Evaluated annually

UNION AFFILIATION : Not applicable

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To be considered, all internal and external applicants must fully complete a Hartford Public Schools’ online application, which can be accessed through our Applicant Tracking System, Nimble, at https://app.hirenimble.com/jobs/hartford. Internal applicants should use a personal email address when applying. Please do not use your hartfordschools.org email. Candidates’ application and supporting documents will be reviewed. Candidates will be contacted directly by the hiring manager for interviews.

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