OHS is seeking Grant Reviewers

JOB DESCRIPTION

The grant application review process relies on qualified, non-Federal reviewers who can critically evaluate applications for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Grant reviewers will work in an online environment. They will serve on a four-person panel to review and evaluate applications consistent with established criteria. Each reviewer’s objective comments will be collected in an online review system and submitted to a panel chair for discussion via conference call. Because of compressed deadlines, reviewers must complete an intense review process—reading up to 3,000 pages per week—to stay on schedule.

REVIEWER QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must demonstrate expertise and experience in early childhood education and family support services or related fields. Applicants are also needed with expertise in fiscal and organizational operations. All applicants must demonstrate abilities in the following areas:

• Strong communication skills: fluent English writing, listening, and speaking skills
• Analytical/critical thinking skills: provide thoughtful and objective evaluations based on established criteria
• Organizational and time management skills to adhere to deadlines
• Self-motivated and self-reliant to work effectively in a virtual environment
• Ability to collaborate in a virtual team environment, including across different time zones
• Familiar with diverse populations who might reflect the Head Start community
• For reviews requiring bilingual skills: abilities listed above, plus strong communication skills in Spanish

OHS is committed to recruiting reviewers who represent diversity of race or national origin. Individuals who have served on Head Start monitoring reviews or on panels for the Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Education grants are encouraged to apply. Familiarity with Head Start and/or previous experience as a grant reviewer are useful, but not required. Head Start or Early Head Start grantee staff and current T/TA providers are not eligible to apply. Two professional references must be provided.

REQUIREMENTS

Availability: Reviewers must commit to a minimum of four weeks (four one-week panels) between late Spring 2012 and Fall 2012. An additional commitment beyond the minimum four weeks is encouraged. Panels run during a six-day work week, beginning Saturdays and ending Thursdays. During the review process, it is critical that reviewers not have additional professional commitments. Reviewers must be available during core business hours (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST) and be flexible given possible time zone differences among panel members. Reviewers are expected not to travel or participate in other grant reviews during scheduled review dates. To avoid burnout, any two consecutive weeks of paneling will be followed by one week off.

Training: Reviewers will be invited to a 2 ½ day orientation in Spring 2012 in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area to learn about the grant review process. Training will cover established evaluation criteria, panel review procedures, and offer “hands on” simulations.

Tools:

• Telephone line and computer with reliable Internet access via broadband or DSL
• Familiar with Windows-based interface
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 9
• Back-up plan to access the Internet in the event the primary Internet connection is lost during a review. A connection must be re-established within three hours.

Outcomes: Each reviewer must provide thoughtful, objective, and timely written reviews for each assigned application.

COMPENSATION

$350 per day while serving on a panel

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 27, 2012

HOW TO APPLY

Create a profile and complete the online application at: www.acfgrantreviewer.com. Include the reference code: OHS-001-2012. Select the appropriate Job Code for the Office of Head Start, located at the bottom of the Job Codes page.

We encourage you to share this information with qualified colleagues who may also be interested in serving as grant reviewers.

For further information contact:
Call Center 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST | Phone: 1.866.796.1613 | Email: reviewer@luxcg.com