Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Supervisor of Blueprint Initiatives, the Blueprint Initiatives Specialist will support the coordination and implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future plan. The incumbent of this position will assist in the preparation and submission of Blueprint- and grant-related documentation, maintain compliance and reporting procedures, and manage financial tracking related to grant allocations. The Blueprint Initiatives Specialist will work closely with supervisors, directors, chiefs and other personnel to ensure effective execution of approved initiatives and adherence to regulatory and reporting requirements. Additionally, the incumbent of this position will perform technical and analytical work related to data acquisition, grant tracking and performance measurement, contributing to strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts across departments and divisions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supports the Supervisor of Blueprint Initiatives in the development and submission of Blueprint reports, amendments and narratives in collaboration with program leads and staff;
- Monitors and maintains compliance with Blueprint-related requirements, including tracking outcome measurements, grant budgets and reporting deadlines;
- Develops and maintains data systems for tracking Blueprint requirements, ensuring accurate data entry, analysis and reporting for both internal use and external stakeholders;
- Compiles, analyzes and prepares data and documentation for state and local reports, including those required by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB);
- Collaborates with departments to develop and refine data collection systems and support data-driven decision-making;
- Maintains and updates records related to Blueprint-funded resources, including database management and documentation of asset changes;
- Contributes to performance analysis and strategic planning efforts by generating data reports, identifying trends and offering insights to support program improvement and goal alignment; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of needs assessment trends, funding requirements and grant development criteria;
- Knowledge of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) monitoring and evaluation, and familiarity with how Blueprint reporting integrates with district strategic plans;
- Familiarity with Blueprint pillars (Early Childhood, High-Quality Teachers/Leaders, College and Career Readiness, More Resources for Students, Governance/ Accountability);
- Strong written and oral communication skills for drafting memos, providing guidance to schools and offices, and responding to audits;
- Ability to utilize databases, Excel and dashboards;
- Ability to collaborate with diverse groups of administrators, school staff and external stakeholders;
- Ability to anticipate needs, resolve scheduling or logistics issues, and adapt when plans change;
- Ability to translate requirements into clear steps for schools and offices;
- Ability to handle high-stakes compliance work with precision and attention to detail;
- Ability to adjust quickly to shifting state guidance, new mandates or audit findings; and
- Ability to manage sensitive district and student data with discretion.
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, business/public administration, communications or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. A minimum of four (4) years of successful experience in strategic planning and grant program design for systemic programs and initiatives; including experience in writing and developing effective competitive proposals and analyzing complex data.
Certification:
None required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
None.
