Program Specialist – Government Services

HORNE is a professional services firm founded on a cornerstone of public accounting. As a top 25 business advisory firm, our team members serve clients from offices and project locations across the nation and Puerto Rico. Our Government Services practice is at the forefront of economic recovery programs nationwide with one of the most experienced and innovative teams anywhere. Our team provides program and project management, compliance, grant management, subject matter expertise and disaster recovery solutions needed to help government agencies affect positive change.

Position Summary

The Program Specialist provides operational, compliance, and grant management support to federally funded recovery and mitigation programs under the direction of the Program Lead. This role assists with planning, tracking, monitoring, and reporting on program activities. It also includes supporting subrecipients, contractors, and stakeholders with technical guidance to ensure compliance with HUD and federal requirements. The Program Specialist plays a critical role in helping programs launch, implement, and close out in alignment with all applicable regulations while supporting timely and effective delivery of recovery initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with planning and execution of program activities, including project plans, timelines, and workflows.
• Coordinate and track deliverables, milestones, and tasks across internal teams, subrecipients, contractors, and vendors.
• Provide technical assistance and support to subrecipients to ensure compliance with CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT, and other federal regulations.
• Assist in the development of monitoring and training plans tailored to subrecipient needs.
• Maintain accurate and organized documentation in compliance with program and audit standards.
• Support the development of SOPs, policies, application forms, presentations, and training materials.
• Research regulations, policies, and best practices to inform program decisions.
• Monitor program performance indicators, budgets, and schedules, and provide status updates to leadership.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, and compliance teams to align program functions.
• Support vendor/consultant coordination, including scheduling, deliverables, and communication.
• Respond to inquiries and prepare reports, summaries, and data analysis for HUD, state/local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in public meetings, training sessions, and outreach efforts as requested.

Core Competencies

• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication abilities.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Project scheduling and organizational skills with knowledge of project lifecycles.
• Ability to provide guidance and technical assistance to subrecipients.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Office environment with potential for Hybrid/Remote; on-site presence required at times.
Prolonged periods of computer work; ability to lift up to 15 pounds.

Travel

10% to 25%

Required Education & Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience supporting federally, state, or locally funded programs, preferably in disaster recovery, housing, infrastructure, or community development.
• Experience supporting subrecipients or grant-funded programs.
• Strong organizational, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to handle moderately complex issues and escalate more complex matters as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in disaster recovery, housing, or community development programs.
• Experience with HUD programs (CDBG, CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT).
• Familiarity with federal compliance areas such as URA, Duplication of Benefits, Davis-Bacon, or Section 3.
• Experience with tracking tools or workflow systems (e.g., Smartsheet, SharePoint).
• Background in housing development or work with local/state government agencies.
• Experience developing and delivering training or monitoring plans.

HORNE Values…

• A forward thinking, anticipatory professional driven by a passion to pursue your full potential and dreams.
• A work environment that promotes collaboration, consistency, and community service to empower people.
• An inclusive culture that promotes career/life integration and invests in developing people in areas of focused expertise.

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