Description
Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG), a leading management consulting firm, is seeking highly qualified independent consultants to serve as Peer Reviewers in support of an upcoming competitive discretionary grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Reviewers will be compensated to independently evaluate grant applications in accordance with published program criteria to ensure a fair, objective, and merit-based review process.
This role is ideal for professionals with demonstrated experience in criminal justice, victim services, juvenile justice, law enforcement, behavioral health, violence prevention, reentry, research and evaluation, grants management, or related policy and program areas.
Location: Remote
Key Responsibilities:
- Review and evaluate assigned discretionary grant applications using established DOJ/OJP scoring criteria and program requirements.
- Assess applications for responsiveness, technical merit, feasibility, organizational capacity, budget appropriateness, and alignment with program priorities.
- Provide clear, detailed, and evidence-based written comments to justify assigned scores.
- Participate in virtual or in-person panel discussions to reach consensus scores.
- Maintain strict confidentiality of application materials and reviewer deliberations.
- Identify and disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest (COI) prior to participation.
- Complete required reviewer training prior to panel participation.
- Meet established review deadlines and adhere to Department protocols.
- Utilize designated review platforms (e.g., JustGrants).
Required Qualifications:
- U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Demonstrated expertise in relevant DOJ/OJP grant program content areas.
- Experience with federal or state grant programs preferred.
- Strong analytical writing skills.
- Ability to evaluate proposals objectively against structured criteria.
- Proficiency in virtual meeting platforms and online review systems.
- Ability to dedicate focused time during scheduled review windows.
- Must have dedicated access to a computer with a minimum of MS 2020 and a dedicated high-speed internet connection.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience serving as a federal peer reviewer, grant reviewer, application evaluator, or panelist.
- Experience with DOJ, OJP, or other federal grant-making agencies (e.g., HHS, ED, DOL).
- Familiarity with discretionary grant review processes and federal funding announcements.
- Advanced degree in criminal justice, public policy, social work, psychology, public administration, law, evaluation, or a related field.
- Experience reviewing federal budgets, program narratives, logic models, or evaluation plans.
Core Competencies
- Objectivity & Integrity
- Analytical Thinking
- Written Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Time Management
- Collaboration in Structured Deliberations
Time Commitment
Review assignments typically require:
- Completion of virtual training (2–4 hours)
- Independent application review (varies by program; 10–25 hours total)
- Participation in panel discussions (1–3 days)
Panels are scheduled in advance and conducted virtually or at designated federal locations.
Compensation
Reviewers are compensated via honorarium, typically structured as:
- Per application review rate or
- Daily panel participation rate
Payment is issued following successful completion of review responsibilities and required documentation.
Conflict of Interest & Confidentiality
Selected reviewers must:
- Disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Sign the independent consulting agreement, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.
- Comply with all federal ethics and integrity requirements.
Why Serve as a Federal Grant Reviewer?
- Influence national education initiatives
- Gain insight into successful grant strategies
- Contribute to equitable distribution of federal funds
- Expand professional network with national experts
- Strengthen understanding of federal grant processes
***How to Apply***
Interested candidates should submit:
- Resume
- Cover Letter to include:
- Brief statement of subject matter expertise
- Areas of program interest
- Prior reviewer experience (if applicable)
Qualified applicants will be added to a reviewer pool and contacted as opportunities align with their expertise.
Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and competitive selection process.
