Grants And Contracts Specialist

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is looking for energetic, progressive, and open minded individuals to join the DPH/DSS (Dept. of Social Services) Joint Operations Team (JOT), as Grant & Contract Specialists. The JOT is a new unit that bridges DPH & DSS for the purpose of coordinating COVID related activities, providing continuous improvements and oversight in the areas of population testing, community support, contact tracing, CDC funded cooperative agreements, contract management and assisting with other COVID related activities as needed.

These two positions will assist the Strategic Program and Finance Manager in the oversight and coordination of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreements, to include:

• Working with the Primary Investigator and Program Area team leads to monitor and track initiatives and associated funding Developing presentations for leadership updates
• Writing contracts
• Providing oversight for accountability
• Other related assignments as assigned

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Are you interested in joining our team as a Grants and Contracts Specialist? We encourage you to apply today! These positions are conveniently located in Hartford, CT. At this time, the team is primarily teleworking with some time in the Hartford based office. The work schedules for these positions are typically Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week, with possible meetings in the evenings and/or during weekends.

These two Grants & Contracts Specialist roles are federally funded and these funds have an anticipated end date of December 31, 2023.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position. Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. 

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chelsea Moore at Chelsea.Moore@ct.gov

In a state agency, this class is accountable for performing as a specialist in planning, implementation, management and evaluation of a large complex grant program or group of programs in one field where responsibilities are assumed for program development, liaison and coordination with federal, state and community agencies and organizations, program implementation and administration, program monitoring and assessment.

Performs specialized related duties in the area of grants management; performs research to support the application for or the disbursement of grants including needs analysis, literature review and regulations critique to identify problems and determine priorities; develops alternatives; gathers information related to program area; develops goals and objectives, evaluation standards, timetables, other program components and department policy for program area and individual projects; prepares grant proposals; monitors use of grant monies awarded to agency to ensure adherence to all terms and conditions; facilitates direct grant process; provides technical assistance and acts as resource person to grantees; evaluates program proposals and applications for conformance with regulations and state goals; recommends funding; prepares contracts and agreements related to grant activities; monitors and assesses ongoing programs for conformance to reporting requirements, general budget and timetable guidelines and program effectiveness; prepares quarterly and annual reports and statewide annual plan or section of plan related to program local area; attends meetings of appropriate state, local and regional organizations and performs other liaison functions to coordinate efforts in program area; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of grant preparation and administration; considerable knowledge of program evaluation and monitoring functions; knowledge of research methods and techniques; some knowledge of budget preparation and monitoring; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

Seven (7) years of experience in planning, implementation and/or management of grant programs on a community, state or federal level.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Experience communicating plans related to grants/contracts
• Experience analyzing ambiguous data and formulizing a clear grants/contracts plan
• Experience with financial management and budgeting methods
• Experience developing high level presentations
• Experience developing and maintaining effective programmatic and financial controls to assure the integrity of the cooperative agreements and grants
• Experience designing new methods where established policies or procedures are unavailable, or could be improved to promote efficiency and effectiveness

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.