Transportation Grants And Contracts Specialist

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Policy and Planning is recruiting for a Grants and Contract Specialist to lead a new Grants and Socio-Economic Unit in the Office of Strategic Planning and Projects. This innovative position will be located at the Department of Transportation Headquarters in Newington and will report to the Assistant Director of Strategic Planning and Projects and will collaborate closely with and support the Government Relations Office as well as key personnel from all Bureaus regarding grant applications.

About Us: As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,000 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, efficient and accessible multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development. The recent passage of the Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act (IIJA) presents exciting funding opportunities for the State of Connecticut, and this position will be crucial in aligning the Department to be successful in obtaining approvals for discretionary program funds. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

The Role: The Grants and Contracts Specialist position is being established to oversee a unit which will be responsible for leading federal, multi-modal grant initiatives within the Department, across Bureaus. This position will be pivotal in disseminating information and providing grant guidance and support to staff, community partners, and working with other agencies; assessing transportation projects for program eligibility and potential; managing the preparation, drafting, and submission of project grant proposals; and assisting in post-award coordination. Responsibilities will include: tracking notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs); coordinating opportunities with management, creating and compiling necessary information for Grant applications; overseeing Benefit / Cost Analyses (BCA’s).

With many upcoming funding prospects tied to equity and rebuilding of jobs and communities, this unit will facilitate the varied needs of the Department in securing funds, as well as applying them to the projects and programs which will bring the most benefit to our State. This unit will be dedicated to analysis of the impact and benefits of transportation projects on local, regional and statewide economics, equity and environmental justice, reducing barriers to opportunity, and resiliency and sustainability of the State’s transportation infrastructure. The unit will gather and utilize data regarding travel time savings, accessibility and job creation to calculate the likely economic development implications of transportation projects and programs.

Benefits: We participate in a competitive benefits package that includes comprehensive healthcare policies including medical and dental coverage, retirement plan options, paid time off, and more! We also encourage a healthy work-life balance for all employees and provide professional growth and development opportunities!

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

After You Apply:

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders daily in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. 
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
If have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact jennifer.neumann@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 in transportation program grant tracking, application preparation and administration.
• Experience with various federal and state transportation funding programs.
• Experience with contemporary transportation issues, policies and practices.
• Experience working collaboratively with other offices, state agencies, outside stakeholders and the public.
• Experience supervising a team.
• Experience with Public presentation skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Economic, Benefit-Cost Analyses, and Economic Impact Analyses.
• Experience meeting deadlines.

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.