STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Grants And Contracts Specialist

Hybrid

Recruitment #220623-4191AR-001

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Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Dept. of Social Services (DSS) delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency. DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns. We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, and online and phone access options.

We are currently recruiting for two Grants and Contracts Specialist to join our Contracts Administration Unit within the Financial Services Division. We are located at our Central Office at 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT. The Contracts Administration Unit is responsible for the facilitation, development, and timely award of cost-effective contracts to qualified providers and contractors for direct services to clients and to support the work of DSS. In collaboration with program, fiscal and legal staff, this unit drafts, reviews, completes and delivers Purchase of Service (POS) and Personal Service (PSA) agreements, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Statements of Work (SOW), Data Share Agreement (DSA) and Data Use Agreements (DUA) for provision of services to clients and the Department. This process also often requires the coordination with the procedures of the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), the Attorney General’s (AG’s) Office, and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS). Depending upon the complexity of the contract, the drafting negotiation, execution and final approval process can be lengthy and must be conducted in accordance to specific timetables.

Position Details
  • Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
  • Schedule: Monday through Friday, First shift, 8:00am-4:30pm
  • Location: Hartford
In this role, you will discover the opportunity to:
  • Engage in a rewarding career
  • Showcase your talents in a meaningful role
  • Thrive in an exciting environment
  • Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do
  • Make a difference in the public sector
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment
Follow us on twitter @ctdss and see what we are all about!

The State of Connecticut offers a hybrid retirement plan where new employees may elect to participate in the State Employees Retirement System which provides a retirement benefit, including retiree health insurance. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals.
               

Selection Plan

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.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
Important Next Step Information for 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 on a daily basis 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 on a daily basis 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.
  • 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.
Connect With Us:
  • If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Elizabeth Weston at Elizabeth.Weston@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates who have the following experience and provide evidence of the following experience in their application materials:  
  • Experience successfully communicating with diverse groups.
  • Experience working in financial modules such as PeopleSoft.
  • Experience creating complex files in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
  • Experience analyzing complex data and formulizing a clear grants/contracts plan.
  • Experience drafting contract language, implementing contracts and monitoring contract deliverables.
  • Experience in development and/or administration of competitive procurements.
  • Experience managing fiscal spending within budget allotments; operating within and managing workgroup budget allocation and reporting.
  • Experience developing and maintaining effective programmatic and financial controls to assure the integrity of the cooperative agreements and grants.

Conclusion

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.





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