Grants And Contracts Specialist (Durational)

The Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS) is a newly created agency, housed, with administrative support, under the Office of the Governor. The OWS is charged with influencing and operationalizing the statewide strategy for workforce with the support of the Governor’s Workforce Council and related agency and statewide stakeholders. This small team is looking for two (2) dedicated and excited Grants and Contracts Specialists to help support the Connecticut Workforce. These opportunities are durational, full-time (40 hours/week), with flexible work hours and the opportunity to telecommute.

The OWS was awarded American Rescue Plan funding to deploy short term training grants to local workforce development providers. This $70 million award aims to train and place upwards of 8500 Connecticut Residents. The funding has been awarded to the OWS and durational employees will only be permitted, per Federal guidelines, to be employed by the OWS through 12/31/2024. Applicants will be initially placed in vacancies under durational appointment with anticipated end dates of 12 months. These appointments may be extended. Benefits and leaves will be subject to the appropriate collective bargaining contract language and Connecticut General Statutes.

We are seeking a durational candidate to assist and support deploying and operationalizing these grants. You will be working within a fast-paced environment, that requires independent work, collaboration with a team when needed, and navigating/prioritizing complex work tasks.

Our ideal candidate has familiarity with the Workforce System (including the Regional Workforce Investment Boards, state and colleges education system, community-based organizations, and state agencies), has strong project management and communication skills, competency with Microsoft Office/related programming (Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Pro), and strong attention to detail as you will be required to read, review or prepare project scopes of work, reports, communication materials, data and analysis documentation and other tasks that may arise to support the successful deployment of the Grants program.

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.
• 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.

Important Information After You Apply:

• 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 questionnaire'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.
• 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.
• Note: 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.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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. Should you 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 reviewing grant applications and writing contracts.
• Experience implementing state, municipal or federal government contracts or agreements.
• Experience working with local boards, educators, or state agencies.
• Experience reviewing and cataloging business documentation, for example finance policies, business incumbencies, business bylaws, etc.
• Project Management Experience.

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.