Grants And Contracts Specialist

Are you ready for a challenging role helping ensure Connecticut communities can fully participate in society, democracy, and the economy of the state?

Join our team working towards Internet for All!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking a Grants and Contracts Specialist for our Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP).

This hybrid position is full-time on first shift, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday and is based out of our New Britain, Connecticut location.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
We take part in a competitive benefits plan which includes:

• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick and personal);
• Excellent health, dental and supplemental benefits;
• A comprehensive retirement plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV).

In addition, the State puts an emphasis on:

• Providing limitless opportunities;
• Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives;
• Performing meaningful work and;
• Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
BETP is charged with developing policies and programs to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change; conserve, improve and protect Connecticut’s natural resources and environment; and provide equitable access to broadband and affordable, clean and reliable energy to the people and businesses of the state.

As an employee of BETP, you will work within one of its four offices, all of which are in New Britain:

• The Office of Energy Supply and Infrastructure (OESI)
  OESI is responsible for developing policy related to renewable energy, conducting procurements for renewable energy to meet our state’s zero carbon electric grid goal, and implementing programs related to grid resilience and energy supply decarbonization.
• The Office of Building and Transportation Decarbonization (OBTD)
  OBTD works to research opportunities, challenges, and technologies that inform equitable and inclusive policy development centered around decarbonizing the building and transportation sectors. In addition, staff help advance the impact of equitable statewide energy efficiency investment and accelerate the transition of residential, commercial, and transportation sectors from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives.
• The Office of Affordable Housing and Energy Retrofits (OAHER)
  OAHER designs and administers programs that reduce the energy burden of low- and moderate -income households through weatherization, decarbonization, and health and safety barriers remediation. With a specific focus on disadvantaged communities, OAHER targets emissions reduction goals in the affordable housing sector through participatory and inclusionary practices that improve the public health and wellness of vulnerable communities.
• The Office of Telecommunications and Broadband (OTB)
  OTB is focused on developing equitable policies and programs to bring the economic and social benefits of broadband access to the residents and businesses of Connecticut. Specifically, OTB works to ensure the universal availability and accessibility of high quality, affordable telecommunications services to all residents and businesses in the state.

BETP seeks a Grants and Contracts Specialist to support the Agency in the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program 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. The office to which you are ultimately assigned will be determined by the agency and can change depending upon business needs. You may also be assigned to projects with work across all offices in BETP. In all areas, equitable policy and program design and inclusive processes for public input are prioritized

More details can be found in the class specification.

ABOUT DEEP
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut’s economy and creating jobs – and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.

Before you apply, make note of the following:

• 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.
• 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 for 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.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@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 with implementing federally funded programs including outreach, application intake, quality assurance, quality control, applicant eligibility, timeline management, reporting, closeout and compliance, and policy application.
• Experience contributing to the design of grant programs to meet objectives.
• Experience drafting requests for proposals, contract language and memoranda of agreement.
• Experience with contract administration, purchasing, budgeting, invoicing, and contracting systems.
• Experience managing subgrant programs.
• Experience with grant compliance involving state and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing expenditures of state and federal funds.
• Experience interpreting documents including grant proposals, Notice of Award (NOAs), and contracts.
• Experience analyzing and disseminating fiscal information in the form of financial and or narrative reports, charts, graphs, and tables.
• Experience analyzing grants management data, providing conclusions, and making data-based recommendations.
• Experience summarizing and communicating program progress and final outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.

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.