STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Grants And Contracts Specialist

Recruitment #240925-4191AR-001

Introduction


THE POSITION
The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is currently accepting applications from its agency employes to fill a Grants and Contracts Specialist position in the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division (CJPPD).

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Generous paid time off including thirteen (13) paid holidays.
  • A culture that encourages work/life balance.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.
The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

HIGHLIGHTS
This is a full time (40 hours per week) position conveniently located in Hartford, CT.  

  • LOCATION: OPM, Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division
  • ADDRESS: 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
  • WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week
  • SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Budget federal grant programs to ensure compliance with allocation categories, funding set-asides and state match requirements.
  • Evaluate and review applications from state agencies and nonprofits for federal grant programs.
  • Prepare and submit applications for Department of Justice Formula Grants including state formula grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and Office of Justice Program (OJP).
THE ROLE
This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Grants and Contracts Specialist within the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division.  In this role, you will be responsible for the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of federal grants that OPM receives, focusing on areas of criminal justice. In addition, you will create new funding opportunities and coordinate with federal, state and community agencies and organizations.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess grant administration experience, be organized, have good communication skills, demonstrate a strong work ethic, as well as maintain working relationships with multiple criminal justice stakeholders and have the capacity to multi-task and adapt to changing circumstances. 

Selection Plan

Please Note: In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee at the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 
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To Apply:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
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 opm.recruitment@ct.gov
  • 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

In this position the incumbent will perform the following duties:
  • Prepare and submit applications for Department of Justice Formula Grants including state formula grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and Office of Justice Program (OJP);
  • Budget federal grant programs to ensure compliance with allocation categories, funding set-asides and state match requirements;
  • Evaluate and review applications from state agencies and nonprofits for federal grant programs;
  • Complete and compile award packages including writing contract documents such as the Statement of Work and compiling any relevant award conditions or documents for subrecipients to sign as required by federal regulations or state statute;
  • Review applications for grants authorized by the Police Accountability Bill. Includes reviewing invoices and checks with application documents as well as outreach to police departments to spend down funding;
  • Coordinate the STOP Implementation Plan which is required every 4 years to receive funding. Includes facilitating a statewide planning committee with membership requirements set out in the award conditions;
  • Monitor grant programs through quarterly progress reports and cash requests;
  • Collect data for the STOP Implementation Plan requirements including ongoing collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate data that reflects the landscape of CT;
  • Attend national meetings with Technical Assistance providers relating to best practices of grant administration and compliance;
  • Submit federal progress report on the timeline required by the grant-making entity;
  • Attend the Office of Victim Services advisory council meetings as an appointed member;
  • Provide subgrantees with technical assistance on the grants management system used to submit quarterly reports; and 
  • Perform related duties as required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • grant preparation and administration; 
    • program evaluation and monitoring functions; 
  • Knowledge of
    • research methods and techniques; 
    • budget preparation and monitoring; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to utilize computer software; 
  • 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

  • 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.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in criminal justice or public policy;
  • Experience leading the planning and development of new programs, policies and initiatives;
  • Experience administering and monitoring state or federal grants;
  • Experience working with state and federal criminal justice agencies;
  • Experience interpreting and implementing statutory and administrative policy; and
  • Experience working with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and other Microsoft Office products.

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility. 


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