Contract/Grant Specialist - Limited Period

State of Maine; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 52,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Gym membership reimbursement

Flexible Spending Accounts

Parental leave

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

State of Maine Department of Public Safety seeks a Contract/Grant Specialist to negotiate, process, administer, and monitor contracts and grants. You will conduct on-site visits with providers, evaluate performance, and coordinate with outside resources under general supervision.

The role requires strong knowledge of contract administration, grants, budgeting, and negotiation, with the ability to analyze information and communicate clearly.

Qualifications

• Education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in contract or grant administration.
• Familiarity with FMCSA programs and data management preferred.
• Ability to develop, design, and implement departmental plans, budgets, goals, objectives, and controls.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, process, administer, and monitor contracts, grants and service agreements.
• Conduct on-site visits with providers and evaluate performance data.
• Coordinate with outside resources and inform decisions on program changes.
• Prepare reports and training materials for external resources and agency staff.

Skills

Budget management

Contract administration

Grants management

Negotiation

Policy knowledge

Data processing

Communication skills

Writing skills

Team collaboration

Education

Contract/grant administration

Job description

Department of Public Safety Opening Date: October 7, 2026Closing Date: October 22, 2026BARGAINING UNIT: Grade 22 -Professional/TechnicalSALARY RANGE: $52,253.76-$72,912.32/Annually *Includes 6% StipendPosition Name: Contract/Grant SpecialistPOSITION LOCATION: AugustaCurrently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

DESCRIPTION: This is professional services work in negotiating, processing, administering, and monitoring contracts, grants, and other purchase of service agreements. Work includes conducting on-site visits with providers, providing information and assistance, evaluating provider performance, and coordinating and conferring with outside resources in the delivery of services. Work is performed under general supervision

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

• Confers with outside providers, department employees, community resources, and other concerned officials in order to explain and clarify contract, grant, and request for proposal (RFP) processes.
• Reviews and analyzes contracts, grants, and RFP's and discusses feasibility, cost, and impact in order to provide input and make recommendations.
• Conducts on-site visits with public and private agency administrators and providers; discusses ideas, plans, priority target populations, proposals, budgets, and performance based contracting in order to gather performance data and/or exchange information.
• Receives, collects, and analyzes performance data; establishes and monitors contractual or related benchmarking, and prepares reports in order to monitor and evaluate provider performance and provide information.
• Reviews and analyzes program policies, procedures, and practices; and develops and proposes program changes in order to improve program effectiveness and efficiency.
• Contacts and confers with community resources and public/private agencies in order to encourage, develop, and negotiate mutual understanding, cooperation, and participation in the delivery of services.
• Reviews and collects program reports and related material; develops and prepares training materials; and delivers presentations in order to provide training to external resources and agency employees.

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of budget methods, techniques, and practices.
• Knowledge of contract administration practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of grants and accessibility of federal and state funds.
• Knowledge of the legislative process.
• Knowledge of data processing and information services.
• Knowledge of negotiation methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of department or agency programs and services.
• Knowledge of performance based contracting.
• Ability to develop, design, and implement departmental plans, budgets, goals, objectives, and controls.
• Ability to develop and analyze complex financial information.
• Ability to manage diverse administrative functions.
• Ability to assess problems, reach logical conclusions, and develop appropriate solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in contract or grant administration.Familiarity with FMCSA programs and data management preferred.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage - The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance - The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan - The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement - Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness - The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation - Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.