Grants And Contracts Specialist

State of Connecticut - Department of Children & Families; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a Grants and Contracts Specialist for Region 1 with a hybrid work option from Bridgeport or Norwalk offices. The role focuses on planning, implementing and evaluating grant programs at state and federal levels, and includes providing guidance on WRAP funds to staff and supporting social workers in service planning.

The position emphasizes fiscal leadership, contract development, and ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance and effective

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of experience in planning, implementation and/or management of grant programs on a community, state or federal level.
• 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.
• Experience working in a social and human services agency.
• Experience utilizing financial management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel including complex formulas and pivot tables.
• Ability to manage time-sensitive priorities with accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• 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 and regulations critique.
• Develops alternatives and gathers information related to the program area.
• Develops goals, evaluation standards, timetables, and contracts related to grant activities.
• Monitors use of grant monies to ensure adherence to terms and conditions.
• Provides technical assistance and acts as a resource to grantees.

Skills

Grant preparation

Program evaluation

Monitoring functions

Research methods

Budget preparation

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Computer software proficiency

Supervisory ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree substituted for years of experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Introduction

Are you a current State of Connecticut employee with experience in planning, implementation and/or management of grant programs on a community, state or federal level? If so, we might have just the role you are looking for!

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) we are seeking to fill One (1) Grants and Contracts Specialist position within the Department’s Fiscal Regional Support Unit covering Region 1.

This position covers Region 1, Bridgeport and Norwalk Area Office’s. In this hybrid role, the selected candidate has the option to work out of either of one of the two offices, and there is flexibility over which office you will report to.

The selected incumbent will have the opportunity too:

• Perform a variety of professional fiscal and administrative functions;
• Provide knowledge, expertise, guidance, and technical support to all staff on appropriate use of WRAP funds;
• Assist Social Workers to assess and assemble HUSKY, Contracted, Credentialed and ad hoc services to provide a comprehensive, effective and efficient plan of care;
• Provide fiscal leadership to support Area office service delivery needs.

Position Highlights

• Hybrid role based out of our Bridgeport Area office or Norwalk Area office
• Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, with flexible hours.

What’s In It For You

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

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;
• program evaluation and monitoring functions;
• 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 working in a social and human services agency
• Experience utilizing financial management system
• Experience with Microsoft Excel including crafting complex formulas, pivot tables, calculations, data manipulation, auto summing, etc.
• Experience managing various time sensitive priorities with accuracy in a fast paced work environment
• Experience working collaboratively with a group
• Experience working independently to complete tasks

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.