Contract/Grant Specialist
About The Position
The Public Assistance Program is one of the State’s largest grant initiatives, managing a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from road repairs to seawall reconstructions. If you take public service seriously and want an engaging, challenging, and rewarding career, we may have an opening for you. As a Recovery Program Officer, you will serve as a vital advocate for communities seeking Federal Public Assistance funds following a disaster. In this critical role, you will help local communities assess damage, apply for aid, and execute recovery and mitigation efforts. Your work will span the entire grant lifecycle to ensure all projects are documented, executed, and closed out in a timely, accountable manner. The Public Assistance Program is a primary source of Federal grant funding for the State and operates within the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). This position reports directly to the State Public Assistance Officer.
Requirements
- Knowledge of Emergency Management practices, the Grants Management lifecycle, and government structures (State, Federal, and Local).
- Familiarity with budget methodologies, financial techniques, data processing, and information services.
- Ability to interpret program trends and data to formulate strategic recommendations.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines.
- Ability to analyze complex programmatic and financial data quickly and accurately.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Minimum: Education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in contract or grant administration.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience in grant management, procurement, financial reporting, and data analytics.
Responsibilities
- Provide Expert Guidance: Offer disaster recovery expertise to applicants regarding program eligibility, procurement, compliance, extensions, appeals, closeouts, and audits.
- Represent the Agency: Attend in-person and virtual meetings statewide to support applicants in public infrastructure recovery efforts.
- Monitor Compliance: Track applicant progress through the Public Assistance process to ensure adherence to State and Federal regulations.
- Maintain Program Knowledge: Monitor evolving laws, regulations, policies, and guidance tied to the Public Assistance grant program.
- Develop Resources: Create accessible reference materials and conduct training for applicants and partner agencies on disaster recovery and policy updates.
- Support Damage Assessments: Assist with planning and executing Damage Assessments to support the Federal disaster declaration process.
Benefits
- 13 paid holidays
- 12 days of sick leave
- 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
- 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.
- Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
- 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 – Up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
- Living Resources Program – Employee assistance program.
- Parental leave – Forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for all employees welcoming a child.
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
