Contract/Grant Specialist - Anticipated Vacancy

State of Maine•Augusta, GA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position supports the State of Maine and the Soldiers and Airmen of the Maine National Guard. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, values attention to detail, and enjoys working with diverse groups of people and industries. This role is perfect for someone with excellent problem-solving skills, is highly organized, able to establish priorities, track multiple deadlines, identify potential issues before they become critical, and provide timely follow-up to internal customers, contractors, grantees, and other stakeholders. The role offers the opportunity to work independently and with a supportive team. Following successful completion of training and with management approval, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule of up to 2–3 remote workdays per week. Remote work must be performed from a location within the State of Maine. A federal background check is required.

Requirements

Ability to manage multiple contracts, grants, procurements, and assignments simultaneously while meeting established deadlines.
Ability to establish and adjust priorities based on deadlines, operational requirements, funding requirements, risk, and contractual obligations.
Ability to independently track assignments, deadlines, deliverables, renewals, expirations, and required follow-up.
Ability to analyze complex information, identify potential issues, and develop practical solutions.
Ability to interpret and apply procurement laws, rules, policies, procedures, and contractual requirements.
Knowledge of contract and grant administration principles and practices.
Knowledge of procurement principles and competitive solicitation processes.
Knowledge of basic financial management, budgeting, and expenditure practices.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with program staff, contractors, grantees, vendors, and other stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and effectively use financial, procurement, contract management, and database systems.
Ability to maintain accurate, organized, and complete records.
Education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in contract or grant administration.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Microsoft and other Business Databases.
Knowledge of Maine State financial and procurement systems (Advantage).

Responsibilities

Provide contract and grant lifecycle management for the Maine Army National Guard (MEARNG) Cooperative Agreement.
Monitor and evaluate contractor performance.
Take corrective action as necessary to correct deficiencies.
Effectively communicate with the requestor to ensure the contract meets department specifications and goals.
Manage contracts throughout the full contract lifecycle, including: Receiving and evaluating requests for contracts and procurements; Working with program staff to define requirements, specifications, deliverables, and funding; Developing solicitations, including RFPs, RFQs, and other procurement documents; Coordinating and supporting the solicitation and evaluation process; Preparing and processing contract awards and required documentation; Developing, reviewing, and executing contracts and related agreements; Monitoring contractor/grantee performance, deliverables, expenditures, and compliance; Coordinating amendments, modifications, extensions, and other changes; Monitoring contract expiration dates and initiating renewal activities in advance of deadlines; Coordinating contract closeout and ensuring required documentation is complete; and Maintaining complete and accurate contract and grant records in accordance with applicable State and Federal requirements.
Review and analyze contracts and be prepared to discuss feasibility and impact on the department’s budget.
Review and determine best deal for the State of Maine on existing and new commodity purchases for the MEARNG departments.
Independently identify upcoming deadlines and required actions and initiate timely follow-up with responsible parties to prevent delays, lapses in service, or non-compliance.
Develop training material and deliver training to department employees.