DOLA Contract Drafting Specialist/Contract Administrator III (Term-Limited)

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

46d

About The Position

This job posting may be used to fill multiple term-limited Contract Specialist positions within the division. The term-limited position has an anticipated end date of December 31, 2026; however, may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits. Who can Apply This opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado. About the Colorado Department of Local Affairs The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado's approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of "Local Affairs," which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability. Vision The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible, affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities. Mission Our mission is to help strengthen Colorado's communities. Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs? The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs. Under the mission of DOLA, the Contract Specialist will be responsible for preparing and executing loan and grant agreements. These agreements contain the terms and conditions upon which the State of Colorado will provide state and/or federal funds to local governments and to qualified applicants for use in the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing, supportive housing, emergency shelters, providing housing services, and other housing-related assistance.

Requirements

Six (6) years of professional experience in paralegal services, grant or loan agreement drafting, contract administration, contract management, contract monitoring, or procurement/purchasing processes. This experience must have included drafting grant, loan, legal or contract documents.
A combination of related education in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Legal Studies or Law, English or a closely related field (as determined by the agency) AND experience as described above equal to six (6) years.
Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
Be a quick learner
Ability to work across teams
Strong attention to detail
Effective problem-solving skills
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Ability to multi-task, prioritize assignments, and organize work to accommodate shifting deadlines.
Proficiency in MS Office suite, specifically MS Word, Excel.
Strong interpersonal skills
Ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers
You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position.
Pre-employment criminal background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process.

Nice To Haves

State of Colorado experience drafting, managing, or administering contracts or grant and loan agreements
Additional experience drafting real estate transactional documents, subordination agreements, and grants, loans, or contracts
Juris Doctor degree
Paralegal certificate or experience in a paralegal setting drafting legal documents
Additional experience writing or administering loan agreements
Experience with local, state, or federal government
Experience with local, state or federal housing assistance programs
Experience creating, maintaining and utilizing contract templates.

Responsibilities

Prepares, negotiates and executes grant agreements to provide funding to non-profit organizations, local governments, or other eligible applicants for use in the implementation of housing programs and services.
Prepares, negotiates and executes loan agreements, grant agreements, and ancillary documents in order to provide state investment in the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing.
Works with stakeholders such as: underwriter, development specialist, and/or program manager to incorporate the project description, project budget, performance milestones, and other elements of the statement of work; ensures that terms and conditions in the exhibits related to regulatory compliance are appropriate for the project type and the funding source, circulates draft documents for internal review and execution.
Drafts amendments, option letters, releases, consents, and other documents that modify or amend grant and loan agreements and contracts.
Interfaces with grantees, borrowers, lenders, investors, legal counsel, and other parties to ensure that the drafts are acceptable and to negotiate any proposed changes to the draft documents.
Borrowers and grantees include private housing developers, housing authorities, non-profit organizations, local governments, or other eligible applicants.

Benefits

Medical and Dental Plans
Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus pre-tax and ROTH 401K, and 457 plans
Employee Wellness Programs
Paid Life Insurance
11 paid Holidays per year plus Vacation and Sick Leave
Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage
RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees
Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Training opportunities
Variety of Free discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program