Position InformationBecome a Grants Specialist with the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water)! As a Sonoma Water Grants Specialist, you will be responsible for researching, developing, and managing complex applications for new grant and low interest loan programs; composing, editing, and finalizing grant proposals, agreements, contracts, and project progress reports for funding agencies; assisting in administering labor compliance and procurement programs in compliance with federal and state regulations and established local policies and procedures; reviewing and editing various types of technical reports; and preparing internal status reports. Additional responsibilities include:
- Analyzing current grant and loan agreements for program compliance
- Responding to mandated third-party audits of awarded grant project administration and management
- Assisting with documenting internal written procedures related to grant compliance on state and federal grant programs
- Gathering, compiling, analyzing, interpreting, and organizing qualitative and quantitative data, reports, and tables
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create clear, concise, well-structured, and comprehensive technical documents, agreements, reports, guidelines, and contracts
The ideal candidate joining Sonoma Water as a Grants Specialist will possess:
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing experience, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to varying audiences
- Excellent critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
- Grants and/or project management skills, including experience managing administrative projects
- Experience with state and federal code, regulation requirements, and risk mitigation techniques for sub-awards and agreements
- A collaborative work style, and the ability to perform in a cross-functional team
- An ability to work well under pressure, with interruptions and changing priorities under tight deadlines, while producing quality results with attention to detail
What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
- Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
About Sonoma Water Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs.
Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.
Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill a Grants Specialist position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment . The formal title for this position is Water Agency Technical Writing Specialist.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Minimum QualificationsEducation and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include academic coursework in engineering, technical writing, contract law, journalism, natural resources, accounting, business or public administration, English, or a closely related field, and two years of experience managing construction projects, grants, engineering projects, and/or public work projects which included writing and editing of reports, manuals, specifications, proposals, and/or agreements.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Certification: For assignments involving construction management, the Constructions Documents Technologies certification from the Construction Specification Institute is highly desirable.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesWorking knowledge of: English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and composition; basic mathematics; document structure and formatting techniques; organizational techniques; and interviewing and listening techniques; the techniques of writing and editing technical reports, agreements, and grant proposals; contract principles and roles; civil engineering, natural resources, and grant principles, practices, and terminology; public contract law; project and grant management principles and practices; written and oral communications, ; basic insurance requirements and risk mitigation techniques for agreements and contracts; and modern office methods, procedures, and software programs.
Ability to: obtain and interpret technical information; read, comprehend, and interpret documents such as engineering specifications construction drawings, agreements, contracts, technical reports, and grant proposals; prepare and coordinate execution of agreements, contracts, and grant proposals; understand and apply budgetary and operational principles and practices; make mathematical calculations; analyze situations and adopt effective course of action; observe and work with details; write effectively and use good judgment in assembling, evaluating, and using information; understand the implications of new project information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making related to grants, agreements, and specifications, determine contractual and grant requirements for agreements and contracts to establish performance and compliance standards; monitor consultant and contractor performance; interpret and make recommendations based on regulations, policies; guidance, and agreement provisions; communicate and listen effectively; follow procedures; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and the public.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored. The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: KK
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: 7/18/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
