Contract Specialist

Full Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Family Well-Being and Protection, Bureau of Early Intervention and Support is seeking a Contract Specialist (Job Classification: Program Planner 3) to join our team!

The Department supports the achievement of positive results through service contracting by establishing and setting clear contract expectations and monitoring contract performance.

This position will provide contract and fiscal support to early childhood and home visiting staff in the Early Intervention and Support work unit.

As a Compliance Division employee, you will be part of a growing dynamic team. This position is located at the central office in the Lucas Building.

A hybrid (3 days working from home and 2 days working in the office) work schedule is available after successfully completing the training period.

This position will be responsible for monitoring contractor fiscal and administrative performance of Early Intervention and Support programs, while adhering to applicable law and administrative rules.

In addition, this position will be responsible for functions associated with federal IV-E claiming.

This position will work on a cross-functional team, which includes contract specialists, policy, finance, legal, and operations staff.

This position will also work closely with the Family Well-Being and Protection division to coordinate monitoring duties across programmatic, fiscal, and organizational monitoring.

Duties of this position include:

• Conducting contract monitoring, including analysis of contractor fiscal and administrative performance through desk audits or on-site reviews, adherence to contract requirements and timelines, gathering and interpreting data, overseeing improvement plans, and reporting results.
• Interpreting and communicating contractual requirements and laws/regulations affecting delivery of home visiting and early childhood services.
• Acting as a liaison between contractors and state personnel, including program policy staff and leadership. Communicates information between the parties and actively works to identify and resolve issues.
• Performing contracting activities, including issuing, or assisting with competitive procurement activities, contract negotiations, managing contracting documentation, approving claims in accordance with contract terms, and contract close-out activities.
• Participating in reviewing, making recommendations, and assisting with updating HHS contracting processes.
• Participating in reviewing, making recommendations, and assisting with updating programmatic policies related to contract performance or fiscal procedures.
• Managing administrative and support functions associated with federal IV-E claiming.

Requirements:

• Detail Oriented
• Minimum education and experience: High School Diploma or GED with at least two years of contract development or fiscal claims processing or contract monitoring experience
• Competent in Microsoft Office

The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple work demands with competing priorities

Benefits

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.
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Background Checks
Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA EmployerHHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visitwww.e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Seven years of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility).
2) All of the following (a, b, and c):
a. One year of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility); and
b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and
c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
3) Graduation from an accredited school of law.
4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes nine months of full-time work as a Program Planner 2 or twenty-seven months of full-time work as a Program Planner 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.