Contracts & Grants Administrator - Child Nutrition Programs

Overview

Are you passionate about supporting student success through improving school meals and student nutrition? Are you detail orientated and enjoy helping adults understand complex subjects? Do you thrive working in a team environment with significant independent work? If so, Child Nutrition Programs invites you to consider joining our team!

The Agency of Education (AOE) is seeking a Grants and Contracts Specialist focusing on technology systems for our Child Nutrition Programs. The AOE manages the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition programs in both school and organizational settings to ensure these programs are in compliance with federal and state regulations. In this position, you will be part of a four-member team within child nutrition programs that handles all aspects of child nutrition work related to financial management, procurement, and contracting in the child nutrition programs by Vermont schools, child cares, and non-profit organizations. This team is also responsible for administering several grants for schools and other non-profit organizations and managing the state-wide distribution of USDA Foods.

The overall duties of the position will focus on technology management of various online platforms used by Child Nutrition Programs. 

 

Major responsibilities of this position include:

• Contract Management:
  • Oversee the management and execution of noncompetitive technology implementation grants (nTIG) and other USDA Child Nutrition grants, ensuring budget compliance, reporting, and amendment drafting to secure funding for technology-related projects.
  • Manage ongoing IT contracts, including digital training platforms, by handling renewals, enhancements, procurement, and vendor communication to meet the Child Nutrition team's evolving training and communication needs.
• Technology Procurement:
  • Procure IT solutions to ensure compliance with language and accessibility requirements for Child Nutrition communications, collaborating with the Communications Team to identify gaps and develop RFPs.
  • Work with the Agency of Digital Services (ADS) to facilitate the procurement of the next version of a child nutrition grants management system, and research additional IT solutions to address program administration challenges.
• Platform Management:
  • Facilitate the maintenance and operations of the Harvest claims and application system, coordinating with the CN Business Analyst in ADS, conducting user acceptance testing, and collaborating with Subject Matter Experts to ensure new features meet program needs.
  • Manage content, user accounts, and support for digital training platforms (e.g., GoTo, Brighton, KnowledgeWave), handle ad hoc reporting requests, and triage HelpDesk inquiries, providing in-house support and escalating as needed.
• Technology Support:
  • Provide technology support to the field around Child Nutrition specific systems (point of sale systems, payment platforms, meal planning software, etc.)
  • Develop user guides to assist the field with online Child Nutrition platforms.

 

This is a limited-service, federal grant-funded position with funding currently in place until 9/30/2028. The position may be extended if additional grant funding becomes available, or shortened if the grant is terminated early. Work will be conducted primarily via remote work with occasional (monthly) in-person days required in Montpelier. The candidate should be located in Vermont or a neighboring state.

Who May Apply

This position, Contracts & Grants Administrator - Child Nutrition Programs (Job Requisition #52974), is open to all State employees and external applicants. This is a Limited Service position, which is non-tenured and authorized for a specific period of time. Limited Service positions are established for specially funded projects or programs. 
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Rosie Krueger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.

Environmental Factors

Duties are performed in a standard office setting, but may involve some travel for which private means of transportation is required. Some evening or overtime work may be necessary. Interaction with grantees, contractors and consultants through phone contact is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher AND two (2) years of work experience that includes one or more of the following: (a) administration of grants/contracts as a funder and/or recipient; (b) collaboration with community partners in the delivery of social