Grant and Policy Manager - Return Utah

Grant and Policy Manager - Return Utah

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Benefits Eligibility – This position is eligible for a full benefits package.
Salary – $25.90 - $53.87 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Coral Ortega | caortega@utah.gov
Application Deadline – 11/21/2026*

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The Return Utah program is a formal career reentry program, designated for Utahns desiring to re-enter the workforce after a career break. Along with a state job and traditional on-the-job training, Return Utah roles provide 16-weeks of transitional support (similar to an internship) which includes an office technology review, coaching, career development, mentorship, networking opportunities and job market readiness training.

To be eligible for this return-to-work opportunity candidates:

• Must have a career break of one year or more at the time of application
  (unless the candidate is affiliated with the military in any way including as a military spouse/partner), or
• Demonstrate underemployed at the time of application
  and
• Have prior professional/life experience in a functional area of interest.

This is a temporary, time-limited position expected to last approximately six years. Successful completion of the 16-week Return Utah program allows participants to continue through the project term; conversion to a permanent career service role is not guaranteed and depends on funding, performance, and agency needs.

This position may be filled at any of the advertised levels listed below. Salary depends on the job level offered within the series. While the full series pay range is listed below, the anticipated starting rate for this hire is $35.00 – $38.00 per hour.

Job Description

The Grant and Policy Manager serves a pivotal role in designing and executing the Utah Division of Drinking Water’s emerging contaminants (EC) initiatives, with a key focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perchlorate, manganese, and other critical water quality concerns. While a primary responsibility of this role is directing and managing the multi-million-dollar Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant, the position also provides broad planning and implementation support across the entirety of the Division’s EC Program. Duties span federal grant writing, work plan development, Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) creation, administrative rule writing, development of State primacy applications, budget oversight, and regulatory compliance with federal and state purchasing standards. Combining program development, federal grant administration, policy analysis, and technical writing, this role delivers essential financial and technical assistance to Utah water suppliers—primarily those serving small and disadvantaged communities—in close collaboration with Division staff, local health departments, contracted laboratories, technical service providers, and key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

EC-SDC Grant Administration & Compliance Oversight:

• Grant Lifecycle Management: Lead the preparation, application, and strategic administration of the multi-million dollar EC-SDC federal grant, establishing compliant work plans and balanced budgets aligned with Division goals and priorities.
• EPA Coordination & Compliance: Serve as the primary point of contact for quarterly EPA meetings, required federal reporting, audit preparation, and grant amendment requests (budget and work plan adjustments).
• Subcontract & Procurement Oversight: Develop Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scope-of-work documents, and contracts in accordance with State of Utah purchasing rules. Review invoices, coordinate with participating local health departments, and direct external technical support agreements.
• Provide general implementation oversight on the day-to-day tasks associated with the EC-SDC Sampling Assistance Program.

Program Development & Implementation Support:

• Planning and Policy Support: Conduct policy analyses to guide program development and implementation in alignment with Division priorities and goals
• Technical Assistance Integration: Link sampling initiatives with the Division's monitoring/reporting compliance framework. Direct qualifying water suppliers to state technical assistance leads, State Revolving Fund (SRF) teams, and Division Field Services Cybersecurity and Emergency Response Planning staff.
• Funding Identification & Grant Acquisition: Track, identify, and evaluate emerging funding opportunities and lead or coordinate competitive and non-competitive grant applications and proposals to secure sustained financial resources in support of the Division’s broader Emerging Contaminants Program.
• Data Coordination: Support data tracking systems and collaborate with technical leads on tools such as the PFAS GIS Mapping initiative, sampling initiatives, and others.

Technical Writing & Communication:

• Rulemaking & Primacy Documentation: Lead and contribute to the development of State drinking water primacy packages to secure EPA approval. Draft administrative rules, regulatory justification memos, and the policy frameworks, implementation processes, and compliance tracking tools needed to meet statutory deadlines and federal primacy requirements.
• Technical Writing: Author and refine complex technical documents supporting the EC Program, including Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policy recommendations, technical guidance for water operators, compliance reports, and state contract scopes of work.
• Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and maintain technical web content and educational resources for the Division’s EC program; represent the Division at conferences and public forums; and cultivate positive relationships with public water suppliers, local health departments, certified laboratories, technical service providers, and other community partners

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated Technical Writing Expertise: Advanced proficiency in professional technical writing, characterized by the ability to produce clear, concise, accurate, and structured documentation. Must have a proven track record of authoring complex technical documents such as Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), state contracts, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), federal grant work plans, policy briefs, and regulatory compliance reports.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in program administration, regulatory compliance, contract/project management, or technical writing within a public sector or environmental framework.
• Regulatory & Policy Comprehension: Demonstrated ability to read, analyze, and interpret State and federal rules and regulations, administrative rules, and statutory mandates.
• Financial & Budget Literacy: Solid command of fundamental budgeting principles, financial oversight, expenditure tracking, and cost estimation for program initiatives.
• Data Management & Software: Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Excel for data organization, reporting, and financial tracking) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets).
• Self-Direction & Team Leadership: Exceptional interpersonal skills paired with a high degree of self-motivation—capable of driving major initiatives independently while functioning as an effective team player across Division leads and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Environmental Science, Engineering, Technical Writing, Communication, Urban/Regional Planning, or closely related field.
• Federal Grant Administration: Documented success in researching, writing, securing, and administering multi-million dollar federal grant programs.
• Procurement & Contracting: Direct operational experience with the State of Utah purchasing rules, state contracting procedures, subcontractor monitoring, and vendor oversight.
• Subject Matter Knowledge: Advanced understanding and experience with federal drinking water emerging contaminants, including PFAS, perchlorate, and manganese; drinking water sampling compliance frameworks; and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) standards.

Supplemental Information:

• Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
  
• Work requires physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.

Job Series

The selected candidate for this position may be hired as an Environmental Scientist I with a salary range of $25.90- $38.90 per hour, an Environmental Scientist II with a salary range of $30.47 - $45.78 per hour, or an Environmental Scientist III with a salary range of $35.85 - $53.87 per hour.

About the Role

Location –
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84116
United States
Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – TL - Time limited - This is a temporary position, anticipated to last approximately six years. The position may be considered for conversion to a career service role contingent on funding, performance, and organizational needs.

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency
For more information about the Department of Environmental Quality and the Division of Drinking Water, click here.

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.