Snap EBT Planning Consultant

Job Title: SNAP EBT Planning Consultant Location: Pierre, SD (Remote with required onsite travel) Duration: 2+ years Type: Contract Job Description : We are seeking an experienced SNAP EBT Planning Consultant to support the Client in planning, procuring, implementing, and testing the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefits Transfer (SNAP EBT) system. The consultant will ensure compliance with USDA/FNS requirements, federal regulations, FNS Handbook 901, and applicable EBT industry standards, including Quest operating rules. Key Responsibilities:

• Review, update, and develop the SNAP EBT Request for Proposal (RFP), incorporating federal regulations, policy guidance, business requirements, technical specifications, and industry standards.
• Coordinate with USDA/FNS on procurement activities, Advanced Planning Documents (APDs), recommendations, and required approvals.
• Develop RFP evaluation plans, technical and cost scoring criteria, pricing evaluation structures, training materials, and evaluation summaries.
• Prepare and submit Implementation Advanced Planning Documents (IAPDs) and updates (IAPDUs), including project plans, functional requirements, system design, capacity studies, security planning, training plans, schedules, resource requirements, cost allocation, and budgets.
• Ensure project timelines, milestones, and deliverables align with USDA/FNS deadlines and federal compliance requirements.
• Develop and manage comprehensive test plans covering unit, integration, performance, end-to-end, user acceptance, regression, and fail-safe testing.
• Coordinate testing activities with the EBT processor and validate system functionality, security, performance, recovery, system controls, and compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Lead System Acceptance Testing (SAT), develop test cases and scripts, establish Go/No-Go criteria, and prepare contingency plans for potential implementation delays or system failures.
• Train state personnel on evaluation procedures, testing tools, and user acceptance testing activities.
• Document test results, review testing completeness, support regression testing, and submit test evaluation reports to USDA/FNS for review and approval.
• Maintain project documentation, technical specifications, schedules, evaluation materials, test results, and implementation deliverables.

Required Qualifications :

• Demonstrated experience in SNAP EBT planning, procurement, implementation, or system modernization.
• Strong knowledge of USDA/FNS regulations, federal SNAP requirements, FNS Handbook 901, and EBT industry standards.
• Experience developing RFPs, Advanced Planning Documents (APDs/IAPDs), project plans, and procurement evaluation criteria.
• Experience with system testing, including integration, performance, end-to-end, user acceptance, regression, and acceptance testing.
• Strong understanding of system requirements, security, interfaces, testing methodologies, implementation planning, and risk management.
• Excellent documentation, communication, stakeholder coordination, and training skills.
• Ability to work remotely and travel to South Dakota for required meetings, testing, and project activities.