STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Social Services Program Division Director

Hybrid

Recruitment #230531-1904MP-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is recruiting a Social Services Program Division Director for the Division of Health Services, Community Options Unit. 

What’s In It For You:
  • To work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule;
  • Comprehensive Benefits including Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage.
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
  • A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
About Us:
DSS delivers and funds a wide range of programs and services as Connecticut’s multi-faceted health and human services agency.  DSS serves about 1 million residents of all ages in all 169 Connecticut cities and towns.  We support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities.  Services are delivered through 12 field offices, central administration, and online and phone access options.

The Position:
  • Support HUSKY Health, the Medicaid program that serves approximately 1 million Connecticut residents and has a total budget of approximately $9 billion. 
  • Oversee approximately 150 staff
  • Oversee all aspects of our Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) offering, including strategy and operations - Total spending on these HCBS services is approximately $2 billion per year.  
  • Responsible for setting the overall direction of this critical portion of the program, including making key policy choices related to new programs and revising existing initiatives.  
  • Responsible managing pre-admission screening and medical necessity determinations for individuals entering nursing facilities; and fiscal intermediary services for Medicaid members who self-direct their services, managing our HCBS waivers, interacting with CMS, and overseeing the operations of our HCBS state plan services.  
The role will involve substantial collaboration that is external to DSS, including with Connecticut partners (Connecticut General Assembly and sister state agencies – Departments of Mental Health & Addiction Services and Developmental Services and Office of Policy and Management) and with partners at the Centers for Medicaid and CHIP Services.

Schedule:
  • Full-time, 40 hours per week
  • First (1st) shift
  • Monday - Friday
  • 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
  • Hartford, CT
Discover the opportunity to: 
  • Engage in a rewarding career
  • Assist our employees so they can achieve success
  • Make a difference in the public sector
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment  
About the State of Connecticut: 
Living in Connecticut allows you to live with mountains, forests, ocean fronts, rivers, and a wonderful green countryside right at your doorstep. The state has charm, elegance, and a high standard of living. Our school systems offer an outstanding education, and our communities are among the safest in the country. Connecticut experiences all four seasons and gives you the option to choose living in sophisticated country-life or living in the center of a lively city. 

We encourage you to come see all that Connecticut has to offer by joining the DSS team!

Selection Plan

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Christopher Lavallee at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Social Services this class is accountable for directing the design, development and implementation of multiple state and federal programs.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Directs staff and operations of division; 
  • Coordinates, plans and manages program development and all other division activities; 
  • Formulates program goals and objectives;
  • Coordinates development of related policy and regulations;
  • Interprets and administers pertinent laws; 
  • Evaluates staff;
  • Participates in preparation of division budget; 
  • Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact on program activities; 
  • Oversees development of state and federal plans and preparation of state and federal reports; 
  • Ensures consistency in delivery of related services throughout agency; 
  • Monitors program activities and development of related corrective action plans; 
  • Ensures technical assistance to agency offices for pertinent programs; 
  • Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and statistical reporting data;
    • programs administered through department; 
    • principles and methods of social services administration;
    • legislative process; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

    Ten (10) years of professional experience in the delivery of social or human services programs.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

    Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

    • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
    • A Master's degree in social work, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

    • Experience with Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) including experience with the strategy and operations sides
    • Experience with Medicaid HCBS policy, including experience with Medicaid waivers (such as 1915(c)) and programs like Community First Choice (CFC), and experience working with CMS
    • Experience executing on large projects, as measured by a track record of successful launch and management on projects with $5 million or more budgets and 30 or more team members and contractors.
    • Experience managing large and diverse teams, large budgets, and large contracts
    • Volunteer, life or professional experience working with members or low-income population.
    • Experience serving members through a person-centered policy and informed choice approach.
    • Excellent communication skills, as demonstrated by having experience with a substantial external-facing component.

    Conclusion

    AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.


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