STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Associate Director of Community Options

Social Services Program Administration Manager

Recruitment #240807-2490MP-001

Introduction



Unique Opportunity 

Join our team at the State of Connecticut: Department of Social Services (DSS) as a Social Services Program Administration Manager. This unique opportunity allows you to make a significant impact in the lives of individuals and families in need within our community. As the Associate Director of Community Options, you will play a crucial role in overseeing major contracts and ensuring compliance with state and federal mandates related to Home and Community Based Services.

Responsibilities
  • Manage and provide oversight for major contracts and programs within Home and Community Based Services, ensuring flawless execution and adherence to regulations.
  • Collaborate with the Director to establish program goals, objectives, and policies, ensuring they align with the overall mission and vision of the Department of Social Services.
  • Lead a multi-disciplinary team, providing guidance, support, and mentorship to promote an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
  • Implement and maintain quality assurance measures to continuously improve the delivery of services and promote exceptional outcomes for individuals and families.
  • Use data analytics to evaluate program performance, identify areas for enhancement, and create data-driven strategies to improve service delivery.
At State of Connecticut, we prioritize the well-being of our employees and recognize the importance of maintaining a harmonious work-life balance. Alongside competitive compensation, we provide a range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
Position Details
  • Hybrid
  • Monday through Friday  
  • 40 Hours Per Week 
  • 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.
Join Our Team
By joining us, you will be part of a dedicated team that strives to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in our community. We offer a supportive and collaborative work environment where your contributions are valued and recognized. As a valued member of our team, you will have the opportunity to work alongside passionate professionals who are committed to delivering exceptional services. Together, we can make a difference and transform lives.

We deliver and fund a wide range of programs and services to over 1 million residents of all ages across Connecticut. Deploying over $9B in benefits each year, we support the basic needs of children, families, older and other adults, including persons with disabilities. Further we seek to provide person-centered services, streamline access to critical services and maximize economic security and well-being, and opportunity.

If you are a highly motivated and ambitious individual with a passion for social services, we want to hear from you. Take the next step in your career by applying today. Please submit your application through our online employment center.

Selection Plan

  • Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page or view our tutorial. 

  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.  
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.   
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.  
  • Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.  
  • Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Liz Pinette at elizabeth.pinette@ct.gov.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 
  • 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. 
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addictions Services, Social Services, and the Office of Early Childhood this class is accountable for managing program/policy planning, development, implementation and monitoring for a major agency program area.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Manages staff and/or operations of unit/program;
  • Implements social services programs/policies;
  • Coordinates, plans and manages unit/program activities;
  • Formulates program goals and objectives through the review of agency data;
  • Develops or assists in development of related policy;
  • Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
  • Coordinates research, data analysis and program planning efforts;
  • Monitors, analyzes and evaluates programs/policies to determine cost-effectiveness and quality of service;
  • Identifies and coordinates training needs;
  • Advises leadership of legislative, legal or other program/policy impacts and recommends an appropriate position;
  • Monitors all internally and externally initiated program/policy changes;
  • Researches, prepares and presents testimony to legislative committees, study committees and courts regarding social services issues;
  • Evaluates staff;
  • Prepares or assists in budget preparation;
  • Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact program activities;
  • Acts as agency contact with state, federal and community agencies on social services to ensure service delivery;
  • Participates in 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;
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • social services programs, early childhood programs, deaf and hard of hearing programs, programs for older adults and/or programs for individuals with intellectual disability or behavioral health issues;
    • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • Knowledge of community organizations and social services agencies;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Considerable ability to interpret complex written material including legal narrative and to assess the impact thereof on programmatic goals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience in the delivery of social services programs and/or policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity with programmatic and administrative responsibility for a regional or statewide social services program.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Program Manager, Operations Manager, Public Assistance Consultant, Planning Specialist and Associate Accountant.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in social work, public administration, accounting, early childhood education or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree in the human service field or public administration.
  • Experience working in home and community-based services.
  • Experience managing multiple contracts of $1 million annually or a contract that serves more than 5,000 individuals per year
  • Experience with administration and maintenance of a collecting bargaining agreement.
  • Experience leading a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience in quality assurance management in a human service programs.
  • Experience with data analytics.

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.