Policy Development Coordinator

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management's (OPM) Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division seeks to hire a Policy Development Coordinator. This is an exciting opportunity to perform in-depth analyses of the criminal justice system and to use research and data to improve the system’s effectiveness.    

In this position you will lead the division’s research unit, providing research and evaluation to help implement the administration’s criminal justice priorities.

The ideal candidate for this position will be organized, motivated, and possess a strong work ethic, as well as the ability to maintain working relationships with multiple stakeholders and the capacity to multi-task and adapt and navigate changing circumstances.

Please ensure that your application is complete and have included a resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application. Candidates who do not submit the required documents above will not be considered. Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: Carolyn Kozak at (860) 418-6324 or opm.recruitment@ct.gov.  

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, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

In the Office of Policy and Management this class is accountable for the cost analysis and research used to develop state government policy for the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. It coordinates the review, analysis, development and implementation of policy and programs for state agencies, towns and municipalities.

• Lead the Research, Policy and Evaluation Unit in the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, which includes the supervision of two staff.  
• Provide research and evaluation to help implement the administration’s criminal justice priorities.  
• Produce a variety of monthly, annual, and ad hoc reports to study and monitor programs within state criminal justice agencies.  Reports include, but are not limited to, the following:  
  • tracking prisoner recidivism rates;  
  • monitoring the efficacy of medication assisted treatment programs in Connecticut prisons;  
  • evaluating the utilization of community supervision capacity;  
  • predicting future capacity needs in the state’s prisons; and  
  • analyzing data related to the decision-making of prosecutors.  
• Work internally within the Division to evaluate and analyze effectiveness of programs funded using federal and state criminal justice grant dollars and to prepare grant compliance reports.  
• Work with state criminal justice agencies to collect, analyze and organize operational data and investigate new sources of data that may be necessary to enhance tracking, reporting, assessment and evaluation programs;  
• Liaise and maintain relationships with officials and staff at state and federal criminal justice agencies, community non-profits, victim advocacy groups, academic and external research organizations, and other stakeholders;  
• Act as the director of the Connecticut Statistical Analysis Center (“SAC”); coordinate with other state SAC directors and the Justice Research and Statistical Association (JRSA) to stay up to date on the use of research and analysis to make informed criminal justice policy and program decisions.  
• Prepare and provide presentations on criminal justice research and data at various forums including Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission (CJPAC), Prison and Jail Overcrowding Committee, and the Sentencing Commission;  
• Interpret and implement legislative mandates relating to criminal justice research, data and reporting.  
• Utilize a variety of software packages for data analysis, including GIS, statistical software, Excel, Access and data visualization software.

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration including policy development, coordination, cost benefit analysis and implementation; considerable knowledge of state, federal and municipal legislative processes; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to analyze and evaluate policy and programs; ability to coordinate and implement policy development activities and prepare and present effective reports and presentations.

Six (6) years of experience with major responsibility for the review, analysis, coordination and administration of policies and programs in a large governmental, public affairs or business organization.

1. 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.
2. A Master's degree in public administration or political science may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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

If you are requesting special accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact Carolyn Kozak at 860-418-6324 or carolyn.kozak@ct.gov.