Digital Equity Program Manager

The State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Bureau of Information Technology Solutions (BITS) is hiring! We are now accepting applications for a Digital Equity Program Manager (Durational Project Manager). This role is full-time (40 hours/week), 9:00am-5:30pm, in Hartford, CT with hybrid telework options available. As the Digital Equity Program Manager, you will have the unique opportunity to help design and champion efforts to ensure that all residents have access to the tools and skills they need to participate fully in today's digital society.

Discover the Opportunity to:

• Design, manage, steward, and assess the State’s digital equity plan and programs against success measures.
• Collaborate with other State agencies to ensure alignment of digital equity efforts with strategic plans that address economic and workforce development goals, educational and health outcomes, civic and social engagement, and the delivery of essential services.
• Work closely with other State agencies, especially the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), and the Connecticut Education Network (CEN) to ensure alignment of digital equity work with Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program activities as well as mapping and other broadband efforts.
• Facilitate and capture inputs from digital equity core planning team meetings.
• Develop scope of work and requests for proposal, if necessary, for research, communications and outreach, and plan development.
• Lead selection of program’s research partners and other service providers; oversee and assess performance of all partners and providers.
• Develop presentations, outreach materials, and other public deliverables that expand awareness of and increase participation in digital equity initiatives and programming.
• Engage in direct and event-based outreach with community leaders, philanthropic organizations, municipalities, service providers, and other stakeholders to gauge needs around broadband availability, affordability, adoption, and use.
• Provide written and oral updates to stakeholders, including the Commission and other State agencies, on digital inclusion activities and progress.
• Design and steward program efforts to address the interests of covered populations, including but not limited to those experiencing socioeconomic challenges, individuals with disabilities (especially children), the aging, individuals with language barriers, those experiencing housing insecurity, veterans, and those who are incarcerated in State correctional facilities.
• Conduct analysis and make recommendations for program design based on various inputs, including surveys, focus groups, and other research.
• Suggest and implement improvements to the state digital equity plan and programs to maximize impact, appreciate cost savings, strengthen sustainability, and generate new insights into digital inclusion best practices.
• Manage contracts and agreements with partners and sub-grantees to support all aspects of planning and executing the digital equity plan from September 2023 through September 2028.
• Serve as liaison to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) staff, which oversee the federal Digital Equity programs.
• Ensure timely and accurate federal reporting of program performance.

Benefits: We offer a competitive starting salary, excellent state benefits package including health/dental insurance, generous paid time off, retirement plan options, alternate work schedules, and a culture that encourages work-life balance.

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• 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 assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

Important Information After You Apply:

• 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 questionnaire'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 or junk folder.
• 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.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact jennifer.neumann@ct.gov.

In a state agency makes or conducts a special inquiry, investigation, examination or installation pursuant to Section 5-198(n) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

• Bachelors degree.
• Masters degree in public administration, public policy, business administration or a closely related field.
• 5-9 years of experience in project management and development of timelines, resources, constraints, risks, and contingencies.
• At least (3) years of experience in program design, management, and assessment at the regional or state level to promote public access to technology.
• Experience with translating program objectives into partner responsibilities, scopes of work, and requests for proposal.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, social media, and Web content management tools.

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.