STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Press Secretary

Executive Assistant 1

Recruitment #240226-3501EX-001

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Introduction


The State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State (SOTS) is currently seeking dynamic, passionate individuals eager to contribute their experience to the executive team as Press Secretary (Executive Assistant 1). Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, superlative benefits, and a culture that encourages work/life balance. 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’:  State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023
  • Comprehensive health and dental insurance, providing you with peace of mind and access to quality healthcare
  • Robust pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings to secure your financial future
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, personal days, and 13 holidays per calendar year
  • We are an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, which means you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
  • A culture that recognizes the importance of work/life balance and offers alternate work schedules and telecommuting options
  • Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut
  • Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Full-Time, 40 hours per week
  • Monday through Friday
  • Location: Hartford, CT
  • Due to the nature of this role’s responsibilities, the incumbent will be required to occasionally work evening and on weekends.
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
  • You want to use your out-of-the-box thinking, creative energy, and superb management skills to get more voters engaged. 
  • You value providing prompt quality service and improving access to information.
  • You’re able to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines and quickly generate solutions to problems. 
  • You’re incredibly organized and can prioritize workflow to execute multiple projects at the same time. 
  • You have creative passion and experience designing and creating graphics and other digital assets and evaluating social media strategy to penetrate hard-to-reach audiences.
  • You’re familiar with government press operations, the Secretary of the State’s legislative agenda, and Connecticut electoral issues; 
  • You want to do work that matters and want to build a better Connecticut with the Office of the Secretary of the State.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Serve as the office’s media connector, working closely with the Communications Director to execute a dynamic communications plan to elevate civic engagement and the work of the Office of the Secretary of the State;
  • Manage and build relationships with local and national media, and connect the Office with constituent communities around the state;
  • Manage the planning, creation, and posting of social media content;
  • Monitor social media for trending topics;
  • Write press releases, talking points, speeches, op-eds, newsletters, legislative testimony and other written materials;
  • Distribute daily press clips and stay informed about current events across the state and country for their impact on the Secretary and mission of the office;
  • Field and respond to media inquiries;
  • Help design and implement media, public relations, and communications strategies for the Secretary;
  • Staff the Secretary at press events;
  • Catalogue all media stories mentioning the Secretary and office;
  • Maintain and update press distribution list;
  • Assist with managing logistics for public-facing events, both virtual and in-person;
  • Remain abreast of current legislative and non-legislative issues about which the Secretary may be questioned;
  • Work closely with Communications Director to determine the best way to communicate the Secretary’s work;
  • Assist with other duties as assigned.
ABOUT US
Through the dedication of knowledgeable staff and advanced technology, the Office of the Secretary of the State works as a team to provide a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut. We are a repository of records for the state and provide important information and resources regarding business and commercial filings, elections, and authentication as prescribed by the constitution, and federal and state laws. We seek to bolster business development opportunities, and foster a more inclusive political process by educating, informing and engaging communities in youth and civic preparation.

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas is committed to promoting the importance of both civic education and civic engagement across the state. Recognizing knowledge is power, she is focused on teaching Connecticut residents how to navigate government and advocate for their own interests, as well as breaking down barriers that might prevent people from engaging with their government. She sees the Secretary of the State’s office as not only a place where residents can go for information and tools to use, but also the office to actually go into the communities to bring the information and tools to the residents.

This position is located in Hartford, Connecticut and part of the Executive team, who are dedicated, passionate and fun individuals working to create the change they wish to see in the world.  The work is challenging, the days can sometimes be long, but the reward is great.

Selection Plan

For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page

APPLYING FOR THE POSITION
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Judicial or Legislative) to the other.
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date of the job opening, unless otherwise specified. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
  • Ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. To comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut no longer requests resumes during the initial application process. Once your application is submitted into the JobAps system, you cannot make revisions.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the specified deadline. Late applications will not be considered. Candidates may request a rare and documented exception for events that incapacitate them during the entire duration of the job posting period by providing a legally-recognized justification to accommodate such an exception. Requests may be made to anne.dana@ct.gov.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING
  • Applicants will receive correspondence via email, and are also encouraged to monitor their Personal Status Board daily for status updates, notices, and tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Some postings may require additional referral questions (RQs). You will receive an email with these questions after the posting’s closing date. Check your email and Personal Status Board for notifications, including your spam or junk folders. 
  • You may be required to submit additional documentation supporting your qualifications at any point during the recruitment process. The documentation may include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, or licensure, at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, but your application may be considered for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates offered a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US
  • Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot confirm receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • If you have any questions about this recruitment, please contact Anne Dana at anne.dana@ct.gov.  
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

Acts as an executive assistant to a state elective officer or department head as defined in Section 4-5 of the Connecticut General Statutes and performs such duties as are assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in a communications or press relations role for an elected official, a government agency or non-profit organization.
  • Experience managing social media content, including developing strategy, writing copy, and creating content for social media posts. 
  • Experience writing press releases, talking points and other communications materials for a high-level executive or elected official.
  • Experience managing event logistics.
  • Experience communicating and presenting to a diverse population, demonstrating verbal and written communication, including interaction with reporters and media outlets.
  • Experience creating and editing videos, graphics, and other digital assets in Photoshop, Canva, and other design software.

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, veterans, 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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