STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Connecticut Careers Trainee-Environmental Trainee

NEPA Unit

Recruitment #240611-1993FS-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is now recruiting for a Connecticut Careers Trainee (CCT)-Environmental Trainee in the NEPA Unit, part of the Office of Environmental Planning. This position is within the Bureau of Policy & Planning, at our headquarters, located in Newington, CT.  

WHAT WE OFFER

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Full Time, 40 hours per week
  • Monday through Friday
  • First shift
  • Location: Newington, CT
  • This position is in the P-4 (Engineering and Scientific) bargaining unit
  • This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. The Policy can be found HERE. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office. 


THE ROLE 
This Environmental Trainee position will report to a Transportation Supervising Planner or employee of a higher level in the NEPA Unit. 
The NEPA Unit is dedicated to ensuring conformance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) for transportation projects funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This unit is responsible for environmental reviews which involve an interdisciplinary and interagency process. 
Candidates should have education or experience with the NEPA process and the range of associated laws, executive orders and regulations which fall within its purview including but not limited to: Environmental Justice, The Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Historic Preservation Act.  

Unit responsibilities include determining proper class of action, documenting impacts of proposed actions (individually and cumulatively), documenting assessment of potential adverse effects, alternatives analysis and proposed mitigation strategies.  Candidates should also have education or experience applying regulations to written documents and processes.  The unit is also responsible for compliance with Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, along with the full suite of federal laws under the NEPA umbrella, and ensuring meaningful public engagement and involvement as required to fulfill NEPA and CEPA.  

This entry level position will be primarily responsible for coordination of the required State and federal environmental documents which involve day to day interaction with designers, consultants, as well as the State and Federal regulatory and funding agencies.  
This position will be responsible for: 
  • Conducting environmental review and analysis for design projects;
  • Collaboration with other units and Bureaus; 
  • Reviewing regulatory and guidance changes regarding NEPA and CEPA;
  • Aid with developing training to the Department staff and consultants.  
This position requires written and verbal communication skills and will be responsible for coordination with FTA, FHWA, FRA and Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (CT OPM) as well as participating in meetings with elected officials, stakeholders, and the public. 

APPOINTMENT
The length of the development program is determined by the experience and training requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent. At the completion of the development program incumbents must meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class. The program cannot be less than one (1) year and cannot exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.

Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service.

All appointments to this class shall be under terms of a development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. All development programs must be approved by the Department of Administrative Services prior to appointment to this class.

  • Eligibility for promotion to the target classification of Transportation Planner 1 is earned upon successful completion of the training program.
Target class: Transportation Planner 1
  • Candidates with a bachelor’s degree will serve a two (2) year training program.
  • Candidates with a master’s degree in a closely related field may be eligible for a shorter training period.
SALARY NOTE *effective 6/28/2024

First year of training: Bachelor's degree and/or qualifying experience: FS 15 Step 1 ($55,328/year) Master's degree: FS 15 Step 2 ($57,320/year)
Second year of training: General rate:  FS 15 Step 5 ($63,306/year)  
The salary for an employee who completes any of the above minimum requirements after initial appointment to the Connecticut Careers Trainee job class will be adjusted commensurate with the schedule above and effective the pay period following the date the master’s degree has been conferred or the pay period following the date the appropriate number of credits as indicated above have been earned.

For current state employees, compensation will be in accordance with guidelines for computing salary adjustments set forth by the Department of Administrative Services, Determining Salary Upon Change in Class manual.
      
ABOUT US
As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, accessible, and efficient multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving the State’s resources. DOT is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Selection Plan

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. 

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.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.

  • 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 read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

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.
  • 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 support 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.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

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 Jasmyn.Raymond@ct.gov
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions;
  • Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period;
  • Performs related duties as required.
  • Field work in all weather conditions may be required and travel primarily within the State will be necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to
    • acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification;
    • understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic;
    • read, interpret and understand written material;
    • perform basic arithmetical computations;
    • interpret charts, graphs and tables;
    • learn and reason;
    • establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public;
    • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Possession of a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in public administration, political science, environmental law, communications, environmental or regional planning, anthropology, environmental science, natural resources management, or closely related degree.
  • Experience with public outreach and fulfilling outreach and engagement requirements through course work, work experience, or internships.
  • Experience with federal and state laws, regulation and guidance associated with NEPA and CEPA, Environmental Justice, the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and the Transportation Act, among others, through course work, work experience, or internships.
  • Experience or training communicating and working collaboratively within a team and with external groups; through course work, work experience, or internships. 
  • Experience interpreting media such as aerial photography and mapping through course work, work experience, or internships.  
  • Experience developing presentations and effectively delivering complex materials to a variety of audiences, in both written and verbal formats through course work, work experience, or internships.
  • Experience utilizing Microsoft Office 365, ESRI ArcGIS and related software and interpreting other published documents and media such as aerial photography. 

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.