Director of Government Relations

Are you a self-starting government relations professional with experience working in a fast-paced legislative environment?

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is recruiting for an Executive Assistant 1 position to serve in the role of Agency Director of Government Relations.

The selected candidate will be appointed as authorized by Section 5-198(10) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Successful candidates will have five (5) years of professional government relations experience OR a combination of three (3) years of professional government relations experience with an advanced degree.

NOTE: Professional government relations work may include experience as: legislative liaison/aide/correspondent/affairs, public affairs/relations/policy, lobbyist, counsel, etc. An advanced degree would be a masters degree, law degree or equivalent. 

• This is a full time (40 hours per week), unclassified position located centrally in Middletown, CT, however a portion of the job will be spent at The Capitol and the State Legislature in Hartford, CT. 
• This position will be considered on-site, however a flexible schedule and situational telework by request are possible.

YOUR ROLE

The Director of Government Relations will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a legislative agenda, working primarily at the state level, but also including municipal and federal work as well. This position will work in consultation with the Office of the Governor and the Office of Policy and Management, developing and executing government relations strategies to promote the agency’s goals and objectives. 

More details can be found in "Example of Duties" section below or in the class specification. 

The handbook for appointed officials may be accessed here. 

ABOUT OUR AGENCY

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology.

DESPP is comprised of six divisions:

• Commission on Fire Prevention and Control
• Connecticut State Police
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security
• Police Officers Standards and Training Council
• Scientific Services
• Statewide Emergency Telecommunications

You may learn more about our divisions and access their individual websites here.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here.

Learn more about what it's like to be a state employee: 

This is an unclassified and appointed recruitment, open to the public.

The selected candidate will be appointed as authorized by Section 5-198(10) of the Connecticut General Statutes. More information about appointed positions can be found here.

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.

IMPORTANT NOTES FROM DESPP:

Candidate selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:

State Employees:

• Two (2) most recent performance evaluations and a completed CT-HR-13 form.

Non-State Employees:

• Two (2) professional references contact information (Name, Email and Phone Number) and a completed CT-HR-13 form.

Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation. Click here to complete the Criminal Convictions addendum.

Also considered in this selection process: Any pending or disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records. Failure to provide the required documents listed above or submit your application accurately and on time, will eliminate you from the recruitment process.

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 Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

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.

• In consultation with the Office of the Governor and the Office of Policy and Management, develop and execute government relations strategies to promote the agency’s goals and objectives.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory activities at the local, state, and federal levels, and provide timely updates to internal stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to advocate for the agency.
• Represent the agency at meetings, hearings, and other relevant events to ensure our voice is heard and our concerns are addressed.
• Collaborate with internal teams to analyze the impact of proposed regulations and legislation on the agency, and develop appropriate responses and action plans.
• Conduct research and analysis on government policies, initiatives, and trends that may impact the agency.
• Prepare and testimony, presentations, reports, and other materials to effectively communicate the agency’s positions and priorities to government officials and other stakeholders.
• Engage in coalition building and partnership development with internal and external stakeholders to amplify our advocacy efforts.
• Stay informed about best practices and trends to continuously improve our strategies and approaches.

• Bachelor's degree; master's or law degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in government relations, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience successfully advocating for an organization's interests in government settings.
• Experience working with relevant laws, regulations, and policies affecting public safety, law enforcement, emergency management or related areas.
• Experience working with government officials and policymakers at various levels.
• Strong network and relationships with key stakeholders in the government and advocacy community.
• Experience working effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to travel as needed for meetings, conferences, and other relevant events

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.

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.