Assistant Legal Director(Hybrid)

Introduction

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact on the health and safety of our clients through expert legal leadership? Join our team as an Assistant Legal Director, where you’ll work closely with the Legal Director to represent the commissioner and agency. In this role, you’ll review legislative proposals, oversee policy revisions and contracts, and lead the legal team to deliver timely and effective support. Make a difference while advancing your career in a dynamic and collaborative environment—apply today!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Central Office, is seeking a dedicated individual for the role of Assistant Legal Director, based in Hartford. In this role, you will:

• Coordinate and lead legal professionals to ensure seamless operations and fulfill staffing requirements effectively.
• Provide timely legal support and strategic direction to the agency for consistent compliance and performance.
• Develop and implement comprehensive training programs, including creating materials and delivering live presentations for staff and the agency.
• Collaborate with workgroups to revise agency policies and procedures, ensuring clarity and alignment with organizational goals.
• Review and edit policies, contracts, and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for accuracy and consistency.

Success in this role requires a strong blend of organizational expertise and social skills, demonstrated by managing multiple units of professional and support staff. Experience reviewing and editing key documents such as contracts and MOUs, ensures high-quality outcomes. A commitment to collaboration, and delivering world-class legal services is vital, along with the flexibility to adapt to agency needs and align with its mission.

Comprehensive Benefits

We prioritize the well-being of our employees and recognize the importance of maintaining a harmonious work-life balance. Alongside competitive compensation, we provide a range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• 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.

Become part of a collaborative, ambitious team dedicated to making a meaningful difference. Together, we strive to deliver exceptional services and support, creating a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and enriching our community.

Selection Plan

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page or view our tutorial.
• The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Edward Magnano, EEO Manager at (860) 418-6148 or Edward.Magnano@ct.gov.
• 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. 
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  
• 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 question'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. 
• 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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 
• Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Liz Pinette at elizabeth.pinette@ct.gov.
• This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• 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 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.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a large state agency, this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of legal staff engaged in the legal work of the agency and works closely with the Office of the Attorney General on all legal matters.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Support the Legal Director in representing the commissioner and the agency.
• Ensure all legislative proposals, policy revisions, updates, and contracts are thoroughly reviewed by legal staff.
• Manage the legal team to ensure smooth operations and address staffing needs effectively.
• Provide timely legal support and direction to the agency.
• Contribute to efforts that directly impact the health and safety of individuals supported by the agency.
• Performs related duties as required.
• More information can be found here.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principals and practices;
  • and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act and civil procedures;
  • legal practices and procedures in state and federal courts;
• Knowledge of legislative process;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • administrative ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Organizational and interpersonal experience managing multiple units of professional and support staff.
• Ability to develop training programs, including materials and live presentations for unit staff and agency.
• Experience with workgroups revising agency policy and procedure, and reviewing and editing policy, contracts, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).
• The candidate should have significant experience in litigation management including civil and criminal matters, and at the Appellate level.
• The candidate should have significant knowledge of the state’s criminal statutes and applicability to agency’s medical certification and background check processes.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

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.