Office Of Policy And Management Assistant Division Director

Introduction

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is currently accepting applications from its agency employes to fill an OPM Assistant Division Director position in the Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD).

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings.
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.
• Generous paid time off including thirteen (13) paid holidays.
• A culture that encourages work/life balance.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• 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.

The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

HIGHLIGHTS

This is a full time (40 hours per week) position conveniently located in Hartford, CT.  

• LOCATION: OPM, Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division
• ADDRESS: 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
• WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week
• SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Assist the Senior Policy Advisor in the Division to lead OPM efforts in coordinating policy development, leading policy negotiations with legislators and key stakeholders, and coordinating cross-agency budget and planning efforts. 
• Assist in the development of HHS related budget and policy proposals, including Governor’s legislative package and budget implementing legislation.
• Help coordinate state agency responses that impact social safety-net services and funding, emergent public health issues, and health care system capacity and planning.

Selection Plan

Please Note: In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee at the agency listed above 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.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

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Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. 

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the 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.
• 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.

After You Apply: 

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board daily to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment 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 daily in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 
• 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. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used 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.
• 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.

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. 
• If have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact opm.recruitment@ct.gov. 
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn. 

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Office of Policy and Management this class is accountable for assisting in directing the activities of the various subdivisions in the areas of research, plans and policy development, planning reviews, coordination, program development and administration.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

In this position the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Assist the Senior Policy Advisor in the Division to lead OPM efforts in coordinating policy development, leading policy negotiations with legislators and key stakeholders, and coordinating cross-agency budget and planning efforts. Assist in the development of HHS related budget and policy proposals, including Governor’s legislative package and budget implementing legislation;
• Help coordinate state agency responses that impact social safety-net services and funding, emergent public health and safety issues, and health care system capacity and planning;
• Coordinate policy development across state agencies, including federal block grants, and manage effective implementation of health and human services initiatives across core HHS state agencies;
• Advocate for the Administration’s policy objectives at the General Assembly and on quasi-public agencies, boards and legislative committees;
• Assist in maintaining contacts/relationships as well as help  lead policy negotiations with legislators, industry associations (e.g. hospitals, insurance association, medical society, nursing and other health care organizations) and key constituencies to advance OPM/Division priorities; 
• Lead the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interviewing and selection;
• Build and effectively manage a team, with a focus on developing staff skills and capacity through cross-training and coaching;
• Review and help manage the Division budget and vendor contracts; and
• Perform related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • principles and practices of public administration; 
  • principles and practices of state planning;
• Knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • research and statistical analysis;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of experience in research, statistics, planning, management or policy analysis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the supervisory level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in administration, planning or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience advocating policy positions with the Connecticut General Assembly;
• Experience working with the policy development process and formulation across multiple state agencies and external stakeholders; 
• Experience negotiating legislation among key stakeholders and legislators;
• Experience directing state agencies and coordinating multi-agency responses to emerging health care and human services issues (both legislative and policy implementation);
• Experience working with state health care affordability strategies, health care quality and financial sustainability of health systems; and
• Experience building and leading teams. 

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.