State Program Manager- Climate Planning

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Office of Climate Planning currently has an opening for a Climate Mitigation State Program Manager position.

What we can offer you

• Visit our newState 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

Position highlights

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Climate Planning, this position will manage the office’s climate mitigation strategies program. This program will include identifying, assessing, and implementing greenhouse gas emission reductions strategies across the Buildings, Transportation, Electric, Waste, Industry, and Natural and Working Lands sectors through the development of a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the State of Connecticut.

Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Directing operations of climate mitigation strategies planning program and projects, including consulting teams and climate planning staff.
• Coordinating, planning, and managing climate mitigation strategies program, identifying gaps, and evaluating the efficacy of greenhouse gas emission reductions strategies across the Buildings, Transportation, Electric, Waste, Industry, and Natural and Working Lands sectors, including assuring the equitable distribution of benefits across environmental justice communities.
• Managing consultants conducting climate mitigation strategies analyses to meet statutory greenhouse gas emissions targets.
• Formulating goals and objectives for climate mitigation.
• Contributing to the preparation of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
• Developing or assisting in development of climate mitigation related policy.
• Interpreting and administering climate mitigation laws.
• Providing input or evaluates consultant performance.
• Preparing or assists in preparation of budget for contracts to undertake climate mitigation strategies analysis.
• Maintaining contact with individuals within and outside of the agency who might impact the state’s climate mitigation programs and/or project activities, including ensuring alignment of DEEP’s climate mitigation strategies across DEEP’s branches and across climate offices in sister agencies.
• Serving on committees and/or and task forces as required.
• Speaking before professional and lay groups on subjects related to DEEP’s climate mission.
• Leading the selection of consultants through procurement.
• Monitoring how climate mitigation strategies are being integrated into existing and new agency policy and planning efforts.
• Leading the pursuit of funding opportunities to advance these areas.

This is a full-time (40 hours), hybrid position, Monday-Friday.

About us

CT DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting Connecticut's natural resources and environment as well as making affordable, clean and reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in building Connecticut's green economy and fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future.

DEEP's Office of Climate Planning is located in the Office of the Commissioner and as such advises agency leadership on plans and policies to equitably and affordably plan for Connecticut's transition to a decarbonized economy and to enhance the climate resiliency of our natural and built environment. The Office works in partnership with the Energy, Environmental Conservation, and Environmental Quality branches of DEEP to meet the state's statutory emissions reduction goals of 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 and a zero-carbon electric supply by 2040; as well as addressing the impacts of climate change on the state and its communities.

The Office takes a leading role on interagency and public participation in the climate planning process, including administering the Governor's Council on Climate Change, the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Climate Action Plans, and coordinating the implementation of climate policy through legislation, executive orders, and government plans and programs. The office participates in the implementation of ongoing and emerging federal funding opportunities for climate action - primarily through EPA, DOE, NOAA, and FEMA – with the historic funding investments of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. This work includes assisting partners in local government, regional Councils of Governments, and environmental organizations to compete for federal grants for climate mitigation and resilience. The office conducts these activities with a focus on equity and environmental justice to ensure the costs and benefits of climate mitigation are shared and that vulnerable communities are prioritized in climate adaptation and resilience strategies.

The Office also coordinates Connecticut's commitments to national and international climate action, including representing the state in the US Climate Alliance.

Selection Plan

Before you 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.
• 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.

Important information for 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.
• 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.

Questions about this position should be directed to Mackenzie Robinson at mackenzie.robinson@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for planning, organizing and directing an agency program and/or project or directing the development and administration of programs within a division.  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives administrative direction from an administrative official of higher grade.  

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Directs staff as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and/or operations of an agency program and/or project or division; 
• Coordinates, plans and manages program and/or project activities;
• Formulates goals and objectives; 
• Develops or assists in development of related policy;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws; 
• Provides input or evaluates staff; 
• Prepares or assists in preparation of budget; 
• Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of agency who might impact on program and/or project activities;
• Serves on committees and/or task forces as required; 
• Speaks before professional and lay groups on subjects related to the agency mission; 
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • project management; 
  • principles and practices of business and public administration with emphasis on effective organization, administration and management 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to analyze organizational problems and determine effective solutions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in the specific area of assignment.

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 business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• Department of Labor: Two (2) years of experience as an Apprenticeship and Training Program Manager may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.    

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience coordinating, planning or managing an environmental, climate, or energy program or project;
• Experience formulating environmental, climate, or energy program or project goals and objectives;
• Experience developing or implementing environmental, climate, or energy law or policy;
• Experience drafting scopes of work and budgets;
• Experience managing staff or consultants;
• Experience communicating in writing and in person with government stakeholders and the public on environment, climate, or energy topics;
• Experience with local, state, or federal program development, deployment, reporting, or administration;
• Experience in any of the following: climate change mitigation (greenhouse gas emissions reduction) strategy planning; greenhouse gas emissions modeling; environmental justice; air quality, energy or utility policy; renewable energy; energy efficiency; building decarbonization; transportation decarbonization; air pollution; engineering; economics; urban planning; sustainability; or environmental science

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.