Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director

At the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.  The mission of the Bureau of Natural Resources is to conserve and enhance Connecticut’s fish, wildlife and forest resources and to enhance opportunities for public use and appreciation. 

The Bureau is made up of three Divisions (Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife) and a central office.

The Fisheries Division has a current opportunity for an Assistant Division Director. This position will be responsible for overseeing the Marine Fisheries Program, including directing the policy and the regulatory and technical programs associated with Marine Fisheries. This includes in-state, interstate and federal fisheries management arenas.  

This position will be located at Marine District Headquarters in Old Lyme, CT. 

This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, Mon - Fri.

Applicants must upload a cover letter and resume with their applications. (Note: In order to upload documents you must ensure that your internet browser's 'pop-up' blocker is off.  Failure to do so may prevent you from being able to upload documentation and submit your application.)  Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  Teresa Munson,teresa.munson@ct.gov, (860)424-3187. 

This position is competitive. Open to the public.

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of the staff and programs of a scientific, regulatory or technical division.

Assists in direction of staff and operations of division; determines priorities, coordinates plans and manages activities; assists in formulating program goals and objectives and ensures implementation of same; assists in development of related policy, goals and objectives; interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations; evaluates staff performance; provides or directs staff training and development; assists in preparation of division budget; prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence; performs public relations tasks; oversees special projects; serves as director in his/her absence; establishes and maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of division who might impact on program activities; performs related duties as required.

Specific duties of this position include:

1.      Day to day management of the Program, including staff and office operations; setting priorities and coordinating, planning and managing activities; interpreting and administering pertinent laws and regulations; evaluating operations and projects assigned to staff and recommending improvements, responding to inquiries relating to assigned programs;

2.      At the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, serve as the Administrative Commissioner or the Administrative Commissioner’s Proxy, representing the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection under the Compact for state membership (CGS §26-295);

3.      At the New England Fishery Management Council, serve as the principal State official with marine fishery management responsibility and expertise appointed by the Governor under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801);

4.     Review and evaluate effectiveness of established or proposed policies and/or programs, assessing options and developing recommendations for improvements;

5.      Develop Marine Fisheries related regulations and Commissioner declarations to manage the marine fisheries of the state in order to comply with federal and interstate fishery management plans, promote economic benefits of commercial and recreational fishing, enhance recreational fishing opportunity and preserve healthy fisheries resources;

6.      Develop and make recommendations concerning new and revised state statutes pertaining to marine fisheries management;

7.      Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and individuals in government and non-governmental organizations with interest in Marine Fisheries Program related matters;

8.      Develop, recommend and oversee state and federal budgets within the Program.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of environmental protection principles, techniques, practices and issues; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical, organizational and negotiating skills.

Nine (9) years of professional experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, energy research, energy planning, energy policy development, public outdoor recreation, pollution prevention, reduction and management, environmental regulatory programs or other related environmental protection field.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work. Notes:
1. Supervisory capacity is interpreted as scheduling, assigning and overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.
2. For State Employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Environmental Protection Supervising Sanitary Engineer (Environmental Protection), Environmental Protection Supervising Air Pollution Control Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Civil Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Supervising Forester, Environmental Protection Supervising Fisheries Biologist, Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist or other comparable supervisory title responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.

1. College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field, including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources 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.
2. A Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field as listed above including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; economics; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; natural sciences; natural resources may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
3. A law degree with a concentration in environmental protection or doctorate degree in a field related to environmental protection may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.
*Note: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years.

A.     Excellent supervisory, management, and organizational skills, including the ability to lead a highly technical and experienced workforce;

B.     Significant knowledge of state and/or federal laws/regulations related to marine fisheries management;

C.     Considerable knowledge of marine fisheries management principles, practices and issues;

D.     Experience with marine fisheries population assessment science principals and methods sufficient to support science-based resource management decision-making;

E.     Experience in the management of interjurisdictional marine commercial and recreational fisheries (e.g., Marine Fisheries Management Councils or Marine Fisheries Commissions).   

F.     Proven experience exercising critical thinking, balancing competing priorities, making sound decisions, managing productivity, setting and defining expectations, establishing measurable goals, and coordinating programs;

G.     Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively on a technical level with science staff and in common language terms with engaged stakeholders, the media and the general public;

H.     Ability to create and maintain excellent intra/interagency and municipal relationships; and

I.     Significant knowledge and experience in personnel management policy and procedures.

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.