Legal Program Director

The State of Connecticut, Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is a unique state agency in Connecticut that helps families with young children achieve better life outcomes. A new state agency, OEC is called on in its enabling statute to be data-driven, human-centered, and result-focused.

The OEC is looking to fill a key leadership position in the legal team.  This Legal Program Director position will bring clearheaded legal insight to critical issues ranging from children's health and safety to data privacy and intergagency cooperation as well as assist the agency in making smart decisions about how best to support families and programs.  This full-time position operates 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday.  Your work here will have an impact on the economic security, health, safety, and resilience of families with young children. You will help make childcare safer, more accessible and of higher quality; you will provide families with the support they need to help prevent child abuse, neglect, and trauma; you will help families gain greater economic stability; you will support families with young children who have developmental delays.  This position will play a critical role in the development of this new agency, showing that a family-centered, data-smart approach to service delivery drives measurable better results for children.

Connecticut is a leader in the nation.  Whereas early childhood programming in most states is fragmented across multiple programs which families must navigate, only a handful of states have created agencies dedicated to integrating the supports required by families with young children – and only Connecticut has clear, data-driven mandates.  New parenthood and early childhood are extremely important moments in a person’s life and nurturing or harmful experiences during this time can have significant and long lasting impacts.  OEC acts on the overwhelming evidence that intervention early in life, is the most promising way to break the cycle of poverty.   We touch the lives of over 200,000 young children, parents, and caregivers annually through our integrated focus on early care and education programs and safety supports, our home visiting programs, and other critical early childhood services.  By scale of funding, OEC is one of the largest departments of Connecticut state government, deploying and leveraging approximately half a billion dollars each year in service of vulnerable families and communities.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Office of Early Childhood, who has permanent state status*, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period.  For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

All applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application with their submission.  Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

Should you have questions pertaining to any phase of this recruitment, please contact the hiring agency's human resources office:  Ellen Morris, ellen.morris@ct.gov, (860) 713-6670.

In the Department of Consumer Protection and Office of Early Childhood, this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor for staff engaged in conducting research and advising the Commissioner on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations and administrative policy; works closely with the Office of the Attorney General on all legal matters.

Directs the staff and operations of the legal unit; determines priorities, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts performance evaluations; in consultation with Office of the Attorney General performs a variety of difficult, complex and sensitive legal work; researches and advises Commissioner on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations and administrative policy; drafts proposed legislation and regulations; provides assistance to staff in implementing newly enacted legislation; conducts and assists staff in preparation for administrative proceedings including preparation of administrative record; prepares final decisions of Commissioner in contested cases; assists staff and Office of the Attorney General in preparation for court cases; interprets statutes and regulations and ensures conformance with statutory purpose and authority; advises Commissioner concerning matters which require an opinion from Office of the Attorney General and drafts requests for opinions; acts as liaison between Commissioner and Attorney General; assists staff on matters relating to enforcement orders and civil penalties; makes recommendations regarding agency program proposals, rules and policy; assists in developing budget proposals for consistency with statutes and regulations; may conduct legal seminars for department staff; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of Uniform Administrative Procedures Act; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of legislative process; knowledge of and ability to apply management principals and techniques; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to interpret, analyze and prepare legislation and other legal documents; supervisory ability.

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

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.