STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1

Hybrid

Recruitment #230508-0159MP-001

Introduction


Are you a passionate Equal Employment Opportunity professional? 
If so, we have the position for you! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking two qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1 to join their team. These professional roles will be responsible for appropriately balancing Affirmative Action duties, and development/implementation of all Affirmative Action programs within our agency.  Both positions will report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Manager.  Our ideal candidate for one position will be bilingual (English/Spanish).  

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
  • FACILITY: Office of the Commissioner
  • LOCATION: Equal Employment Opportunity Office (EEO
  • ADDRESS: 1000 Silver Street, Middletown, CT
  • WORK SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40 hours weekly | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Monday through Friday
  • NOTE: Occasional off-shift work in order to accommodate work assignments
  • POSITION NUMBERS: 101505, 128075 
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:
State of Connecticut employees participate in a competitive comprehensive benefits plan that includes:
  • Industry leading health benefits with medical and dental coverage;
  • Generous paid time off, include 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
  • Retirement healthcare offerings;
  • Professional growth and development opportunities;
  • As a loan forgiveness organization, you may be able to qualify for one or more State or Federal loan forgiveness programs; and
  • A healthy work-life balance!
You'd be able 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.

AS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST 1, YOU WILL DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO: 
  • Mitigate employee discrimination complaints through mediations or investigations;
  • Handle ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) reasonable accommodation requests;
  • Monitor hiring transactions and approving position selections for assigned facilities; and
  • Conduct training and develop applicant flow and goals analysis justifications for the DMHAS annual Affirmative Action Plan. 
OUR MISSION:
DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve. 

ABOUT US:
The EEO Office is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the proper implementation of policies and procedures related to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EEO Office helps ensure that the agency complies with federal, state and local affirmative action and equal opportunity laws, as well as the agency’s non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. “Affirmative Action” means “positive action”, undertaken with conviction and effort, to overcome the present effects of past practices, policies, or any barriers to equal employment opportunity. This includes the goal of full and fair participation of any groups that have been found historically to be under-utilized in the workforce or otherwise adversely affected. The purpose and goal of affirmative action is equal employment opportunity.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page.

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination Immunization.

To Apply:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
  • You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
  • 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.
  • This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
Important Next Step Information for 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 on a daily basis 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
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 you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Joseph K. Fried at Joseph.Fried@ct.gov, 860-924-7053.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for developing and implementing affirmative action plans and conducting other activities in an Equal Employment Opportunity program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Develops and implements affirmative action plans in an Equal Employment Opportunity program;
  • Compiles and analyzes statistical affirmative action data;
  • Develops and/or revises equal employment opportunity procedures;
  • Defines and conducts outreach initiatives including recruitment efforts through community and minority organizations and career fairs;
  • Conducts career counseling;
  • Conducts discrimination complaint investigations;
  • Counsels staff on equal employment opportunity matters;
  • Reviews supplier contracts to ensure incorporation of affirmative action considerations;
  • Prepares reports;
  • Assists Equal Employment Opportunity staff with special projects;
  • Assists in training activities;
  • Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • May participate in employment interviews;
  • May assist in development of equal employment opportunity policy;
  • May assist in monitoring agency compliance with State of Connecticut Minority and Small Contractor's Set Aside Program;
  • May participate in administering affirmative action for patient, student, inmate and/or client rights programs;
  • May serve as agency's ADA coordinator;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • affirmative action programs;
    • interviewing and counseling techniques;
    • merit system selection process including recruitment, examination and classification;
    • needs and issues of patients, inmates, students and/or clients;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to
    • develop and implement affirmative action plans;
    • compile, analyze and evaluate human resources records and statistical information;
    • investigate;
    • assess and define training requirements; 
    • utilize human resources information systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of professional experience in affirmative action, equal opportunity assurance or human resources management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have involved primary responsibility for affirmative action or equal opportunity assurance in an employment setting.

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 public administration, human resources management, labor relations or a closely related field or a law degree may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
  • For state employees two (2) years of experience as an Equal Employment Opportunity Assistant may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience composing reports based on Federal and State laws and statistical data. 
  • Experience developing strategic recruitment efforts to reach targeted groups. 
  • Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel, including formatting, document merge, and creating tables. 
  • Experience conducting mediations and investigations to resolve conflicts.
  • Experience providing employer-employee relations counseling.
  • Experience advocating for protected classes to ensure equal employment opportunity. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • In accordance with Connecticut General Statute, incumbents in this class must complete five (5) hours of training during the first year of service or designation and a minimum of three (3) hours biannually thereafter. This training shall include (1) state and federal discrimination laws and (2) internal discrimination investigation techniques which will be provided by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.