Social Services Program Administration Manager

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC), is a unique state agency in the State of Connecticut that helps families with children achieve better life outcomes.  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.

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 families with young children require.   You will help make childcare safer, more accessible and of higher quality; you will help to establish clear, manageable expectations of quality child care that will help providers across the state support optimal child development.   Your work here will have an impact on the economic security, health, safety, and resilience of families with young children.   This position will play a critical role in the development of this new agency, showing that a family-centered, child-development approach to service delivery drives measurable better results for children.

We are currently recruiting for a Social Services Program Administration Manager.  This full-time position is located at 450 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT, operating 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.

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, with details of experience and training,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 Departments of Social Services and Developmental Services, and the Office of Early Childhood, this class is accountable for managing program/policy planning, development, implementation and monitoring for a major agency program area.

Manages staff and operations of unit; implements social services programs/policies; coordinates, plans and manages unit activities; formulates program goals and objectives through the review of agency data; develops or assists in development of related policy; interprets and administers pertinent laws; coordinates research, data analysis and program planning efforts; monitors, analyzes and evaluates programs/policies to determine cost-effectiveness and quality of service; advises leadership of legislative, legal or other program/policy impacts and recommends an appropriate position; monitors all internally and externally initiated program/policy changes; researches, prepares and presents testimony to legislative committees, study committees and courts regarding social services issues; evaluates staff; prepares or assists in budget preparation; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact on program activities; acts as agency contact with state, federal and community agencies on social services to ensure service delivery; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of social services programs, early childhood programs and programs for individuals with intellectual disability; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of community organizations and social services agencies; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to interpret complex written material including legal narrative and to assess the impact thereof on programmatic goals.

Nine (9) years of professional experience in the delivery of social services programs and/or policies.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity with programmatic and administrative responsibility for a regional or statewide social services program.

Note: For State employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Program Manager, Operations Manager,  Public Assistance Consultant, Planning Specialist and Associate Accountant.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Accounting, Early Childhood Education or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:

• Expereience with developing and providing professional development for child care providers. 
• Experience with accreditation systems, program management.
• State and national experience with Quality Improvement Systems. 
• Experience with state and national private foundations. 
• Experience with manageing state and federal grants and contracts. 
• Experience with higher education for the early childhood workforce.

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.