Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director

   

 

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), 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.

DEEP's Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) has responsibility of over 255,000 acres of agency owned lands and waters that includes state forests, state parks, wildlife management areas and boating access areas. The division is responsible for the patrol element of Connecticut’s shellfish program, has a cooperative enforcement agreement with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, boating accident investigation responsibilities and patrol on Connecticut’s state waterways.

BOR is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director (Major) to assist in the operations and management of the Environmental Conservation Police Division. This division has state-wide conservation law enforcement responsibilities and is made up of three unique geographical districts each managed by a district captain that will be directly supervised by the Major. 

The mission of the Environmental Conservation Police is to provide natural resource protection and public safety through education, outreach and enforcement in the areas of fish and game, boating, commercial fishing, wildlife management, parks and forests, recreational vehicles, search and rescue, K-9 Unit,  homeland security and agency emergency dispatch center. This position is responsible for assisting with the management and oversight of a state-wide law enforcement agency consisting of fifty sworn officers, one permanent administrative secretary, up to twenty part-time sworn officers and a twenty-four hour emergency dispatch center.  

This position will work out of our downtown Hartford Office, located at 79 Elm Street, across from historic Bushnell Park. 

This is a fulltime, forty (40) hours per week, Monday through Friday position.  Some night and weekend work and travel are expected.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application. 

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov, (860)424-3006.

This position is competitive. Open to the public.

Incumbents must have or be able to obtain certification as a certified police officer from the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) within six months of hire.

If Incumbent is not currently a sworn officer from the Agency, the incumbent must meet all Council entry level requirements under CGS 7-294e-16 including a polygraph exam, oral exam, psychological exam, physical and drug screen and full background check.

Outside candidate requirements:

(In-state) Oral exam, polygraph exam, psychological exam, physical, drug screen and full background check including fingerprints to FBI.

(Out of state) All of the above plus obtaining a comparative certification as a police officer from POST. This process must go before the POST council for review and approval.

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.

The Major assists in leading a varied and dynamic workforce of environmental conservation police officers with wide-ranging duties in the areas of conservation law enforcement. Directs continuing supervision, inspection and training of personnel assigned to command; evaluates staff performance; provides or directs staff training and development;  assists in preparation of division budget, strategic planning, recruitment and hiring, assignment and adjudication of internal affairs investigations, legislative initiatives, policy development, labor relations, developing memorandum of agreements, asset management and equipment purchases. Prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence; performs public relations tasks; oversees special projects; serves as director in his/her absence; performs related duties as required. Evaluates law enforcement trends and develops progressive administrative policies and procedures to accomplish bureau and division objectives and ensures implementation of same; The Assistant Director coordinates with local, state and federal law enforcement partners, governmental officials, news media and the general public. In addition to personnel assigned to command, the Assistant Director (Major) will oversee five specialized law enforcement units which include K9, Chemical Immobilization, Boating Accident Reconstruction, Hunting Related Shooting Incidents and PEER support.

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.         Currently certified as a law enforcement officer in good standing with applicable state or federal appointing authority.

B.         Eight years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience with a natural resource or conservation law enforcement agency with four years of supervisory/command experience managing an organization or substantive organizational unit, at least two of which must be at the rank of Sergeant or its equivalent or higher.

C.         Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, conservation law enforcement, natural resource management or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.

D.        Considerable knowledge of Connecticut criminal and motor vehicle law.

E.         Considerable knowledge of fish and wildlife rules, regulations policies, and procedures.

F.         Excellent interpersonal, leadership, public speaking and managerial skills.                     

G.        Knowledge and experience working with federal and quasi-governmental organizations related to the field of Conservation Law Enforcement such as U.S Fish and Wildlife, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, NASBLA, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference/Food and Drug Administration and US Coast Guard.

H.        Lead/management experience over specialized units in the field of Conservation Law Enforcement such as a K9 program, Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit, Hunting Related Shooting Investigations, Chemical Immobilization Team, Bike Patrol unit.

I.          Ability to think quickly and make correct decisions under pressure.

J.         Ability to develop, motivate, and give leadership support to staff.

K.         Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship.    

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.