STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Social Services Program Administration Manager

Recruitment #210119-2490MP-001

Introduction


Are you a self motivated leader that is looking for an opportunity to support our children?
Opportunity Awaits You!! Apply Now!!
The State of Connecticut, Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is the lead agency for early childhood services for the state’s youngest children; including early care and education, home visiting, developmental support, and program and provider development. Our agency’s mission is to support all young children by ensuring that early childhood policy, funding and services strengthen the critical role families, providers, educators and communities play in a child’s life. We believe in ensuring all children are safe, healthy, learning and thriving, and we need a hard-working, solutions-oriented professional to lead our Early Care and Education division and the State through early childhood education systems reform.  

Our mission and vision serve as the guideposts for the development of policies and programs, and also ensure that we work to actively and purposefully dismantle racism and advance equity for all individuals in our agency and throughout the early childhood system. We are looking for early childhood professionals to join our team who align with and will promote this mission and vision.

The Social Services Program Administration Manager will serve as the Division Director of the Early Care and Education Division, and will direct, oversee, and monitor state and federal early childhood grants, contracts and subsidies. The individual selected will provide direct supervision and direction to staff charged with overseeing more than 400 early care and education programs serving over 40,000 children throughout the state. In collaboration with the Quality Improvement Division and the state's CCDF Administrator, the ECE Division Director will coordinate efforts around legislation and policy, workforce development, and data and quality assurance monitoring of OEC's funded programs. In addition, the Division Director will play an instrumental role in helping to reform Connecticut's early care and education system.  

This is a full time position is located in Hartford, and the hours of work are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What’s in It For You- Leading Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary structure, excellent health & dental coverage, generous vacation, personal, and sick time, retirement plan options & more! 

Selection Plan

This position will be filled in accordance with reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. 

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.

If you have any questions pertaining to this posting please contact Catherine.Downey@CT.Gov .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addictions Services, Social 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.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Manages staff and/or operations of unit/program; implements social services programs/policies; coordinates, plans and manages unit/program 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; identifies and coordinates training needs; 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of social services programs, early childhood programs, deaf and hard of hearing programs and/or programs for individuals with intellectual disability or behavioral health issues; 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The preferred candidate will possess:

  • Experience interpreting state and federal early childhood programs, legislation, and regulations; 
  • Experience in staff management, coaching, and leadership;
  • Experience with the oversight and management of state and federal grants and contracts;
  • Experience with state procurement procedures;
  • Experience informing and responding to the general public, policymakers, providers and advocates on Office of Childhood Education (OEC) Programs;
  • Experience with tracking the legislative process;
  • Experience working closely with the Office of Childhood Education (OEC) Legislative Liaison;
  • Experience in developing, reviewing and monitoring operational procedures;
  • Experience managing large projects or driving efforts to reform large human services or education systems; 
  • Experience handling complex agency and program budgets;
  • Experience working on a data-informed team that leverages technology to help enhance operations.