Policy Development Coordinator

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Office of Policy and Management, 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 State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13D (2a) and 13F (3a).

In the Office of Policy and Management this class is accountable for the cost analysis and research used to develop state government policy for the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. It coordinates the review, analysis, development and implementation of policy and programs for state agencies, towns and municipalities.

• Lead the Research, Policy and Evaluation Unit in the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, which includes the supervision of two staff.  
• Provide research and evaluation to help implement the administration’s criminal justice priorities.  
• Produce a variety of monthly, annual, and ad hoc reports to study and monitor programs within state criminal justice agencies.  Reports include, but are not limited to, the following:  
  • tracking prisoner recidivism rates;  
  • monitoring the efficacy of medication assisted treatment programs in Connecticut prisons;  
  • evaluating the utilization of community supervision capacity;  
  • predicting future capacity needs in the state’s prisons; and  
  • analyzing data related to the decision-making of prosecutors.  
• Work internally within the Division to evaluate and analyze effectiveness of programs funded using federal and state criminal justice grant dollars and to prepare grant compliance reports.  
• Work with state criminal justice agencies to collect, analyze and organize operational data and investigate new sources of data that may be necessary to enhance tracking, reporting, assessment and evaluation programs;  
• Liaise and maintain relationships with officials and staff at state and federal criminal justice agencies, community non-profits, victim advocacy groups, academic and external research organizations, and other stakeholders;  
• Act as the director of the Connecticut Statistical Analysis Center (“SAC”); coordinate with other state SAC directors and the Justice Research and Statistical Association (JRSA) to stay up to date on the use of research and analysis to make informed criminal justice policy and program decisions.  
• Prepare and provide presentations on criminal justice research and data at various forums including Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission (CJPAC), Prison and Jail Overcrowding Committee, and the Sentencing Commission;  
• Interpret and implement legislative mandates relating to criminal justice research, data and reporting.  
• Utilize a variety of software packages for data analysis, including GIS, statistical software, Excel, Access and data visualization software.

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration including policy development, coordination, cost benefit analysis and implementation; considerable knowledge of state, federal and municipal legislative processes; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to analyze and evaluate policy and programs; ability to coordinate and implement policy development activities and prepare and present effective reports and presentations.

Six (6) years of experience with major responsibility for the review, analysis, coordination and administration of policies and programs in a large governmental, public affairs or business organization.

1. 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.
2. A Master's degree in public administration or political science may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

The preferred candidate will have the following:

• Experience communicating findings from criminal justice data analysis and policy to state policymakers;
• Experience interpreting and implementing statutory and administrative policy;
• Experience proposing policy options based on criminal and juvenile justice priorities;
• Experience working with policymakers and navigating the legislative process;
• Experience explaining complex, technical subject matter to a general audience;
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management and quantitative data analysis software, including SPSS, STATA, or R, and experience with data visualization and geographic information system mapping;
• Experience with the design of compelling graphics and reports to present key findings and information;
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques with an understanding of basic statistical concepts;
• Experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing large datasets;
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment; and
• Experience as a manager or supervisor of a team.

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.