STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Communications and Legislative Program Manager

Hybrid

Recruitment #220727-3242MP-001

Introduction


Are you an experienced professional who would like to “make a difference” in your career?
Do you have the desire and the ability to help advance and protect the interests of consumers of electricity, renewable energy, water, broadband and more?
Do you want to join the Office of Consumer Counsel in its efforts to keep utility bills low, make the clean energy transition affordable, and support universal deployment of high speed broadband?
If so, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity!



The State of Connecticut, Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is a small, independent state agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interests in matters which may affect Connecticut consumers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The OCC is a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and is authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved. In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA, the OCC participates actively in proceedings before federal agencies, advocates on behalf of consumer interests in state and federal courts, and promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums.

OCC has an opportunity for a Communications & Legislative Program Manager in the New Britain Office. The Communications & Legislative Director will direct activities related to educating the public regarding OCC’s mission to advance consumers interests, and will perform the following responsibilities:

Directing the external communications strategy of the agency, including:
  • Developing and managing public-facing messaging (e.g., press releases, webpages, social media postings, electronic correspondence);
  • Drafting external talking points;
  • Serving as a point of contact for news media
Assisting in the operations of the agency’s legislative program, including:
  • Drafting proposed legislation, testimony and related documents;
  • Tracking, analyzing and monitoring legislation;
  • Advocating on behalf of OCC regarding legislative proposals being considered by the General Assembly;
  • Representing OCC on legislative and inter-agency task forces and commissions;
  • Serving as a direct contact point for legislators and their staff and for news media;
The OCC’s work covers a wide range of topics, including:
  • Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;
  • Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;
  • Energy infrastructure (e.g., gas pipelines; electric transmission lines; non-wires alternatives);
  • Energy efficiency and demand response;
  • Utility service quality and storm response;
  • Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;
  • Energy affordability and equity;
  • Electric vehicles and energy storage; and
  • Telecommunications service, including telecommunications, cable, and broadband service quality and access, and digital equity.
The candidate selected for this role must be able to clearly articulate goals and objectives and effectively engage with a wide variety of constituents at all levels and will be required to develop excellent working relationships with legislators, constituents and other stakeholders as a spokesperson for OCC. In addition, they must be able to prioritize work and handle multiple assignments and duties simultaneously, adjusting as required due to business needs.

Benefits: We provide limitless opportunities; we hire for diversity and new perspectives and we accomplish meaningful work while maintaining a work/life balance. We also participate in a competitive benefits package with comprehensive healthcare policies including medical and dental coverage, retirement plan options, paid time off and more! We also encourage a healthy work-life balance for all employees!

Watch the video below to see what it's like to Make an ImpaCT as a State of CT employee!
         

Selection Plan

Before you apply, make note of the following:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • 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.
Important information for after you apply:
  • 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 questionnaire'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.
  • 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.
  • 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, 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.
Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for managing the development and implementation of various programs in one or more of the following areas: legislation, regulations and/or agency communications/educational activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Directs programs and operations related to agency internal and external audiences, regulation and legislation development and evaluation activities; directs activities related to educating the public regarding agency responsibilities and operations; formulates program goals and objectives; develops or assists in development of related policy; interprets and administers pertinent laws; prepares or assists in preparation of program budget; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact on program activities; researches and advises agency staff on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations, communication, education and administrative policy; prepares draft policy statements for incorporation into proposed legislative bills; monitors progress of agency-sponsored legislation as well as other legislation that will impact the agency; analyzes the impact of legislative proposals being considered by the General Assembly; writes and revises regulations to implement legislation, improve procedures and generally facilitate agency operations; serves as a communications/educational liaison; develops and implements communication/educational programs; explains complex and technical laws and regulations in language understandable to lay persons and officials; prepares reports; performs related duties as required.

Additionally:
  • Interacts with Connecticut legislators and state officials on a broad array of issues related to the Office of Consumer Counsel and its mission. Directs activities related to educating the public regarding OCC’s mission and to connect to consumers;
  • Work effectively with stakeholders both internal and external to the agency (e.g., press, legislature, public, advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations).
  • Promote a collaborative working relationship with entities at the local, state, and federal level, including the state legislature.
  • Monitor and research legislative and government activity; draft memorandums, presentations, and/or reports on such activity; track and research policy trends both state- and nationwide; evaluate their impact, and craft proposed responses. Circulate regular reports to Consumer Counsel, staff, and other relevant agencies.
  • Draft legislative proposals and recommendations, working collaboratively with legal and other staff.
  • Draft external talking points. Represent the OCC externally, to the media and/or the state legislature.
  • Develop and manage public-facing messaging (e.g., press releases, webpages, social media postings, electronic correspondence).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of legislative process; knowledge of communications methods and techniques of public information and training; considerable interpersonal skills, considerable oral and written communication skills, considerable ability to read and interpret legislation, regulations proposals and reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience in communications, public relations, marketing, in-service training or adult education and/or coordinating legislative activities including the preparation, analysis and research of legislation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling 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 communications, political science, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
3. A law degree from an accredited school may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with the Connecticut legislative process;
  • Experience writing press releases and statements;
  • Experience working with the media;
  • Experience preparing briefings and talking points;
  • Experience in legislative policy research and drafting legislation;
  • Experience with advocating before legislative bodies;
  • Experience producing work meeting competing deadlines;
  • Demonstrated interest or experience in the core advocacy mission of the Office of Consumer Counsel.

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.