Director of the Connecticut Retirement Security Program

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, to administer employee and retiree benefits, to develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and to prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments and the public. 

MyCTSavings is the new Connecticut Retirement Security Program. It’s a simple and seamless way to help Connecticut employees save and plan for the future. We are recruiting for a full-time State Comptroller Assistant Division Director in the role of Director of the Connecticut Retirement Security Program to direct staff and operations of the program. The Director:

• Will develop, implement, and evaluate program policies, goals, and objectives as well as prepare the program budget;
• Will recommend revisions to the Retirement Security Program statutes, regulations, and policies, and prepare written reports to the Comptroller and Advisory Board on the status of program activities; 
• May coordinate subpoena responses and Freedom of Information requests; and 
• May assist in directing maintenance of official accounting records of the state or prepare contracts for services required in connection with the program.

This position is a first-shift, 40 hour per week position located at the newly renovated State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers free garage parking, ergonomic workspaces, and telework opportunities. 

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.  State employees currently holding the above title or those who have previously attained permanent status in the class may apply for a lateral transfer.  Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Office of the State Comptroller are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  Please ensure that your application is complete prior to submitting.  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, supervisory references, attendance records, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  bonnie.schlechtweg@ct.gov.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQ’s) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. Please regularly check your email for notifications, including your SPAM/JUNK folders. You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements and preferred qualifications of the position.

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.

In the Office of the State Comptroller, this class is accountable for assisting in administering the programs and activities of a major division with statewide impact.

Assists in directing the planning and organizing of functions within a division; assists in coordinating, planning, and managing division activities; assists in formulating program goals and objectives; assists in developing related policy; assists in implementation of new procedures and procedural revisions; assists in interpreting and administering pertinent laws; evaluates staff; assists in preparing division budgets; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of division who might impact on program activities; may coordinate subpoena responses and Freedom of Information requests; may assist in directing retirement benefits functions; may assist in directing employee benefits functions; may assist in directing timely processing of all state payrolls and related documents; may assist in directing auditing, validation, and payment of all claims against the state; may assist in directing maintenance of official accounting records of the state; may develop and maintain guidelines for pension division orders (QDROs) for those retirement systems administered by the Retirement Services Division; may interpret state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to retirement or employee benefits; may provide counsel to state agency staff with respect to retirement benefits in connection with the resolution of labor disputes; may prepare contracts for services required by SERC and the State Comptroller to administer employee or retiree benefits; may assist in the coordination of various pension or health care delivery systems, including health promotion and wellness initiatives; may act as the Retirement Services Division liaison to the Attorney General’s Office; performs other related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of defined benefit, defined contribution retirement plans, health insurance, and other employee benefit programs; considerable knowledge of legal and administrative issues concerning employee pension and benefits plans; knowledge of health care delivery systems; knowledge of collective bargaining, legislative and retirement administrative appeal processes; considerable knowledge of and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations; knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability in analysis and preparation of complex and comprehensive financial statements and reports.

Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE:

1. Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning, overseeing work, and establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.

2. For State employees, supervisory capacity will be interpreted at the level of Retirement and Benefit System Coordinator.

1. College training in accounting or business administration 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 accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

3. Certification in any of the following may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience: Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.

4. A law degree from an accredited school of law may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

May be required to be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.