Introduction
Do you have a passion for health programs and policies to improve people’s lives, specifically for older adults and people with disabilities? Are you interested in starting and leading Connecticut’s first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) focused on rural areas? If yes, we invite you to check out this opportunity to join our team to be the inaugural Director of PACE.
The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) has an anticipated vacancy for a Director of PACE (Durational Project Manager). This role will start and lead a new PACE pilot as part of the new Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) federal grant. DSS is the overall lead agency for RHTP, which is anticipated to be at least $100 million per year for five years for Connecticut (first year grant award is approximately $154 million). For general information about PACE, see this federal webpage here. For general information about RHTP, see the State’s submitted grant application and this federal webpage here.
This position will report to the Deputy Director of Rural Health Transformation and Director of Rural Health Projects in the newly formed Division of Rural Health Transformation in the DSS Commissioner’s Office. Specifically, this role will be responsible for establishing a regional PACE hub to expand access to integrated primary, behavioral, and long‑term care for older adults dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in surrounding rural communities. The hub will provide coordinated, community‑based services that reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits, promote aging in place, support independence, and delay or prevent institutional care through a sustainable urban‑rural care model.
Please Note:
This position is durational and will terminate at the end of the RHTP grant spending period (October 30, 2030, but depending on available RHTP funds and business needs, may be extended by up to 11 months, no later than September 30, 2031), unless funding for this position ends sooner.
Position Highlights:
- First (1st) shift
- 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Monday - Friday
- Travel (primarily in-state) will be required
The Role:
Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Rural Health Transformation and Director of Rural Health Projects and with the anticipated support of additional RHTP grant-funded staff, as well as RHTP grant-funded contractual partners, provide the following:
- Design, launch, and implement PACE within relevant budgets, timelines, and other requirements;
- Manage staff, resources, contractors, and providers for PACE, including hiring applicable staff and procuring applicable RHTP funded contractors and providers;
- Serve as the key point of contact for PACE, including leading internal and external stakeholder engagement related to PACE under the direction of DSS leadership, which may include preparing and presenting reports and updates;
- As part of implementing PACE, collaborate and integrate across relevant DSS units, especially the DSS Division of Health Services, to align with existing Medicaid and other DSS program policies and operations that are related to PACE;
- Collaborate with other state agencies as relevant to implementing PACE, including aligning with other programs that serve individuals likely to be eligible for PACE; and
- Under the direction of DSS leadership, ensure PACE aligns with overall strategic agency direction and coordinate with other projects and priorities.
- Subject to available capacity and when directed by DSS leadership, provide broader support to RHTP beyond PACE, which may include any combination of support to:
- One or more RHTP projects assigned to DSS other than PACE,
- RHTP projects assigned to agencies other than DSS, or
- Overall management and oversight of RHTP across all RHTP participating agencies.
What’s In It For You:
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
- A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
- State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
Discover the opportunity to:
- Engage in a rewarding career
- Assist our employees so they can achieve success
- Make a difference in the public sector
- Work together in a collaborative team environment
Thinking Of Relocating?
Connecticut offers you a blend of professional advancement and a high-quality lifestyle. As a state we are renowned for our top-tier medical facilities and ample opportunities for career growth and development. Beyond professional prospects, Connecticut boasts a high standard of living, featuring safe communities, excellent schools, and a diverse range of cultural and recreational activities. This combination of professional excellence and a well-rounded lifestyle make Connecticut an appealing destination for those who want to thrive both in their careers and personal lives.
There are so many things to love about living, working, and playing in our state including these Key Facts and Figures:
- #4 in the U.S. for employees with advanced degrees
- #3 in the country for quality of K-12 education
- #5 for quality of life in the U.S.
- 2,000 miles of hiking/bike paths
- 618 miles of scenic coastline
- 21 world-class art museums
- Five Tony-Award winning regional theatres, and more!
- Check out CTVisit; they share so much valuable information on what it's like to work, play and live in our state!
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for making or conducting a special inquiry, investigation, examination or installation pursuant to Section 5-198(n) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience and expertise in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and/or health policy areas related to PACE, including one or more of:
- Home and community-based services, including home health services;
- Long-term care facility services;
- Programs serving older adults and individuals with disabilities;
- Models of integrated care similar to PACE, such as programs involving financial capitation.
- Experience in a Clinical background relevant to PACE, preferably as a registered nurse with experience in PACE or health or clinical policy areas related to PACE.
- Experience in programmatic leadership, focusing on designing, implementing, and monitoring a large or complex project.
- Experience overseeing a project team across in-house staff and outside contractors, partners, and providers.
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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.