STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Program Associate 2 - Office of the Arts

Hybrid

Recruitment #260815-7500AR-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is seeking to hire a Program Associate 2 - Office of the Arts within the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA).

This image shows a career progression pathway within the State of Connecticut: starting with Program Associate 1 - Office of the Arts, advancing to Program Associate 2 - Office of the Arts (highlighted to indicate the current opening), Program Specialist - Office of the Arts, and ending with Many more opportunities available at DECD!

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

ABOUT US

COA is Connecticut’s State Arts Agency (SAA) and is a partner to the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Education Program Associate II works to ensure that Connecticut students have the opportunity to learn in, about, and through the arts. The position is responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating all aspects of COA arts education programs, including administration of its education-related grants and services, partnership management and growth with key organizations, and coordinating arts education policy efforts. Keeping current with issues facing the field and finding creative ways to address them are vital to the effectiveness of this position.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

Identify issues and trends affecting arts education:

  • Analyze how these issues impact student access to arts education statewide.
  • Work with key partners to develop statewide arts education strategies within the context of COA's strategic plan and goals.
  • Review and analyze grantee reports to ascertain constituent needs; use the grants database for reporting, evaluation, and general information; and make site visits to grantees and potential applicants and partners to provide assistance and consultation, and to keep current with their activities and the issues they are facing.
Manage Arts Education programs:

  • Develop, manage, and coordinate arts education grant program activities with input from COA program staff. Assure proper implementation of grant policies and procedures and compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements.
  • Develop grant programs to meet challenges in arts education and communities within the context of COA's strategic plan. Manage and evaluate these programs.
  • Prepare grant program criteria and guidelines; assist applicants and grantees with understanding program guidelines and requirements. Provide applicants with feedback from panel review as appropriate. Process grant applications and grant contracts and review grant reports to verify funded activities are accomplished.
  • Select and support grant application reviewers/panelists as needed and arrange and facilitate electronic and on-site panel meetings. Serve as a voting member of staff panels as needed.
  • Manage current Arts Education grant programs, including Every Child Art Experience and current strategic partnership grants.
Manage Arts Education program services and collaborations:

  • Manage CT’s high school Poetry Out Loud/Poetry Ourselves program, including working collaboratively with management partners, setting yearly goals for participation in and growth of the program. Assure compliance with National Endowment for the Arts requirements for the program, including submitting an annual plan and final report, and other requirements as needed.
  • Serve as liaison and initiator for arts education planning and development in coordination with local, state, and regional partners, schools, and other partners.
  • Identify, manage, and collaborate with arts education strategic partnership awardees. Determine areas of strategic growth for partnerships and work collaboratively with staff to fulfill educational partnerships goals.
  • Manage and develop programs to identify and otherwise support teaching artists and their professional development.
  • Provide arts education support and information to school administrators, teachers, teaching artists, and community members. Facilitate collaboration between and among the growing network of arts, education, and community groups. Participate in COA's social media platforms as appropriate. Coordinate and conduct workshops and other services for arts educators, teaching artists, communities, and arts service organizations.
Manage general COA program requirements:

  • Collaborate with COA staff on program design, development, and direction, including analysis of issues, program and project goals, evaluation, and reporting. Work collaboratively on grant guidelines and panels.
  • Assure education program compliance with Section 504/ADA accessibility issues.
  • Support and advise on policy efforts in arts education.
  • Manage budgets of grant programs and other line items or projects assigned.
  • As identified and/or needed, write and manage federal and other grants that support education programs. Prepare required interim and final reports in a timely manner.
  • Participate actively in staff arts initiatives, including but not limited to, staff field trips, arts conferences or recognition events, arts activities at the State Capitol, cultural district events, etc.
  • Ensure COA website is updated with current information on arts education programs.
  • Other activities as described in the Program Associate II job description and as dictated by the needs of the Office of the Arts.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Monday - Friday (some weekend and evening work may be required)
  • Full-time (40 hours per week)
  • First shift (8 hours per day to be scheduled between 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM)
  • Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103
  • Hybrid opportunity (combination of in-office and telework in accordance with the Telework Policy)

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: 

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources?  Visit our Applicant Toolkit 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 by the closing date listed on the job posting. 
  • 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 (Opens in a New Window)
  • 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.
  • This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

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 Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov (Opens in a New Window).

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Economic and Community Development this class is accountable for performing the most complex tasks in administering a program area and acting as a specialist in programs intended to encourage artistic and cultural activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Performs specialized tasks in developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating art projects within a major program area; 
  • Coordinates all projects and associated technical and support staff within a major program area; 
  • Develops programs at the community level or serves community and state arts resources; 
  • Documents and evaluates program needs; 
  • Represents the agency at meetings of professional and community organizations and participates in meetings of the agency and of its committees; 
  • Prepares reports on agency programs; 
  • Prepares and monitors program area budget; 
  • Prepares grant agreements between the agency and clients; 
  • Provides technical assistance within the area of personal expertise; 
  • May prepare and edit material for release to the public; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • principles and practices in arts administration; 
    • artistic and cultural needs of professional arts resources, communities and individuals; 
    • applicable art discipline, such as painting, sculpting or film; 
  • Knowledge of
    • grant preparation; 
    • budget preparation and control; 
    • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
  • Considerable 
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
    • skill in the preparation and presentation of material to the public; 
  • Considerable ability to
    • direct the development, implementation and evaluation of art projects in a major program area; 
    • evaluate and report on programs in progress; 
  • Ability to utilize computer software; 
  • Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of professional level experience in general arts administration or in the management or productions of arts programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • A Bachelor's degree may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with public speaking
  • Experience managing multi-part projects that require strong attention to detail
  • Experience in program evaluation and use of data to inform program design and case making decisions
  • Experience administering arts education programs

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

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.


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