STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Leadership Associate

Target Class: Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1

Recruitment #260817-5989VR-001

Introduction


Are you passionate about promoting and fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment? Are you an organized, self-motivated individual with strong written and oral communication skills? Do you have a desire to learn and apply agency, state, and federal equal employment policies, regulations, and laws? If so, we invite you to explore this opportunity below!

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is accepting applications for the position of Leadership Associate with a target class of Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1. This position will be located within the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity in our Central Office in Wethersfield.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page to learn about our medical and dental insurance plans, sick/vacation/personal leave accruals, state holidays, tuition reimbursement and more!
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here. 

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Monday through Friday, with travel throughout the state to Correctional Facilities.
  • Full-time (40 hours per week), 8:00am-4:30pm
  • First shift (Some off-shift work may be required)
  • Location: Wethersfield
  • This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office.
THE ROLE
As a Leadership Associate, you will participate in a training program designed to provide the knowledge and skills required to independently perform the Target Class position of Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1. The length of the development program is determined by the experience and training of the designated class and the prior experience of the candidate. The Leadership Associate must complete the objectives in the established training program developed and administered with regular direct supervision with the Equal Employment Opportunity Director, Equal Employment Deputy Directors or other assigned Equal Employment Opportunity staff. Upon successful completion of the program, the candidate will be promoted to Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1.

At the conclusion of the program, you will be able to independently perform the required duties of the position including but not limited to:
  • Conducting impartial investigations of discrimination complaints, writing investigation reports with findings and recommendations;
  • Assisting with the development and implementation of the agency’s annual affirmative action plan;
  • Compiling and analyzing statistical affirmative action data;
  • Participating/facilitating with the training activities of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity;
  • Ensuring agency compliance with relevant agency directives, as well as state and federal laws, regulations and policies;
  • Other special projects necessary to assist the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.
You will be part of a team focused on promoting and ensuring equal opportunity as well as diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This includes ensuring agency compliance with equal opportunity laws, regulations and policies.

The successful candidate will be a motivated self-starter with a desire to learn and apply relevant agency, state, and federal EEO and anti-discrimination policies, regulations, and laws. The successful candidate will possess attention to detail, and be able to plan and organize work, adjust to changing priorities, and achieve objectives within strict deadlines. Additionally, the successful candidate will possess strong written and oral communication skills and have the ability to apply analytical thinking to their work.



OUR MISSION
Our Mission: The Connecticut Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safe and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

For an inside look at how State of Connecticut employees Make an ImpaCT, watch the video below!

                                                       

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
  • 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 Jake Ferrari at jake.ferrari@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 incumbents in this class participate in a formal development program designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to qualify for appointment to a designated managerial or professional confidential class assigned to the MP Pay Plan.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Participates in a formal development program designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed in order to qualify for appointment and advancement to a designated managerial or professional/confidential class; 
  • Performs/learns the duties of the designated function; 
  • Performs/learns leadership skills and develops leadership traits; 
  • Prepares program progress reports; 
  • Attends managerial meetings germane to designated function; 
  • Prepares and gives presentations; 
  • Assists in major projects; 
  • Participates in budget preparation and management; 
  • Attends formal training courses; 
  • May lead special projects; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable
    • oral and written communication skills; 
    • interpersonal skills; 
  • Considerable ability to
    • understand and apply state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; 
    • analyze and solve problems; 
    • effect and manage change; 
    • plan for and implement excellent customer service; 
    • learn a new knowledge base in functional area; 
    • learn and apply policy and procedure; 
  • Managerial aptitude.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Previous coursework in civil rights, diversity, statistics, human resources, and/or labor relations
  • Experience relating to one of more of the following: Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources, Labor Relations
  • Experience conducting impartial workplace investigations
  • Experience gathering information and compiling it into a concise written report
  • Experience developing and facilitating workplace trainings both in person and virtually
  • Experience using advanced functions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams and Outlook in a professional work setting
  • Experience working in a fast paced environment with multiple priorities
  • Must possess and retain a valid motor vehicle license

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Prior to appointment to this class there must be an approved managerial or professional confidential designated class identified to which the incumbent will be appointed upon successful completion of an approved development program. Incumbents in this class must meet the experience and training requirements of the identified designated class at the end of the development program.
  • The work schedule for this classification is full-time. Incumbents must work a full-time forty (40) hours per week schedule.
  • Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service. The length of the development program should be designed around the requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent but in no case should be less than one (1) year or exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.
  • All appointments to this class shall be under terms of an approved development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Department of Administrative Services.
  • No additional working test period shall be required upon successful completion of the development program.

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.


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

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