STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Social Services Program Administration Manager

Hybrid

Recruitment #230320-2490MP-001

Introduction

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!  

We are currently recruiting for two Social Services Program Administration Managers for the Quality Assurance Division.   

About Us:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS), has a mission that we, along with our partners, provide person-centered programs and services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

You will discover the opportunity to:  

  • Engage is a rewarding career;
  • Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
  • Thrive in an exciting fast paced environment;
  • Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
  • Make a difference in the public sector;
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment.   

Position Highlights

  • Full Time (40 hours per week)
  • Monday – Friday
  • Central Office located at 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make an impact by serving your state!

Selection Plan

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.   

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

The Department of Social Services participates in E-Verify.  

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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. 

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.   

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, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

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 question'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. 

If selected for further consideration, State employees may be required to provide last 2 service ratings and last 2 attendance records.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker at Julie.Barker@ct.gov.

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.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addictions Services, Social Services, and the Office of Early Childhood this class is accountable for managing program/policy planning, development, implementation and monitoring for a major agency program area.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Manages staff and/or operations of unit/program;
  • Implements social services programs/policies;
  • Coordinates, plans and manages unit/program activities;
  • Formulates program goals and objectives through the review of agency data;
  • Develops or assists in development of related policy;
  • Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
  • Coordinates research, data analysis and program planning efforts;
  • Monitors, analyzes and evaluates programs/policies to determine cost-effectiveness and quality of service;
  • Identifies and coordinates training needs;
  • Advises leadership of legislative, legal or other program/policy impacts and recommends an appropriate position;
  • Monitors all internally and externally initiated program/policy changes;
  • Researches, prepares and presents testimony to legislative committees, study committees and courts regarding social services issues;
  • Evaluates staff;
  • Prepares or assists in budget preparation;
  • Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact program activities;
  • Acts as agency contact with state, federal and community agencies on social services to ensure service delivery;
  • Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
    • and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • social services programs, early childhood programs, deaf and hard of hearing programs, programs for older adults and/or programs for individuals with intellectual disability or behavioral health issues;
    • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • Knowledge of community organizations and social services agencies;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Considerable ability to interpret complex written material including legal narrative and to assess the impact thereof on programmatic goals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Nine (9) years of professional experience in the delivery of social services programs and/or policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity with programmatic and administrative responsibility for a regional or statewide social services program.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Program Manager, Operations Manager, Public Assistance Consultant, Planning Specialist and Associate Accountant.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Master's degree in social work, public administration, accounting, early childhood education or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience in a managerial role for at least one year with programmatic and administrative responsibility in the DSS Quality Assurance Division.  
  • Experience with Provider and/or Client Fraud Investigations related to the programs administered by the Department of Social Services.  
  • Experience reading and interpreting federal and state laws related to social service programs.  
  • Experience communicating / working with state and/or federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

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.