STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Planning Specialist

Recruitment #230912-0011AR-001

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Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is currently seeking motivated team players who are eager to contribute their expertise within the Retirement Services Division as a Planning Specialist. Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, competitive benefits, and culture that encourages work/life balance.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’:  State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • Competitive starting salary
  • Excellent state benefits package, including health and dental coverage
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 holidays per calendar year
  • Alternate work schedules and a culture that encourages work/life balance
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Full-Time, 40 hours per week
  • Monday through Friday
  • Location: 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
  • Hybrid (office/telework) may be available
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
  • You possess extensive planning, research, and retirement experience.
  • You are a motivated team player, excited about the prospect of assisting the Office of the State Comptroller implement benefit structure reforms. 
  • You are passionate about helping employees secure their financial futures.
  • You value fiscal responsibility and want to be a responsible steward of State resources.
  • You have a background in accounting and financial services and a strong sense of budgetary controls.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and managing reforms to the newly evolving Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System (CMERS), which provides lifetime retirement benefits to employees of 160 government entities in 170 Connecticut cities and towns; 
  • Collaborate closely with our executive office and external partners to ensure the success of CMERS;
  • Conduct research, develop strategies, and oversee the launch of a Deferred Retirement Option Plan;
  • Monitor and evaluate plan documents, SPD’s, agreements, policy, and briefs related to CMERS; 
  • Take a lead role in communicating the range of pension reforms to a wide audience, including human resources and finance staff within the various participating municipalities, collective bargaining units and individual participants to ensure transparency and understanding;
  • Ensure that the agency completes the fiscal and administrative functions necessary to the daily operations to fulfill reporting requirements within the federal and state guidelines; 
  • Manage personnel, pension and position issues for CMERS employees, retirees, annuitants, agency personnel and payroll.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
The 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. 

We are located in the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT. This state-of-the-art building offers free garage parking, an on-site cafeteria, and ergonomic workspaces.

The Retirement Services Division provides oversight and management of the state pension plans serving more than 40,000 state retirees, performing a comprehensive package of services including retirement counseling, processing retirement applications from state agencies, analyzes and implements mandated revisions to pension plans, and develops new products based on retirement conditions and trends. 

In March 2023, Comptroller Sean Scanlon organized a working group to propose a set of reforms to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System (CMERS) benefits provisions with the goal of ensuring the financial security of the plan participants. The group proposed a series of measures that were adopted by the Legislature in June of this year, which will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

Selection Plan

For assistance in applying, please visit our 'Applicant Tips on How to Apply' page

TO APPLY
  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Please ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • 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.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU APPLY
  • 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.
  • 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. 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.
  • 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.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • 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 which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, the State of Connecticut is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sara Garrett at osc.hr@ct.gov or 860-702-3572.  
  • Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a State agency, this class is accountable for performing as a specialist in a planning area in support of program and policies.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs highly specialized complex duties in a planning and program area; supervises planning, development, coordination and administration of program operations; formulates, recommends, implements policies and guidelines for program; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding program policies and procedures; provides technical and consultative services regarding program; prepares reports and correspondence; speaks before groups regarding program; may testify before legislative committees; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of relevant State and Federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of principles and practices of state and regional planning; considerable knowledge of research methods and techniques; knowledge of relevant programs in private agencies, other states and at national level; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; ability to interpret and evaluate research data; ability to utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of experience in planning including developing written long term plans broad in scope and having impact on a number of operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in planning at or above the level of Lead Planning Analyst.
Note: Planning is defined as collecting and analyzing technical data (social, environmental, economic, governmental), determining problems and concerns and developing long-term plans accordingly. These are formal, written plans, i.e., statements of goals and objectives, recommended alternatives for action and policies and programs to achieve the goals and objectives. Generally, these plans will impact statewide activities or a large-scale corporation which has branch or satellite facilities. Candidates must often perform these types of duties the majority of time and the planning function must be the major thrust of the job.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. 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.
2. A Master's degree in planning, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Actuarial Science, Accounting, Math, or related field.
  • Master's degree.
  • Experience interpreting and applying relevant state and federal laws, collective bargaining agreements, and legal/court decisions relative to public employee pension benefits.
  • Experience planning and managing projects, including working with a team as well as independently.
  • Experience conducting policy-oriented research and presenting findings in presentations or written materials, demonstrating professional communication with little editorial oversight, and communicating effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies. 
  • Experience critically evaluating information from multiple sources, reconciling conflicts, decomposing high-level information into details, synthesizing large amounts of information into effective policy articulations, and being proactive in seeking solutions to challenges. 
  • Experience managing and maintaining priorities and tasks with attention to detail to complete rapid turn-around of materials and successfully meet deadlines.

Conclusion

INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES AND THOSE RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE INDICATED ABOVE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

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. If you require accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Sara Garrett at osc.hr@ct.gov. 




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