STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Legal Program Director

Hybrid

Recruitment #240321-0559MP-001

Introduction



The State of Connecticut, Social Equity Council (SEC) is now accepting applications for a Legal Program Director in Hartford, CT. 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  • Competitive starting salary
  • NEW: A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Learn more about managerial roles in our Managers Guide
  • Generous paid time off including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Learn more about what sets us apart as an employer with our Employer Value Proposition.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Ample free parking with easy access from major highways or by public transportation
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Work for a Forbes top company: 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
  • State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.  Click here for more information.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Full-time (40 hours per week)
  • Monday through Friday 
  • First shift
  • Located at 450 Columbus Blvd in Hartford, CT
  • Hybrid position (offering a combination of in-office and remote work)
ABOUT THE ROLE
The SEC Legal Director will supervise and manage any outside counsel on matters including, but not limited to: 
  • Labor and employment-related matters; 
  • Contracts and procurement; 
  • Litigation and claims; 
  • Public records; 
  • Open meeting law; 
  • Ethics. 
ABOUT US
The Social Equity Council (“SEC”) as charged promoting and encouraging full participation in the adult-use cannabis industry by people disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement; and to support broad-based economic development in those communities.
The SEC Legal Director will provide day-to-day legal advice, representation and support to the SEC and its staff on a broad range of complex legal, business, operations and regulatory issues. 

Please watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee! 

Selection Plan

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. 

To Apply:


  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this 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.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed 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.
  • Please 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.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, 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 recruiter listed on this job posting.

  • 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.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

  • Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important Information After You Apply:

  • 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 questionnaire'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.
  • 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.
  • 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • 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.

Connect With Us:

  • 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. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jasmyn.Raymond@ct.gov

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Consumer Protection, Office of Early Childhood and Social Equity Council (SEC) this class is accountable for directing staff engaged in conducting research and advising on matters pertaining to law, legislation, regulations and administrative policy.

In a Constitutional Office this class is accountable for managing programs and processes, conducting research and advising leadership on matters pertaining to legislation, regulations, contracts and/or administrative policy.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Providing legal advice and counsel to the Executive Director and SEC to support daily operations and strategic initiatives associated with the verification of social equity applicants, the creations of new programs to support both cannabis businesses and businesses in other industries and the management of community investments derived from cannabis tax revenue.
  • Managing all legal activities of the SEC supervision of any professional, paralegal and support personnel.
  • Supervising and handling claims, suits and potential legal actions by and against the SEC, assuring timely and effective handling of each matter.
  • Remaining current on legal decisions and trends and maintain a comprehensive understanding of rapidly evolving cannabis laws that are relevant to the work of the SEC.
  • Assisting in the drafting of regulations. 
  • Advise and consult with SEC, the Executive Director and stakeholders to identify critical legal issues, assess potential legal options, and provide individuals and teams with an analysis and range of possible legal solutions.
  • Develop standardized documents and designing and implementing compliance plans, operational guides, compliance checklists, standard operating procedures, and recommendations pertaining to a variety of regulations.
  • Assisting in investigations and enforcement processes.
  • Overseeing procurement processes in conjunction with the Executive Director.
  • Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies.
  • Managing budget and outside counsel engagements.
  • Attending and representing the SEC at public meetings, hearings and other appearances.
  • Assisting the Executive Director in the establishment of employment and administrative policies and procedures. 
  • Act as a liaison with government regulatory bodies and administrative agencies on behalf of the SEC.
  • More information can be found here

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • relevant agency policies and procedures;
    • Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
    • legislative process;
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
  • Considerable ability to interpret, analyze and prepare legislation and other legal documents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience as an attorney with some responsibility for research, development, planning and review of legislative and/or regulatory and/or legal programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with cannabis regulation
  • Experience analyzing and interpreting statutes and court decisions
  • Experience with the Connecticut Uniform Administrative Procedure Act
  • Experience with legislative drafting and regulatory drafting
  • Experience practicing law in a law firm, government agency or organization, or legal non-profit organization

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must be a member of the Connecticut Bar.

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.