Job Description

Introduction
Are you passionate about wanting to build an Early Childhood system that ensures all young children in Connecticut are safe, healthy, learning, and thriving?
Do you have experience overseeing and/or implementing grants and early childhood education programs and professional development?
If so, we encourage you to apply!
The , Office of Early Childhood ( ), is currently accepting applications for a within its Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), program.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new

page! * Professional growth and development opportunities

• A healthy

to all employees
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Full Time, 40 hours per week
• First Shift
• Monday through Friday
• Hybrid/telework opportunity available
• Location: 450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT

THE ROLE
As a Family and Community Services Director, you will have the opportunity to:

• Help lead the agency efforts to leverage funds from the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) to support families and children with high quality child care
• Manage the responsibilities of the federal CCDF program, including programmatic and fiscal reporting, ensuring federal compliance, and implementing a state-wide child care subsidy system
• Direct state-wide initiatives related to quality improvement for child care programs and the child care workforce.
• Partner with agency leaders overseeing state funded programs, head start, and quality initiatives to build a cohesive early childhood system
• Oversee staff working on the CCDF funded projects to ensure contract compliance, program fidelity, program quality
• Oversee large state contracts with agency partners

ABOUT US
The Office of Early Childhood is the lead agency for early childhood services for the state's youngest children; including early care and education, home visiting, developmental support, and program and provider development and is currently recruiting for a Family and Community Services Director.
Our agency's mission is to support all young children by ensuring that early childhood policy, funding and services strengthen the critical role families, providers, educators, and communities play in a child's life. We believe in ensuring all children are safe, healthy, learning and thriving, and having a strong team is critical to us successfully achieving these goals.
Our mission and vision serve as the guideposts for the development of policies and programs, and also ensure that we work to actively and purposefully dismantle racism and advance equity for all individuals throughout the early childhood system and the professional selected to fill this role must align with, believe in and promote this mission and vision.
We are looking for professionals to join our team who align with and will promote this mission and vision.
Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee!
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our ! Need more resources? Visit our 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

, 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

. * 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:

• 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

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

.
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 Sharon McIntosh, at
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Children and Families and Office of Early Childhood this class is accountable for directing the development of and administering a comprehensive statewide system of family and community programs and services as it relates to children served by the agency.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations of the unit;
• Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of budget, as assigned;
• Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of unit who might impact on policy or program activities;
• Reviews and evaluates availability and uses of federal and state funds;
• Develops and recommends service expansion and/or modification;
• Identifies, reviews and recommends community service offerings;
• Recommends changes necessary to implement, coordinate and integrate services across the agency;
• Evaluates responsiveness of program and activities in the community;
• Develops and recommends changes to statutes and regulations;
• Monitors progress of department sponsored legislation as well as other legislation impacting the department;
• Prepares comprehensive reports;
• Works with federal, state and community agencies in developing and implementing new or modified programs;
• Provides for quality and cost-effective delivery of services;
• Leads 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;
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
• relevant community programs and services;
• Knowledge of

• state legislative process;
• Considerable

• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable organizational and administrative ability;
• Ability to draft and interpret legislation and administrative regulations, proposals and reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Nine (9) years of experience in a managerial or administrative capacity in an organization having programmatic and/or regulatory responsibilities.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supervising staff
• Experience interpreting and planning compliance with State and Federal child care regulations and reporting
• Experience in public policy, early childhood education, or social sciences
• Experience with early childhood education quality improvement systems and strategies
• Experience with overseeing compliance of contractors
• Experience with technology systems to support program implementation
• Experience with program management and budget development

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
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.

Skills Required