The State of Connecticut, Office of Early Childhood is now seeking to fill the position of The Local Governance Program Manager (State Program Manager) in Hartford, CT.
What We Can Offer You:
- Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and development opportunities.
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
Position Details:
- Full-time, 40 hours/week
- Monday-Friday
- 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Located in Hartford, CT
- Hybrid work opportunity
The Role:The Local Governance Partner Program Manager will oversee the statewide Local Governance Partner Intermediary contract, including management of program strategies, deliverables, performance measures, and data systems to ensure alignment with Office of Early Childhood (OEC) priorities.
This role will supervise assigned staff and collaborate closely with the intermediary, community stakeholders, local governance partners, and cross-agency teams to strengthen and support state and locally driven early childhood systems and initiatives.
The Program Manager will support effective contract implementation and oversight, continuous quality improvement, strategic coordination, and accountability efforts to advance equitable, responsive, and community-informed services for children and families.
Duties Include:
- Manage and oversees the statewide Local Governance Partner Intermediary contract, including monitoring deliverables, timelines, compliance requirements, budget, and performance outcomes
- Serve as the primary liaison between the agency and the Local Governance Partner Intermediary to ensure effective communication, coordination, and alignment with OEC priorities and strategic goals
- Coordinate, plan, and manage activities related to local governance partner implementation, technical assistance, and continuous quality improvement efforts
- Develop and advances program goals, objectives, and performance measures to strengthen local early childhood governance systems and community collaboration
- Assist in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, guidance, and operational practices related to local governance partner initiatives
- Interpret and administers applicable laws, regulations, policies, contracts, and program requirements
- Monitor programmatic and fiscal performance, reviews reports and data, and ensures accountability for contract outcomes and deliverables
- Provide supervision, guidance, coaching, and evaluation for assigned staff and consultants, as applicable
- Prepare or assist in the preparation and management of budgets, contract amendments, procurement documents, and related fiscal activities
- Maintain collaborative relationships with community partners, local governance entities, state agencies, and other stakeholders whose work impacts program implementation and outcomes
- Serve on committees, advisory groups, and task forces related to local governance, systems building, and early childhood initiatives
- Represent the agency and presents information to professional, community, and public audiences regarding local governance partner strategies, initiatives, and outcomes
- Lead or support recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention activities for assigned staff
- Support continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, data collection, reporting, and evaluation activities to strengthen program effectiveness and statewide coordination
- Perform related duties as required.
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 [email protected].
- 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.
- This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.
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.
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 Hayley Newhouse at [email protected].
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
In a state agency this class is accountable for planning, organizing and directing an agency program and/or project or directing the development and administration of programs within a division.
Receives administrative direction from an administrative official of higher grade.
Directs staff as assigned.
- Directs staff and/or operations of an agency program and/or project or division;
- Coordinates, plans and manages program and/or project activities;
- Formulates goals and objectives;
- Develops or assists in development of related policy;
- Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
- Provides input or evaluates staff;
- Prepares or assists in preparation of budget;
- Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of agency who might impact on program and/or project activities;
- Serves on committees and/or task forces as required;
- Speaks before professional and lay groups on subjects related to the agency mission;
- Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
- Performs related duties as required.
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to apply management principles and practices;
- relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
- project management;
- principles and practices of business and public administration with emphasis on effective organization, administration and management
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Considerable ability to analyze organizational problems and determine effective solutions.
Nine (9) years of professional experience.
One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in the specific area of assignment.
- 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 business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
- Department of Labor: Two (2) years of experience as an Apprenticeship and Training Program Manager may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.
- Experience working with state and federal early childhood programs, policies, and funding, including supporting program implementation and coordination across agencies and partners.
- Experience conducting community needs assessments, analyzing data, identifying priorities, and supporting the development of action plans to improve outcomes for young children and families.
- Experience developing and facilitating community coalitions and cross sector partnerships involving education, health, family support, housing, and social services.
- Experience promoting parent and family engagement, including creating opportunities for families to participate in planning and decision making processes.
- Experience building and maintaining partnerships with families, community leaders, policymakers, service providers, and local officials, including facilitating meetings and communicating complex information.
