Administrative Assistant(Hybrid)

Introduction

The State of Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) is now accepting applications for an Administrative Assistant opportunity within the Social Equity Council (SEC). 

Continue to Enjoy:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page! 
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• The opportunity to 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

Position Details:

• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Monday-Friday
• Hybrid work opportunity
• Office located in Hartford, CT

The Role:

On June 22, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation legalizing and regulating the adult use of cannabis in Connecticut. The legislation made comprehensive changes to create a novel and substantial regulatory and economic development apparatus within the government to operationalize the equitable and responsible legalization of adult-use cannabis. The law specifies numerous equity programs overseen by the Social Equity Council (SEC) and funded by several cannabis-related revenue streams. This position will help with the administrative work within the SEC.

Position Specific Duties Include:

• Scheduling and coordinating all aspects of council and committee meetings
• Organize and schedule appointments
• Plan meetings and take detailed minutes
• Write and distribute emails, correspondence memos, letters, etc.
• Assist in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports
• Develop and maintain a filing system for applicants
• Update and maintain office policies and procedures
• Maintain contact lists
• Submit and reconcile expense reports
• Act as the point of contact for internal and external clients
• Liaise with executive and senior administrative assistants to handle requests and queries from senior managers
• Provide administrative support to the executive director
• Create mail merges and external communications
• Experience using Microsoft Teams, ZOOM or similar platforms in the workplace
• Format reports and presentations in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and PowerPoint

Who We Are:

The mission of SEC is to promote and encourage full participation in the cannabis industry by people disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement and to support broad-based economic development in those communities. SEC is led by an executive director and is overseen by a council comprising appointees from the legislature, governor, and other elected officials. SEC is housed for administrative purposes only within DECD. SEC is responsible for overseeing the verification of social equity applicants, as defined in law, creating new programs to support both cannabis businesses and businesses in other industries, and managing the more general community investments derived from cannabis tax revenue. SEC will work closely with multiple Connecticut agencies and partners, including DECD and DCP, to carry out its duties.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state 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.
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.
• 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 visit our "Applicant Tips on How to Apply" page.

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.
• 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, 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 Hayley Newhouse, at Hayley.Newhouse@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing the most complex tasks in providing both office administration and secretarial support for a major program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs the most complex office administrative duties as described in the following areas:

• TYPING:
  • Using computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment, formats and types a full range of correspondence, reports, bills, drafts, etc. from rough draft, transcription, dictated notes, etc.;
  • Proofreads for content;
  • Edits using knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• FILING:
  • Designs office filing systems;
  • Organizes and maintains files (including confidential files);
  • Maintains, updates and reviews references materials and manuals.
• CORRESPONDENCE:
  • Composes complex letters and/or memoranda, etc. (e.g., explaining department practices and/or policies) for own or manager's signature.
• REPORT WRITING:
  • Researches and assembles information from a variety of sources and prepares statistical and/or narrative reports;
  • Analyzes information and may make recommendations.
• INTERPERSONAL:
  • Acts for manager by interpreting established policies and procedures, etc.;
  • Troubleshoots by relieving manager of as much administrative detail as possible;
  • Acts for and regularly makes decisions in manager's absence (within prescribed limits of authority).
• PROCESSING:
  • Screens letters, memos, reports and other materials to determine action required;
  • May make recommendations to supervisor.
• SECRETARY:
  • Arranges and coordinates meetings (including space and equipment);
  • Researches, assembles and coordinates meeting materials (e.g., charts, graphs, reports);
  • Writes minutes of meetings, lectures, conferences, etc. from rough draft;
  • Takes notes and/or meeting minutes;
  • Prepares expense accounts;
  • Makes travel arrangements.
• OFFICE MANAGEMENT:
  • Authorizes purchases and payments (within prescribed limits of authority);
  • Develops input and prepares documentation for office and/or department budget;
  • Coordinates budget control and monitoring;
  • Develops office and/or department procedural manuals;
  • Assists in interviewing and hiring office support staff;
  • Trains office support staff;
  • May supervise office support staff;

Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • office administration and management;
  • department and/or unit policies and procedures;
  • proper grammar, punctuation and spelling;
  • business communications;
• Knowledge of business math;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
  • operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment;
  • operate office suite software;
  • take notes (shorthand, speedwriting or other method acceptable to manager).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of experience above the routine clerk level in office support or secretarial work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been as a Secretary 2 or its equivalent.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in the secretarial sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of 15 semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience drafting communication such as organizational policy communications, contracts or proposals for manager’s signature.
• Experience supporting diverse stakeholders within disproportionally impacted areas (DIAs), such as residents, and those experiencing persistent poverty or inequality. 
• Experience working with stakeholders in leadership positions such as executive directors or elected leaders or public sector administrators.
• Experience working with non-profit and public sector organizations.
• Experience recording and editing public meeting minutes.

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.