State of Connecticut – Department of Veterans Affairs Hiring for Manager Of Community Advocacy (Hybrid) Job at Rocky Hill, CT Full Time

The State of Connecticut, Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an experienced and qualified individual for the position of Manager of Community Advocacy to be part of their leadership team. This is a great opportunity to serve and support our Connecticut Veterans and their eligible dependents. This role will report directly to the agency’s Commissioner.

• AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
• ADDRESS: 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT
• SCHEDULE: Full-Time, 40 hours weekly, Monday through Friday
• WORK ENVIRONMENT: Hybrid

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU – Comprehensive Benefits which include:

• Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage;
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
• Retirement healthcare offerings;
• Accrued vacation, personal and sick leave;
• 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
• Professional growth and development opportunities; and
• Outstanding work-life balance!

AS MANAGER OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY YOU WILL:

• Provide continuous direct engagement and coordination with statewide Veteran service organizations of Veteran’s benefits events, community programs and ceremonies across the state;
• Serve as liaison for intergovernmental matters with municipalities, state and federal elected officials, Constitutional offices and executive agencies at the state and federal levels;
• Oversee acceptance and distribution of donations for Veterans residing at the DVA’s Rocky Hill Campus and community-based Veterans;
• Manage, in coordination with the agency’s fiscal office, five donation funds which are: Veterans Outreach and Support, Veteran and Service Member Stand Down, Facility Fund Quality of Life Improvements, Veterans Recreation Fund, and Holiday Funds State Veterans Cemetery Perpetual Care;
• Coordinate volunteer groups and individuals which provide supportive programming to on-campus Veterans including, but not limited to, bingo, musical performances, picnics, pet therapy and holiday events;
• Work directly with the Office of the Commissioner and DVA managers to plan, prepare, and execute a variety of on and off campus ceremonies and events honoring Veterans; and
• Maintain the agencies Social Media outreach program.

DVA has a long history of “Serving Those Who Served“; since 1864, the Agency has supported Connecticut Veterans and continues this tradition through our four core programs at our campus in Rocky Hill and around the State:

• Residential Programs and Services: Providing temporary individual and family supportive living facilities with programming designed to return Connecticut Veterans to independent living in the community;
• Skilled Nursing at the Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center: A state-of-the-art long-term care facility for Veterans with chronic, disabling conditions who require 24-hour clinical support.
• Office of Advocacy and Assistance: Assists Veterans and eligible dependents in obtaining Veterans benefits under federal, state and local laws through Veteran Service Officers assigned to each Congressional District;
• Cemetery and Memorial Services: The State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown is the only operating official Veterans cemetery in Connecticut and offers several interment options for Veterans with full military honors and for their spouses.

Come make an impact as a Manager of Community Advocacy with the State of Connecticut. See what it is like to be part of an amazing team!

This position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination Immunization.

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
• 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 [email protected]
• This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

• 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 (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question’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.
• 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, 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.

• 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. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Doreen Clemson at [email protected] or 860-785-9855.

#INDHP

In the Offices of the Secretary of State and Workforce Competitiveness and Departments of Education, Social Services, Transportation and Veterans Affairs this class is accountable for developing, advocating and/or managing community liaison relationships and programs impacted by agency policy and services.

• Directs staff and operations of a program;
• Coordinates, plans and manages unit activities;
• Formulates program goals and objectives;
• Develops or makes recommendations on development or revision of policies and standards;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of unit and/or division budget;
• Maintains contacts and acts as liaison with municipal, corporate, community and legislative leaders to identify and resolve issues relative to impact of agency programs on local operations and programs;
• Provides technical assistance and administrative oversight to local and regional boards in development and implementation of plans and programs;
• Serves as an advocate with federal and/or state government or providers on behalf of agency and community programs;
• Develops action plans and works with community programs to implement these plans;
• Prepares reports and correspondence;
• May review and make recommendations on requests for additional funding or expanded services;
• May perform related duties in areas of grant management and administration;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • relevant agency policies and procedures;
  • public or urban policy;
  • program evaluation and monitoring functions;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to develop
  • implement and evaluate goals and objectives;
  • and manage budgets and grants.

Our ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with news media, public officials, and Veteran stakeholder organizations.
• Experience developing and executing marketing, publicity, and outreach plans.
• Experience writing press releases, official statements, and developing marketing materials for public agency programs and events.
• Experience delivering messages and disseminating information to community-based non-profit and civic organizations, state agencies, news media and the public.
• Experience advocating for Veterans.