What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Elections Director (Secretary of the State Assistant Division Director) position at State of Connecticut - Office of the Secretary of...?
The State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State (SOTS) is currently seeking dynamic, passionate individuals eager to contribute their experience within the Legislation and Election Administration Division (LEAD) as the Assistant Elections Director (Assistant Division Director). Join our team and embark on a rewarding career that offers growth, superlative benefits, and a culture that encourages work/life balance.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- Join a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on America’s Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024.
- Comprehensive health and dental insurance, providing you with peace of mind and access to quality healthcare.
- Robust pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings to secure your financial future.
- Generous paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, personal days, and 13 holidays per calendar year.
- We are an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, which means you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.
- A culture that recognizes the importance of work/life balance and offers alternate work schedules and telecommuting options.
- Opportunities to invest in your professional growth and development with training programs, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for advancement within the State of Connecticut.
- Connecticut is a strong community with a lot to offer in entertainment, food and shopping, recreation in our beautiful state parks and forests, diverse culture, and rich history. Learn more about all Connecticut has to offer.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- Full-Time, 40 hours per week
- Monday through Friday
- Location: Hartford, CT
- Hybrid (office/telework) may be available
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF
- You’re familiar with government operations, the Secretary of the State’s mission, and Connecticut electoral issues.
- You can be a leader in a nonpartisan workplace.
- You’re a motivating and supportive manager, able to leverage your leadership skills to build consensus and coach successful cross-functional teams.
- You’re able to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines and quickly generate solutions to problems.
- You value providing prompt quality service and improving access to information.
- You have a passion for promoting participation in the democratic process by providing a wide range of services for the people and businesses of Connecticut.
- You want to do work that matters and want to build a better Connecticut with the Office of the Secretary of the State.
DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
- Assist the Division Director in managing all aspects of LEAD’s projects, programs, and staff;
- Assign and provide oversight for all election and voter registration functions;
- Supervise four (4) Staff Attorneys, six (6) Elections Officers, and two (2) administrative support staff members;
- Ensure compliance with registration and election laws;
- Coordinate the training of local election officials;
- Draft legislative proposals and regulations;
- Monitor changes in federal election law, funding sources, and grant opportunities;
- Serve as a liaison between the agency and registrars of voters, town clerks, municipal governments, other state agencies, other state governments, and the federal government;
- Attend regional and statewide meetings of town clerks and registrars organizations;
- Receive and respond to public inquiries, requests for assistance, and complaints regarding areas of responsibility;
- Work with the IT Director to strengthen Connecticut’s cybersecurity infrastructure, manage existing technology, and implement new technology for election systems, accessible voting systems, online voter registration, motor-voter registration, and other agency programs;
- Monitor available Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds or other funding sources and grant opportunities;
- Support the Division Director as needed for responsibilities associated with the National Association of Election Directors (NASED), the Electronic Voter Registration Center (ERIC), and other national boards as requested by the Secretary and Division Director.
ABOUT US
The Office of the Secretary of the State (SOTS) is designated by the Constitution and General Statutes of Connecticut as the official keeper of a wide array of public records and documents. As a vital source of information regarding various businesses, commercial lenders, elections, legislation, regulations and other areas, this office is responsible for responding to more than 600,000 requests for information annually.
The Legislation and Election Administration Division (LEAD) administers, interprets and implements all state and federal laws pertaining to elections, primaries, nominating procedures, and the acquisition and exercise of voting rights. The Division encourages and monitors the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act and other voter registration efforts in Connecticut. In addition, the division is the official keeper of all acts, orders, grants, and resolutions of the General Assembly, receives and maintains legislation, regulations and a wide range of other public documents as required by statute, and administers Connecticut’s notary public program.
Selection Plan
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library 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 DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- 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 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, but your application may be considered 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.
CONNECT WITH US
- 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 any questions about this recruitment, please contact Emily Kennedy at Emily.Kennedy@ct.gov.
- Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn to stay updated on our career opportunities and news.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Office of the Secretary of the State this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of programs, activities and operations of a division.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Assists in directing staff and operations of a programmatic division and works in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General;
- Coordinates, plans and manages division activities;
- Assist in formulating and implementing goals and objectives;
- Assists in the development of related policy;
- Interprets and administers pertinent state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and legislation to ensure conformance with statutory purpose and authority;
- Evaluates staff;
- Assists in the preparation of the division budget;
- Establishes and maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of the division who might impact on program activities;
- Assists in the implementation of new procedures and procedural revisions;
- Provides or directs staff training and development;
- Prepares and oversees the preparation of reports and correspondence;
- Performs public relations tasks;
- Serves as the Division Director in their absence;
- Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
- Performs related duties as required.
LEGISLATIVE AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
- Oversees the preparation and editing of nominating and primary petition forms, nominating forms, ballots, lists of candidates;
- Assists in the drafting of legislation and testimony for legislative committees related to election law;
- Assists the Director with Election Official Conferences and conducts training for election officials;
- Oversees the preparation and publication of State Register and Manual and other governmental information;
- Oversees the transmittal of Public and Special Acts passed by the General Assembly;
- Oversees the appointment of Notaries Public;
- Oversees and advises attorneys in conduct of disciplinary hearings;
- Oversees the filing of regulations, special acts, executive orders, ordinances, extradition papers, official bonds of all state agencies and municipalities.
BUSINESS SERVICES – COMMERCIAL RECORDING
- Oversees the examination of all documents submitted for filing for conformance with corporation, limited partnership, uniform commercial code and trademark laws and payment of statutory fees and taxes;
- Renders assistance to attorneys on all legal aspects of corporation, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, statutory trusts, general partnerships, writs and Uniform Commercial Code, trademark laws, church corporations, insurance companies and bank filings;
- Oversees preparation of special certificates and certification of documents of record.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to apply management principles and practices;
- relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
- Uniform Administrative Procedures Act;
- legislative process and procedures;
- Knowledge of
- Connecticut and federal election law;
- corporation, limited partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, general partnership statement of authority and trademark, Uniform Commercial Code, banks, insurance companies and public service corporation laws;
- records management;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Considerable ability to interpret, analyze and prepare complex legislation and other legal documents;
- Ability to
- analyze organizational problems and determine effective solutions;
- apply relevant agency policies and procedures.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Nine (9) years of experience in the area of election, corporate, or trademark law or a related field.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory or consultative capacity.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
- 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 public administration, public policy or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
- A law degree may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in a supervisory or team lead role with responsibility for delegating tasks, monitoring performance, motivating staff, and ensuring the completion of defined program goals.
- Experience leading teams or projects with demonstrated ability to organize work, manage competing deadlines, navigate change initiatives, and build or support cross-functional teams.
- Experience communicating with diverse audiences, including preparing professional correspondence and data-driven presentations, delivering public remarks, and managing interpersonal relationships using both verbal and written communication.
- Experience in elections administration or interpreting and applying election laws.
- Experience with the political and legislative process.
- Experience interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations, and policies and explaining interpretation to broad audiences in an accurate, complete, and understandable manner.