Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Social Services is hiring an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 1 for its Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity in Hartford, Connecticut. The position supports a fair, inclusive, and equitable workplace by developing and implementing affirmative action initiatives, promoting equal employment opportunities, and helping ensure compliance with relevant policies and requirements. Work includes analyzing employment data, investigating discrimination complaints, coordinating outreach and recruitment, collaborating with agency staff, contributing to training and policy development, and supporting diversity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives. The position is full-time, hybrid, and scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This state-agency class is accountable for developing and implementing affirmative action plans and conducting other activities in an Equal Employment Opportunity program. Incumbents may be required to travel. They must complete five hours of specified training during their first year of service or designation, followed by at least three hours biannually.

Applicants must be current State of Connecticut employees with at least six months of full-time or equivalent state service, subject to applicable collective bargaining provisions, and must meet the minimum qualifications. The general experience requirement is six years of professional experience in affirmative action, equal opportunity assurance, or human resources management. Two years of that experience must involve primary responsibility for affirmative action or equal opportunity assurance in an employment setting. Listed substitutions include qualifying college training, a relevant master's degree or law degree, or, for state employees, two years as an Equal Employment Opportunity Assistant in place of the general and special experience.

Requirements

• Must be a current State of Connecticut employee with at least six months of full-time or full-time-equivalent state service, subject to applicable collective bargaining provisions.
• Six years of professional experience in affirmative action, equal opportunity assurance, or human resources management.
• Two years of the required general experience must involve primary responsibility for affirmative action or equal opportunity assurance in an employment setting.
• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations.
• Knowledge of affirmative action programs, interviewing and counseling techniques, and the merit system selection process, including recruitment, examination, and classification.
• Knowledge of the needs and issues of patients, inmates, students, or clients.
• Considerable interpersonal skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement affirmative action plans; compile, analyze, and evaluate human resources records and statistical information; investigate; assess and define training requirements; and use human resources information systems.
• Must complete five hours of training during the first year of service or designation and at least three hours biannually thereafter; training covers state and federal discrimination laws and internal discrimination investigation techniques.
• May be required to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement affirmative action plans in an Equal Employment Opportunity program.
• Compile and analyze statistical affirmative action data.
• Develop or revise equal employment opportunity procedures.
• Define and conduct outreach initiatives, including recruitment through community and minority organizations and career fairs.
• Conduct career counseling.
• Conduct discrimination complaint investigations.
• Counsel staff on equal employment opportunity matters.
• Review supplier contracts to ensure affirmative action considerations are incorporated.
• Prepare reports.
• Assist Equal Employment Opportunity staff with special projects.
• Assist with training activities.
• Participate in recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interviews, and selection.
• May participate in employment interviews.
• May assist in developing equal employment opportunity policy.
• May assist in monitoring agency compliance with the State of Connecticut Minority and Small Contractor's Set Aside Program.
• May participate in administering affirmative action for patient, student, inmate, or client rights programs.
• May serve as the agency's ADA coordinator.
• Perform related duties as required.

Benefits

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• Healthy work-life balance.
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer; qualifying student loans may be eligible for forgiveness after 10 years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed