Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director (Major)

CT; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State retirement system

Hazardous Duty position

Pension plan

Job summary

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) seeks an Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director (Major) to lead a statewide conservation law enforcement division, supervise officers, and guide policy, budget, and strategic planning efforts. The role includes overseeing multiple specialized units and serving as a liaison with state and federal partners.

The position requires extensive leadership, administrative oversight, and experience in environmental

Qualifications

• Nine (9) years of professional experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, energy, or related protection field.
• One (1) year of supervisory experience supervising professional/technical staff.
• Substitutions allowed: college degrees may substitute for experience; advanced degrees may substitute for years of service.

Responsibilities

• Directs supervision, inspection and training of personnel assigned to command.
• Evaluates staff performance and develops training.
• Assists in budgeting, strategic planning, recruitment, hiring and internal affairs investigations.
• Oversees reports, correspondence, policy development and asset management.
• Maintains public relations and coordinates with partners across agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Policy development

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Public relations

Job description

Introduction

At the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment- and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy.

DEEP's Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) has responsibility of over 255,000 acres of agency owned lands and waters that includes state forests, state parks, wildlife management areas and boating access areas. The division is responsible for the patrol element of Connecticut’s shellfish program, has a cooperative enforcement agreement with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, boating accident investigation responsibilities and patrol on Connecticut’s state waterways.

BOR is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director (Major) to assist in the operations and management of the Environmental Conservation Police Division. This division has state-wide conservation law enforcement responsibilities and is made up of three unique geographical districts each managed by a district captain that will be directly supervised by the Major.

The mission of the Environmental Conservation Police is to provide natural resource protection and public safety through education, outreach and enforcement in the areas of fish and game, boating, commercial fishing, wildlife management, parks and forests, recreational vehicles, search and rescue, K-9 Unit, homeland security and agency emergency dispatch center. This position is responsible for assisting with the management and oversight of a state-wide law enforcement agency consisting of fifty sworn officers, one permanent administrative secretary, up to twenty part-time sworn officers and a twenty-four hour emergency dispatch center.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

NEW: Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page to learn about our medical and dental insurance plans, sick/vacation/personal leave accruals, state holidays, tuition reimbursement and more!

This is a Hazardous Duty Position and offers a pension plan, the State Employees Retirement System Tier IV. As a Hazardous Duty employee, you will be eligible to retire after just 25 years of service, regardless of your age.

A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here.

POSITION DETAILS

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday position. Some night and weekend work and travel are expected. This position will work out of our downtown Hartford Office, located at 79 Elm Street, across from historic Bushnell Park.

The Major assists in leading a varied and dynamic workforce of environmental conservation police officers with wide-ranging duties in the areas of conservation law enforcement. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Directs continuing supervision, inspection and training of personnel assigned to command;
• Evaluates staff performance;
• Provides or directs staff training and development;
• Assists in preparation of division budget, strategic planning, recruitment and hiring, assignment and adjudication of internal affairs investigations, legislative initiatives, policy development, labor relations, developing memorandum of agreements, asset management and equipment purchases;
• Prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence;
• Performs public relations tasks;
• Oversees special projects;
• Serves as director in his/her absence;
• Performs related duties as required.

This position evaluates law enforcement trends and develops progressive administrative policies and procedures to accomplish bureau and division objectives and ensures implementation of same. The Assistant Director coordinates with local, state and federal law enforcement partners, governmental officials, news media and the general public. In addition to personnel assigned to command, the Assistant Director (Major) will oversee five specialized law enforcement units which include K9, Chemical Immobilization, Boating Accident Reconstruction, Hunting Related Shooting Incidents and Peer Support.

ABOUT DEEP

DEEP is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut's economy and creating jobs – and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.

For an inside look at what it's like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut, please watch the video below!

Selection Plan

POSITION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: Incumbents must have or be able to obtain certification as a certified police officer from the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) within six months of hire.

If Incumbent is not currently a sworn officer from the Agency, the incumbent must meet all Council entry level requirements under CGS 7-294e-16 including a polygraph exam, oral exam, psychological exam, physical and drug screen and full background check.

Outside candidate requirements:

• (In-state) Oral exam, polygraph exam, psychological exam, physical, drug screen and full background check including fingerprints to FBI.
• (Out of state) All of the above plus obtaining a comparative certification as a police officer from POST. This process must go before the POST council for review and approval.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of the staff and programs of a scientific, regulatory and/or technical division.

Examples of Duties

Assists in direction of staff and operations of division;

Determines priorities, coordinates plans and manages activities; assists in formulating program goals and objectives and ensures implementation of same;

Assists in development of related policy, goals and objectives;

Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations;

Evaluates staff performance; provides or directs staff training and development;

Assists in preparation of division budget;

Prepares and/or oversees preparation of reports and correspondence;

Performs public relations tasks;

Oversees special projects;

Serves as director in his/her absence;

Establishes and maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of division who might impact on program activities;

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

Considerable knowledge of

and ability to apply management principles and practices;

relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;

environmental protection principles, techniques, practices and issues;

Considerable

interpersonal skills;

oral and written communication skills;

analytical, organizational and negotiation skills;

Considerable ability to apply relevant agency policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications – General Experience

Nine (9) years of professional experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, energy research, energy planning, energy policy development, public outdoor recreation, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, pollution prevention, reduction and management, environmental regulatory programs or other related environmental protection field.

Minimum Qualifications – Special Experience

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.

NOTE:

Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning and overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.

For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Supervising Environmental Engineer (Environmental Protection), Environmental Protection Supervising Air Pollution Control Engineer, Environmental Protection Supervising Civil Engineer, Supervising Environmental Analyst, Environmental Protection Supervising Forester, Environmental Protection Supervising Fisheries Biologist, Environmental Protection Supervising Wildlife Biologist or other comparable supervisory title responsible for the supervision of professional and technical support staff performing environmental protection work.

Minimum Qualifications – Substitutions Allowed

• College training in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field including but not limited to the biological, earth or physical sciences, environmental planning, conservation law enforcement, environmental law, economics, leisure services, geographic information systems, geography with a concentration in geographic information systems, natural sciences or natural resources 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 a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field including but not limited to the biological, earth or physical sciences, environmental planning, conservation law enforcement, environmental law, economics, leisure services, geographic information systems, geography with a concentration in geographic information systems, natural sciences or natural resources may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
• A law degree with a concentration in environmental protection or doctorate degree in a field related to environmental protection may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.

NOTE: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years of the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Currently certified as an active law enforcement officer or able to be recertified with a certification issued by the State of Connecticut POSTC standards with no suspensions in the last two years, revocations, pending disciplinary actions or currently the subject of an ongoing internal investigation.
• Experience leading, supervising and managing a geographically dispersed law enforcement program or organization at the rank equivalent to Lieutenant or higher.
• Experience with the principles, practices and administration of a conservation law enforcement organization.
• Leadership training such as the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Leadership Academy, Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy or equivalent nationally recognized Executive Law Enforcement training program.
• A bachelor's degree or higher in public administration, business administration, communications, law enforcement administration, or criminal justice.
• Experience leading or managing specialized units including a K9 program, Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit, Hunting Related Incident Investigations, Chemical Immobilization Team, Emergency Communications Dispatch Center, Public Relations Team, and Peer Support.
• Experience drafting press releases, responding to media inquiries and participating in press conferences.
• Experience working with municipal, state and federal officials, community groups, environmental advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations.
• Experience with strategic analysis including planning and implementing goals.
• Experience with Professional Standards to include State Accreditation and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), Internal Affairs processes, inspection processes, or administrative investigations
• Experience developing, reviewing and implementing agency policies, directives, and operational procedures consistent with statutory authority and professional standards.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class will be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to obtain a security clearance.
• Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certifications.

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.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.