Principal Human Resources Specialist (EEO)

State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative Services; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth opportunities

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS) invites applications for a Principal Human Resources Specialist-EEO at the EEO Center of Excellence in Hartford. You will lead the EEO program, supervise a professional team, and work with agency leadership to maintain compliance and equity in employment decisions.

Responsibilities include managing investigations, policy development, and training, while collaborating across the agency to ensure best practices and statewide

Qualifications

• Eight years of professional experience in human resources management or equal employment opportunity or labor relations management.
• One year at full working level in HR or EEO or labor relations for state employees.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a specialized service delivery team and provide direction for the EEO program.
• Oversee complex investigations involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with HR, employment and equal opportunity laws and policies.
• Lead recruitment and hiring activities and provide staff training.

Skills

HR management

Employment law

Workplace investigations

Leadership/ supervision

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is seeking an experienced and strategic Principal Human Resources Specialist to work at the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Center of Excellence. This is a unique opportunity to shape Statewide agency EEO strategy, supervise a team of dedicated professionals, and help foster a workplace where fairness, equity and compliance are at the forefront of every employment decision. The DAS EEO Center of Excellence administers multiple Agency’s non-discrimination policies and ensures compliance with Federal and State equal opportunity laws including but not limited to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

THE ROLE

As the Principal Human Resources Specialist-EEO, you will provide leadership and direction for the EEO program, supervising professional staff and overseeing complex investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The incumbent will possess exceptional analytical, communication, and organizational skills and can effectively navigate complex issues while balancing competing priorities. In this highly visible leadership role, you will partner with agency leadership to ensure the agency maintains the highest standards of compliance and accountability that fosters a workplace culture grounded in equity and respect. The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in employment law, workplace investigations, compliance, and program administration. Success in this role requires sound judgement, professionalism, and the ability to exercise discretion when handling confidential information. This position requires the incumbent to be committed to advancing fair, equitable, and legally compliant employment practices and the ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels of the agency while leading a high performing team committed to excellence in public service.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• First shift hours, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Work schedule flexibility is required in order to meet the demands of the job
• Hybrid work schedule
• Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, CT

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.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor or for performing highly complex activities within a specialized service delivery team or a unit with statewide impact.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Supervises and provides guidance over the work of a specialized service delivery team;
• Plans workflow and determines priorities;
• Proposes, formulates and implements policies and operational procedures, including changes that streamline human resources systems and take advantage of technology;
• Interprets, administers and ensures compliance with human resources, employment and equal opportunity laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Develops new job classifications and new job classification series and uses job evaluation systems and methodologies to evaluate jobs and set salaries;
• Evaluates team and provides guidance and assistance on complex issues;
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
• Communicates with agency human resources business partners, bargaining unit representatives and other stakeholders to ensures cooperative relationships;
• Provides training and development to team members and/or other staff;
• Conducts difficult recruitments involving high level positions;
• Advise administrative officials, managers and supervisors regarding policies and guidelines;
• Collaborates with administrative officials in strategic planning to ensure alignment of activities with organizational goals and strategies;
• Monitors and plans for emerging program needs;
• Analyzes and resolves complex situations and issues;
• Performs job audits, or other fact finding techniques, related to individual job classification and job classification studies;
• Prepares or directs preparation of reports, manuals and correspondence;
• Interprets and ensures adherence to collective bargaining agreements;
• Leads the processing of workers' compensation claims;
• Acts as a lead in such areas as leaves (e.g., family, medical, military), and tuition reimbursement;
• Serves as a project team leader on complex human resources projects involving the conduct of best practice research and the development and implementation of new systems, training initiatives and other projects with statewide impact;
• Leads or participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Ensures all records, files and folders are maintained, updated and digitized, where applicable;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of human resources management principles and practices;
• Relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of employment practices related to civil rights, equal employment opportunity, job classification, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefit programs, pay administration, workers compensation, human resources information systems and labor relations;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• Oral and written communication skills;
• Conflict resolution skills;
• Considerable ability to supervise and lead team to accomplish goals and objectives;
• Analyze and balance partners need with laws, regulations, policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreements;
• Ability to strategically plan including succession planning;
• Apply innovative solutions to organizational problems;
• Supervise.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of professional experience in human resources management or equal employment opportunity/affirmative action or labor relations management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the full working level in human resources management or equal employment opportunity/affirmative action or labor relations management. NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources Generalist 2, or Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in human resources management, labor relations, business administration, public administration, 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.
• For state employees one (1) year as a Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources Generalist 2, or Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist 2 may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supervising professional staff including experience in conducting annual performance evaluations
• Experience overseeing workplace investigations including assigning, monitoring and reviewing investigative work for compliance requirements
• Experience testifying at hearings, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings
• Experience conducting internal and external training on investigation’s complaint intake procedures, investigative protocols, agency reporting requirements, and the recommendation process
• Experience in the organization and archiving methodology of investigative files
• Experience designing and delivering ADA compliance-based training
• Experience interpreting and advising employees on human resources policies, procedures, and collective bargaining (union) agreements
• Experience managing recruitments using the state’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS), JobAps

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.