Senior Policy Advisor – Education

State of Connecticut - Office of Policy and Management; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth and development

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management seeks a Senior Policy Advisor—Education (Undersecretary for Education) to guide statewide education policy, coordinate with the Department of Education, and shape budget and implementation strategies. The role demands strategic policy development and cross-agency collaboration across K-12, higher education, and workforce initiatives.

The successful candidate will bring deep policy expertise, rigorous analytic capability, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Experience developing statewide or large-system K-12 policy.
• Knowledge of education finance, school funding, governance, accountability, and federal education programs.
• Experience translating budget, legislative, regulatory, and programmatic analysis into recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple agencies, levels of government, school districts, higher education institutions, or other stakeholders.
• Advanced degree in education policy, public policy, public administration, economics, law, or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior advisor to the OPM Secretary on statewide K-12 education policy, finance, governance, student outcomes, accountability, educator workforce, school facilities, and related matters.
• Identify emerging state and federal education issues; assess their fiscal, legal, operational, and equity implications; and recommend options for executive action, budget development, or legislation.
• Develop and evaluate policy proposals in coordination with OPM’s Budget and Financial Management divisions, the Governor’s Office, education agencies, municipalities, school districts, and other partners.
• Analyze education funding formulas, agency and grant expenditures, program performance, enrollment and demographic trends, and relevant administrative data to inform recommendations and resource allocation.
• Lead or support the development of implementation plans for approved education initiatives, including objectives, timelines, agency responsibilities, performance measures, risks, and decision points.
• Convene and facilitate interagency and cross-sector working groups; build alignment among agencies and stakeholders; resolve policy and implementation issues; and elevate decisions requiring executive direction.
• Monitor federal legislation, regulations, funding, and administrative actions affecting Connecticut education programs and coordinate an appropriate state response.
• Promote alignment across K-12 education, early childhood, higher education, workforce development, and economic-development policy, including dual credit and career and technical education.
• Prepare concise decision memoranda, policy papers, budget analyses, presentations, talking points, testimony support, and briefings for the Secretary and senior officials.
• Represent the OPM Secretary on boards, commissions, task forces, and in meetings with state agencies and education leaders.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Budget coordination

Education

Master's degree in public policy/public administration

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Data analysis tools

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor— Education (Undersecretary for Education) to advise the OPM Secretary and help shape and implement the Administration’s education priorities.

The position will focus principally on prekindergarten through grade 12 policy, finance, governance, accountability, and program implementation. Knowledge of higher education policy—and experience connecting K-12, postsecondary education, workforce development, and the state’s economic goals is strongly preferred.

What we can offer you: Our State Employee Benefits Overview. Professional growth and development opportunities. A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Position highlights: This is a full time (40 hours per week) position conveniently located in Hartford, CT, easily accessible to all major highways.

Location: Office of Policy and Management

Address: 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

Work hours: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week

Schedule: Monday through Friday

About us: At OPM, we report directly to the Governor and provide information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy for the state. We also assist state agencies and municipalities in implementing the law and public policy on behalf of the people of Connecticut. We prepare the Governor’s budget proposals; implement and monitor the execution of the enacted budget; and oversee the executive branch agencies that report to the Governor.

THE ROLE: The Senior Policy Advisor—Education (Undersecretary for Education) will serve as OPM’s principal senior advisor on statewide education policy. Working across OPM divisions and in partnership with the State Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, constituent units of higher education, municipalities, school districts, and the Governor’s Office, the advisor will develop policy options, analyze fiscal and operational impacts, coordinate priority initiatives, and provide clear recommendations to senior leadership.

The successful candidate will combine deep subject-matter knowledge with disciplined policy analysis, strong judgment, and the ability to move complex initiatives from concept through implementation.

This is an unclassified position that serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Learn more about making an impaCT by serving the state of Connecticut by watching the video below:

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

This class serves as an Undersecretary in the Office of Policy and Management with responsibility for the development and analysis of statewide policy or the direction and supervision of a division.

Examples of Duties

• Serve as senior advisor to the OPM Secretary on statewide K-12 education policy, finance, governance, student outcomes, accountability, educator workforce, school facilities, and related matters.
• Identify emerging state and federal education issues; assess their fiscal, legal, operational, and equity implications; and recommend options for executive action, budget development, or legislation.
• Develop and evaluate policy proposals in coordination with OPM’s Budget and Financial Management divisions, the Governor’s Office, education agencies, municipalities, school districts, and other partners.
• Analyze education funding formulas, agency and grant expenditures, program performance, enrollment and demographic trends, and relevant administrative data to inform recommendations and resource allocation.
• Lead or support the development of implementation plans for approved education initiatives, including objectives, timelines, agency responsibilities, performance measures, risks, and decision points.
• Convene and facilitate interagency and cross‑sector working groups; build alignment among agencies and stakeholders; resolve policy and implementation issues; and elevate decisions requiring executive direction.
• Monitor federal legislation, regulations, funding, and administrative actions affecting Connecticut education programs and coordinate an appropriate state response.
• Promote alignment across K‑12 education, early childhood, higher education, workforce development, and economic‑development policy, including pathways such as dual credit, career and technical education, educator preparation, and postsecondary affordability.
• Prepare concise decision memoranda, policy papers, budget analyses, presentations, talking points, testimony support, and briefings for the Secretary, Governor’s Office, and other senior officials.
• Represent the OPM Secretary on boards, commissions, task forces, and in meetings with state agencies, municipal officials, education leaders, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders, as assigned.
• Coordinate priorities and project plans; track implementation and results; recommend corrective action when initiatives are off track.
• Perform related duties as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing, analyzing, or implementing statewide or large‑system K-12 education policy.
• Knowledge of education finance, school funding, district and state governance, accountability systems, special education, educator workforce issues, and federal education programs.
• Experience assessing budget, legislative, regulatory, and programmatic impacts and translating analysis into recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple agencies, levels of government, school districts, higher education institutions, or other stakeholders.
• nd fiscal impacts.
• Higher education policy experience or knowledge, particularly in areas connecting K‑12 education with postsecondary access, affordability, completion, teacher preparation, or workforce pathways.
• Experience preparing executive‑level policy memoranda, presentations, budget materials, or legislative analyses under tight deadlines.
• Experience facilitating, negotiating and presenting to the public.
• An advanced degree in education policy, public policy, public administration, economics, law, or a closely related field.

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.