Statewide Human Resources Program Manager

State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative Services; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Connecticut - Department of Administrative Services is seeking a seasoned human resources professional to serve as an operational partner across the Shared Services Division. You will lead cross-functional projects, streamline workflows, and coordinate with Benefits, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation teams to improve service delivery and organizational effectiveness.

Responsibilities include developing standardized documentation, supporting change management, and guiding teams from

Qualifications

• Ten years of professional experience in human resources or equivalent.
• Two years at a full advanced working level in human resources management.
• Substitutions allowed with degrees or law degrees as specified.

Responsibilities

• Direct staff and operations of a statewide HR program.
• Communicate policies and procedures to state agencies.
• Advise agency officials in assigned areas.
• Plan and manage program strategies and goals.
• Develop statewide HR policies and procedures.
• Provide consultation and training to HR staff.

Skills

HR laws

Public personnel administration

Policy development

Communication skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Job description

Introduction

Are you an innovative and strategic human resources professional who thrives on improving operations, streamlining processes, and leading organizational change? Do you enjoy bringing teams together, solving complex operational challenges, and developing solutions that improve both the employee experience and service delivery?

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

In this role, you will report directly to the Human Resources Administrator and serve as a strategic operational partner across the Shared Services Division. The role will lead cross‑functional projects, identify process efficiencies, strengthen coordination between teams within the division, and support standardized, effective service delivery. The position will work closely with program managers and subject matter experts responsible for Benefits & Leaves, ADA, and Workers' Compensation programs to identify operational challenges and develop solutions that improve service delivery and organizational effectiveness. To be successful in this role, you must be able to move between strategic planning and hands‑on operational execution in a high‑volume environment. You must be skilled at facilitating collaboration, managing competing priorities, translating complex requirements into practical workflows, and communicating effectively with employees and stakeholders at all levels.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Evaluate and streamline workflows across the Benefits & Leaves, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation units to improve consistency, efficiency, and compliance;
• Partner with internal stakeholders, including HR Business Partners and Program Managers, to understand operational needs and identify opportunities for process improvement;
• Support change management efforts by helping teams adopt new workflows, documentation standards, and service expectations;
• Lead and support cross‑functional projects focused on operational modernization, workflow redesign, and shared services governance;
• Develop, maintain, and implement standardized operational documentation, including SOPs, process maps, and guidance materials;
• Serve as a central point of contact for cross‑program issues requiring coordination or escalation.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time
• First shift (8 hours per day)
• Location: Hartford, CT
• Hybrid position (telework and in office)

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.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Administrative Services this class is accountable for managing human resources programs having statewide impact.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations of a human resources program having statewide impact;
• Ensures standards and related policies and procedures are communicated to state agencies and consistently followed;
• Advises and counsels agency officials in areas of assigned responsibility;
• Plans, coordinates and manages program strategies and policies;
• Develops program goals, objectives, procedures and work plans;
• Develops or assists in the development of statewide policies and procedures;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Selects, trains, manages and evaluates staff;
• Assists in preparation of program budget;
• Sets priorities and schedules projects to ensure that objectives are met;
• Analyzes applications of policies and their statewide impact;
• Analyzes technical human resource problems and recommends effective solutions in areas of assigned responsibility;
• Provides consultation and training to State agencies on recruitment, selection, classification and business rules;
• Maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of program who might impact program activities;
• Ensures consistency of policies and procedures and uniform interpretation of policies and procedures;
• Serves as state's representative and advocate at grievance and arbitration hearings in assigned area of responsibility;
• Manages the processing of workers' compensation claims;
• Manages or participates in design or delivery of statewide Human Resources certificate programs to ensure agency Human Resources staff are knowledgeable of rules and regulations;
• Manages areas such as (e.g., family, medical, military), and tuition reimbursement;
• Ensures all records, files and folders are maintained, updated and digitized, where applicable;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May supervise as assigned the analysis and development of job classification and personnel assessment instruments to ensure compliance with professional standards and State and Federal requirements;
• May participate in development of policies and implementation strategies for Human Resources information systems;
• May perform or supervise statewide audits of human resources information systems;
• May provide expert testimony;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures;
• public personnel administration;
• principles of job analysis, classification and job evaluation;
• personnel assessment, recruitment and selection principles and procedures;
• classification grievance and arbitration practices and procedures;
• workers' compensation;
• employee leaves;
• Knowledge of
• and ability to apply management principles and practices;
• and ability to use statewide human resource information systems;
• labor relations;
• statistics;
• employee and labor relations;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Considerable ability to
• conduct large scale classification, organizational and validation studies;
• develop and implement statewide human resources policies and procedures;
• interpret and apply statutes, contracts and regulations;
• Ability to provide consultation and training to state agency human resources staff;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Ten (10) years of professional experience in human resources or equal employment opportunity/affirmative action or labor relations management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the full advanced working level in human resources management.

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 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 two (2) years of experience as an Agency Labor Relations Specialist, Equal Employment Opportunity Manager, Human Resources Generalist 3, Principal Human Resources Specialist, or a Workers Compensation Program Coordinator may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.
• For state employees one (1) year of experience as an Assistant Human Resources Business Partner or Human Resources Business Partner 1 may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) programs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) programs, and workers' compensation programs in a human resources environment
• Experience leading cross‑functional projects involving multiple stakeholders
• Experience implementing operational process improvements
• Experience developing written policies or procedures
• Experience analyzing operational data to support business decisions
• Experience using technology to improve service delivery

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.