Introduction

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.

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.

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.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

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BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

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• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
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• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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 maxim