Labor Department Associate Community Services Representative

Hybrid

Recruitment # 240703-5243SH-001

Location Wethersfield, CT

Date Opened 7/5/2024 12:00:00 AM

Salary $63,509 - $79,633/year

Job Type Open to Agency Employees

Close Date 7/12/2024 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)

• Introduction

  Are you passionate about helping Connecticut Residents? Are you looking to start your career in State service? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you!

  The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Labor (DOL (https://portal.ct.gov/dol/?language=en_US) ) – Rapid Response Unit – is currently recruiting for one (1) Labor Department Associate Community Services Representative (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=5243SH&R1=&R3=) position located in Wethersfield, CT.

  The Rapid Response Unit is under the Connecticut Department of Labor’s (CTDOL), Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Administration and is responsible for coordinating and executing Rapid Response activities throughout the State, focusing on providing timely support and resources to dislocated workers and employers facing downsizing. The role involves conducting virtual and on-site presentations, acting as a central point of contact for affected parties, providing information to the public on Rapid Response services, coordinating with various agencies, conducting needs assessments, coordinating workshops and job fairs, establishing transition committees comprised of management and worker representatives from the company, assisting in grant preparation, investigating, and resolving unemployment insurance problems, maintaining accurate records of outreach activities, and the job duties outlined below.

  Position Highlights: PCN 143668

• Full-time | Hybrid

• Monday – Friday; 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

  What we can offer you:

• View our new State Employee Benefits Overview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) page!

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.

• A healthy work-life balance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) to all employees!

• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: ‘Forbes’ State of Connecticut Ranked one of the best Employers of 2023 (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2023/Forbes-State-of-CT-Ranked) – State of CT receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.

• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) for more information.

  In your role as a Labor Department Associate Community Services Representative, you will have the opportunity to support the Programs and Services Coordinator in all aspects of the unit needs including the following:

• Coordinate Rapid Response activities throughout the State to ensure timely support and resources for dislocated workers and employers.

• Create PowerPoint presentations and conduct Rapid Response and Early Intervention presentations virtually and at downsizing employment sites to provide information and assistance to affected individuals.

• Act as a central point of contact for dislocated workers, their employers, and unions; provide information and referral to appropriate services and resources to address their needs.

• Provide information to the general public on Rapid Response services, including the federal WARN Act, dislocated worker services, unemployment benefits, basic wage and workplace standards issues, and state plant closing requirements.

• Coordinate Rapid Response activities with other CTDOL units and partner agencies, including the American Job Centers (One-Stops), DSS, DECD, US DOL, and AFL-CIO representatives to ensure comprehensive support.

• Conduct needs assessments and satisfaction surveys, as necessary; report on Rapid Response activities as needed

• Coordinate on-site workshops for dislocated workers with CTDOL staff and other agencies, as appropriate, to provide additional support and training opportunities.

• Establish Worker Transition Committees, comprised of management and worker representatives from the company, as appropriate, to facilitate smooth transitions for affected workers and promote collaboration among stakeholders.

• Coordinate customized job fairs for downsizing employers to connect them with qualified candidates and support reemployment efforts.

• Assist in the preparation of grants, as needed, by coordinating with employers, dislocated workers, and unions for the collection of dislocated worker information to secure funding for support services.

• Investigate and assist in the resolution of unemployment insurance problems to ensure dislocated workers receive the benefits for which they are entitled.

• Record outreach activities in databases, including the Excel, Teams, CTHires environments, to maintain accurate records and track the impact of Rapid Response efforts.

• Assist with layoff aversion efforts to assist struggling employers by providing resources and support to retain jobs and mitigate downsizing impacts.

  About the Department of Labor:

  The State of Connecticut, Department of Labor (DOL) is committed to protecting and promoting the interests of Connecticut workers. In order to accomplish this ever-changing environment, we assist workers and employers to become competitive in the global economy. We take a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of workers and employers, and other agencies that serve them. We ensure the supply of high-integrated services that serve the needs of our customers.

  Selection Plan

  FOR ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING:

  Please read (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/applicanttips2023november.pdf) or watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8sOb10qYXQ) our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

  To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

• These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion, and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applications may be considered.

• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.

• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.PDF) , the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.

  Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

• At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

• Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.

• Revised Master Application Tutorial: Click Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOCUEYDXmUU) .

• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=IT&preview=1) .

  Connect With Us:

• If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rocky Young at rocky.young@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.

• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofconnecticut/) .

  PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

  In the Department of Labor this class is accountable for performing specialized client services in the areas of adjudications, career development counseling, apprenticeship and/or job training programs or a specialized operational support function.

  EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

AMERICAN JOB CENTER OR FIELD UNIT: Performs basic tasks in a specialized area:

• Conducts basic level adjudications including assessing possibility of applying “special base period” provision and obtaining all relevant information and documentation;

• Conducts hearings applying pertinent laws, regulations and precedent decisions and issuing a ruling regarding delay of benefits due to receipt of disqualifying income;

• Ascertains facts, analyzing and ruling with regard to general availability for work and adequacy of efforts to find suitable work;

• Develops facts and performs all pertinent research necessary to recommendation of fraud including imposition of penalty weeks if warranted or non-fraud including repayment waiver;

• Conducts separation hearing for interstate claimants.

OR

• Provides basic career development counseling services for clients who are vocationally untracked or have significant barriers to employment.

OR

• In consultation with a Labor Department Business Services Specialist participates in marketing of services and programs to employers within a region including providing apprenticeship services to individuals and employers;

• Develops on-the-job training programs;

• Develops customized job training programs which meet specialized employer needs;

• Provides consulting services with regard to training needs, resources and standards.

CENTRAL UNIT: Performs advanced working level tasks in a Central Unit:

• Assists and participates in activities such as program development, automation support, monitoring and evaluation, training and/or technical assistance to field staff in various program areas;

• Assists in developing training programs in assigned functional areas;

• Participates in monitoring programs and activities for completeness, compliance with legal mandates, fiscal requirements, efficiency and customer satisfaction;

• Assists in analyzing impact of state and/or federal legislation and regulations on departmental programs and procedures;

• Assists in development of procedural manuals and memoranda.

OR

• Performs specialized and highly technical tasks in one or more operational support functions of claims examination, benefit payment control and merit rating;

• Researches and analyzes wage date to determine and perform corrective action;

• Determines compliance of work and procedures with applicable laws, regulations and policy;

• Determines successorship and waivers of liability;

• Segregates payrolls;

• Presents complex appeals to Appeals Division;

• Reviews and resolves claims under complex special programs;

• Makes monetary disqualification determinations in areas such as education employees, aliens and claimants receiving workers compensation;

• Reviews appeals on wage usage;

• Reviews American Job Center recommendations and decisions relating to fraud to ensure compliance with regulations;

• Reviews fraud audits prior to first notification;

• May serve as a team leader.

In any of the above areas of specialization:

• Assists in training employees of lower grade;

• May serve as a team leader;

• May speak before groups;

• Performs related duties as required.

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of a specialized area of job service, unemployment insurance or employment and training functions including pertinent laws, regulations, policies and procedures;

• Knowledge of

• job service, unemployment insurance and employment training agency programs;

• interviewing techniques and principles;

• employment problems of special groups and behavioral problems hindering employment;

• Skills

• interpersonal skills;

• oral and written communication skills;

• analytical skills;

• Considerable ability to understand, apply and explain relevant laws, regulations, policies, programs and procedures;

• Ability to

• establish cooperative relationships with staff, employers, diverse client population and the public;

• make decisions;

• use automated systems;

• maintain good public relations;

• lead teams;

• create and maintain case management records.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

  Six (6) years of technical level experience in counseling, employment placement, veterans employment and training support services, public contact work, human service programs, community action programs, job service, unemployment insurance or employment and training functions.

  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.

• For state employees one (1) year of experience as a Labor Department Community Services Representative may be substituted for the General Experience.

  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Public speaking experience including speaking in front of small and large audiences, utilizing a PowerPoint and instructional tools;

• Experience with Unemployment Insurance (UI) knowledge ranging from procedures related to filing initial claims, scenarios tied to the impact of severance/vacation or other layoff scenarios, and strong familiarity with Re-Employ CT that provides the ability to investigate questions or holds and follow up/inquire with internal units to resolve issues as appropriate,

• Experience with employment assistance programs such as the American Job Center network, core partners under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and variety of workforce training programs offered in the state of Connecticut;

• Ability to travel statewide;

• Ability to work outside of first shift as needed.

  SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class assigned to veterans program positions will be required to meet the qualifications set forth in Title 38, i.e., must be veterans, preferably disabled veterans, or other qualified, eligible persons. Any employee who bumps a Labor Department Associate Community Service Representative in a veterans program position must meet the eligibility requirements under Title 38.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

• 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.

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