Principal Human Resources Specialist (EEO)

IntroductionThe 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 YOUVisit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!Professional growth and development opportunitiesA healthy work/life balance to all employeesTHE ROLEAs 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 HIGHLIGHTSMonday - FridayFull-time, 40 hours/weekFirst shift hours, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Work schedule flexibility is required in order to meet the demands of the jobHybrid work scheduleLocation: 450 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, CTSelection PlanIn 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.FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process. 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 by the closing date listed on the job posting. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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:Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”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! Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at .This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Nicole Frascatore at View email address on click.appcast.io. 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 DUTIESSupervises 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;Advises 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 ABILITYConsiderable 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 EXPERIENCEEight (8) years of professional experience in human resources management or equal employment opportunity/affirmative action or labor relations management.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCEOne (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 ALLOWEDCollege 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 QUALIFICATIONSExperience supervising professional staff including experience in conducting annual performance evaluationsExperience overseeing workplace investigations including assigning, monitoring and reviewing investigative work for compliance requirementsExperience testifying at hearings, arbitrations, and administrative proceedingsExperience conducting internal and external training on investigation’s complaint intake procedures, investigative protocols, agency reporting requirements, and the recommendation processExperience in the organization and archiving methodology of investigative filesExperience designing and delivering ADA compliance-based trainingExperience interpreting and advising employees on human resources policies, procedures, and collective bargaining (union) agreementsExperience managing recruitments using the state’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS), JobApsSPECIAL REQUIREMENTSIncumbents 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.ConclusionAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERThe State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTAs 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. Location Hartford, CT Date Opened

8/27/2026 12:00:00 AM

9/8/2026 11:59:00 PM