Agriculture Assistant Bureau Director

Introduction The State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is seeking an Agriculture Assistant Bureau Director to join their team within the Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation. Position Highlights Full‑Time (40 Hours) First Shift Monday‑Friday Hybrid position (telework and office/on‑site) Location: 450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford 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 The Agriculture Assistant Bureau Director position is accountable for independently performing a full range of management tasks to oversee staff who develop, evaluate, and provide continuity of programs that positively impact Connecticut farmers and agribusiness viability. Duties Operational Leadership & Program Oversight: Support and collaborate with the Bureau Director on bureau operations; plan, implement, and monitor bureau programs to ensure alignment with statutory mandates, bureau mission, and agency strategy Budget & Grants Administration: Manage staff to oversee the development and execution of annual grant program budgets; manage grant lifecycles (solicitation, evaluation, award, compliance, closeout); maintain audit‑ready documentation Performance Management & Reporting: Establish KPIs; monitor outcomes; prepare reports to leadership, CT General Assembly, stakeholders, and funding entities; maintain data quality Staff Supervision & Talent Development: Currently, 15 staff reside within the Bureau. Within the Agricultural Development unit, supervise eight (8) staff; identify and assign priorities in cooperation with the Bureau Director; coach; conduct annual evaluations; support professional development, and programmatic succession planning Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure adherence to state procurement rules, grant terms, and applicable statutes; mitigate operational, financial, and compliance risk Continuous Improvement: Streamline processes and timelines; champion technology‑enabled workflows; improve customer service and program accessibility About Us The Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation's mission is to promote production, consumption, and usage of CT Grown farm products and to preserve and improve CT farmland and farmland soils through programs and services which enable CT agribusinesses to thrive. The Bureau's vision is to cultivate and support a sustainable, equitable food system that increases market access for farmers and food sovereignty for the benefit of all. The Bureau of Agricultural Development & Resource Conservation supports Connecticut's agricultural economy through grant administration, technical assistance, and farmland preservation. The Bureau oversees programs such as agricultural grants and cost‑share initiatives, the state's Farmland Preservation Program, and market‑access programs such as the Local Food Procurement Program and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, among others. The Bureau's annual budget can range from $30‑$100 million annually through a combination of state appropriations, federal grants, and interagency partnerships. Minimum Qualifications – General Experience Eight (8) years of experience in one or any combination of the following: Enforcement of agriculture laws and regulations Control of disease which affects the public or agriculture industry Promotion of agricultural products Administration of state and/or federal laws and regulations A combination of fiscal and/or administrative functions (e.g. budget management, grants administration, personnel) Minimum Qualifications – Special Experience One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a lead or supervisory/administrative capacity. 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 years for a Bachelor's degree. A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience. Preferred Qualifications Experience managing teams including strategic planning, identifying priorities, conducting performance evaluations, counseling or organization improvement initiatives Experience developing or improving policies, procedures, or workflows using data‑driven decision‑making Experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including farmers, food hubs, municipalities, nonprofits, and government agencies Experience administering grants through solicitation, scoring, award, compliance, and closeout with data‑driven outcomes Experience managing projects related to production agriculture, market access, or agribusiness development Knowledge, Skill and Ability Considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations Knowledge of the following and ability to apply management principles and practices: Relevant federal and state programs Technology and research pertaining to the Bureau Considerable interpersonal skills Oral and written communication skills 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr