Experience and Design Leader (Information Technology Manager 3)

Introduction

\r\n\r\n\r\nThe State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Bureau of Information Technology Solutions (BITS), is recruiting for an Experience and Design Leader�(Information Technology Manager 3).\r\n\r\n\r\nThe State of Connecticut’s Bureau of Information Technology Services (BITS) provides technology services and support to state agencies. Enterprise Solutions works with agencies and partners to improve digital services, applications, and shared capabilities that support agency staff and residents.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:\r\n\r\n\r\n Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!\r\n Professional growth and development opportunities\r\n A healthy work/life balance to all employees\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPOSITION HIGHLIGHTS:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Full Time\r\n First shift\r\n Monday through Friday�\r\n Location: Hartford, CT�\r\n Hybrid\r\n\r\n\r\nTHE ROLE:\r\n\r\nThe Experience and Design Leader�will guide product strategy and experience work across Enterprise Solutions’ digital programs and enterprise applications. The position will partner with agencies and delivery teams to identify needs, set product direction, and improve services for residents and agency staff. Work includes product management, service design, user research, user experience, content, and accessibility.\r\n\r\n\r\nResponsibilities include:�\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Develop and refine product strategies for digital programs and enterprise applications, aligning product direction with agency needs, resident and staff experiences, and organizational priorities.\r\n Lead and coordinate product management and experience and design services, including service design, user research, user experience, content, and accessibility.\r\n Partner with agencies and Enterprise Solutions teams to identify user and business needs, define product goals, and translate findings into product plans and prioritized work.\r\n Plan or oversee research activities such as interviews, usability testing, journey analysis, and prototype testing; use findings to inform product decisions.\r\n Guide teams in applying research findings, accessibility requirements, and design standards throughout planning, development, and ongoing service improvement.\r\n Coordinate product priorities, assignments, and capacity across experience and design functions.\r\n Develop and maintain reusable product practices, design guidance, and service patterns that support consistent, accessible digital experiences.\r\n Work with product, technical, content, accessibility, and agency partners to support delivery and evaluate results.\r\n Track and communicate measures related to user experience, accessibility, adoption, and service outcomes.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Selection Plan

\r\nFOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:�\r\n\r\nCheck out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.��\r\nBEFORE YOU APPLY:�\r\n\r\n 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. �\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n 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.�\r\n 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 DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.�\r\n 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.�\r\n\r\n\r\n 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.\r\n\r\nAFTER YOU APPLY:�\r\n\r\n 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.”\r\n 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).���\r\n 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!�\r\n 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.��\r\n The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.��\r\n 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 www.ct.gov/ethics.\r\n This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.\r\n\r\nQUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:�\r\nDue 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 Sharon McIntosh, at Sharon.McIntosh@ct.gov.\r\n\r\n\r\n

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

Within a state agency\r\ninformation technology division these classes are accountable for the\r\nmanagement and direction of information systems, applications development,\r\nsystems maintenance, and similar information technology functions as well as\r\ntechnical and support staff.\r\n

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

\r\n Plans, organizes and\r\n manages all operations and activities of an information technology services\r\n unit, division, function or location;\r\n Responsible for meeting\r\n all data processing or information technology needs of the respective unit,\r\n division, function or location; establishes priorities for systems development\r\n and information technology projects in accordance with agency requirements;\r\n Coordinates, plans and\r\n manages solution architecture projects;\r\n Directs the planning,\r\n design and implementation of complex storage solution configuration;\r\n Develops plans for\r\n future utilization information technology services in the overall agency\r\n program;\r\n Within the financial\r\n resources of the agency ensuring the development of high quality, low-cost\r\n technology solutions aligned with the needs of the State and its agencies;\r\n Aligns information\r\n technology planning with the business strategy;\r\n Leads and influences the\r\n development of standards and decisions regarding changes to\r\n systems/applications;\r\n Manages information\r\n systems activities within areas such as IT infrastructure and architecture,\r\n applications development, networks, computer operations and support;\r\n Oversees information\r\n technology projects from conception to completion;\r\n Works with leadership\r\n team to maximize cross-team contributions;\r\n Leads information\r\n technology operations to ensure exceptional quality and timely response to all\r\n customer service issues;\r\n Interfaces regularly\r\n with clients/customers;\r\n Stays abreast of local,\r\n regional and national industry trends;\r\n Understands the major\r\n economic, political, technological and competitive trends affecting technology;\r\n To capture competitive\r\n advantages, searches out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate\r\n and improve;\r\n Compares information\r\n technology with those of significant competitors and makes appropriate\r\n adjustments;\r\n Coordinates the use of\r\n key people, resources, technologies, process, and capabilities to reach\r\n strategic goals;\r\n Sets an example by\r\n acting in ways that are consistent with shared department values;\r\n Fosters collaboration by\r\n promoting cooperative goals, building trust and enlisting others in a common\r\n vision;\r\n Strengthens staff by\r\n providing choice, developing competence and offering visible support;\r\n Focuses on continuous\r\n learning for self and staff;\r\n Actively acknowledges\r\n individual and team accomplishments;\r\n Leverages technological\r\n solutions to meet business needs;\r\n Participates in the\r\n recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;\r\n Performs related duties\r\n as required.\r\n\r\n

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

\r\n Plan and Deploy for\r\n Business Results, which includes the ability to develop and implement business\r\n plans, IT plans, budget plans, and human resource plans in order to maximize\r\n budget allocations, technology, personnel and other resources to achieve agency\r\n and program goals.\r\n Lead Change, which\r\n includes innovation, the ability to be a creative problem solver and a\r\n strategic thinker, and the ability to recognize and develop opportunities to\r\n grow and develop information technology services in response to customers and a\r\n changing work environment.\r\n Focus on Results and\r\n Quality, including exercising and promoting accountability, and the ability to\r\n analyze surveys, financial and other data, and use strategic planning and\r\n performance measurement techniques to continuously improve performance and\r\n maintain competitiveness.\r\n Understand Customers and\r\n Markets, which includes the ability to establish customer satisfaction and\r\n loyalty, forecast and conduct market analyses, keep ahead of industry trends\r\n and incorporate “best practices” into information technology operations.\r\n Lead People, including\r\n the ability to resolve conflict, communicate effectively, coach and train\r\n employees, recognize performance, and foster diversity and teamwork.\r\n Build Coalitions,\r\n including the ability to explain and advocate facts and ideas in a convincing\r\n manner, to negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally, to\r\n gain cooperation from others, and to identify the internal and external\r\n politics that impact the work of the organization.\r\n Business Knowledge,\r\n including knowledge of the technical, professional, procedural and legal\r\n requirements of the specific information technology area.\r\n \r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Ten (10) years of\r\nexperience in computer or network administration, architecture, operations,\r\nproduction control, systems development, information technology analysis and\r\nplanning.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have\r\nbeen in a managerial capacity.\r\n\r\n\r\nNOTE: For state employees this experience is\r\ninterpreted at the level of an Information Technology Manager 2.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

\r\n College training in\r\n computer science, management information systems or a closely related field may\r\n be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester\r\n hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years\r\n for a Bachelor’s degree.\r\n A Master’s degree in\r\n computer science, management information systems or a closely related field may\r\n be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.\r\n\r\n

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

\r\n\r\n Experience developing product strategies, roadmaps, and backlogs for digital products, applications, and services\r\n Experience leading user experience, service design, user research, content design, and accessibility work\r\n Experience conducting user research, including interviews, usability testing, and journey analysis\r\n Experience applying accessibility standards, such as WCAG, to digital products or services\r\n Experience translating business needs into product goals, recommendations, requirements, and prioritized work\r\n\r\n\r\n

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER\r\nThe State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.\r\n

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut\r\nGeneral Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share\r\ngeneral characteristics and are categorized under a single title for\r\nadministrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be\r\nall-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.\r\n