Human Resources Associate #260813-0911MP-001

The State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Shared Services Center of Excellence is seeking a Human Resources Associate for the Workers' Compensation Unit. This role provides operational support for high volume, complex caseloads across multiple agencies.

About the role

This Human Resources Associate will work within a Workers’ Compensation team responsible for the day-to-day management of employee injury claims. You will adhere to timely and compliant claim handling and be a liaison to the State’s Third-Party Administrator, the injured employee, and Agency personnel in the return-to-work process. The successful candidate will support injured employees throughout the claims process, helping them navigate their recovery and return to work in a fair, efficient, and compassionate manner.

This role plays a key part in maintaining statutory compliance, promoting safe and efficient return-to-work outcomes, engaging with labor and agency partners, and ensuring accurate and consistent execution of Workers’ Compensation operations across the State.

About us

The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is a state agency whose mission is to provide efficient and effective administrative services to state agencies, departments, and other governmental entities. DAS leads procurement, information technology, human resources, and other administrative functions. As a DAS Center of Excellence, the Benefits and Leaves Division focuses on employee leaves and retirements.

Responsibilities

• Assists in interpreting, administering, and ensuring compliance with human resources, employment, and equal opportunity laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Communicates with agency human resources business partners and other stakeholders to ensure cooperative relationships.
• Assists administrative officials in strategic planning to align activities with organizational goals and strategies.
• Assists in developing materials for recruitment programs; screens, refers, and recommends candidates for employment.
• Maintains records related to recruitment and selection.
• Assists in training operations; processes human resource records and transactions.
• Prepares and maintains human resource records; revises job classifications and conducts research in support of new or revised job classifications.
• Prepares reports, manuals, and correspondence.
• Processes workers' compensation claims and provides assistance to employees in areas such as leaves (e.g., family, medical, military) and tuition reimbursement.
• Assists in maintaining human resource information systems and recommends changes to leverage technology.
• Conducts audits of agency transactions to ensure business rules are followed.
• 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.
• May serve on human resources project teams involving best practice research and the development and implementation of new systems, training initiatives, and other projects with statewide impact.
• May assist in implementing and developing training programs.
• Performs related duties as required.

Requirements

• Six (6) years of professional experience in human resources management, equal employment opportunity/affirmative action, or labor relations management.
• College training may substitute for experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience, up 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, or a law degree, may substitute for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing workers’ compensation claims within an HRIS environment.
• Experience with OSHA regulations and reporting requirements.
• Experience communicating with a third-party administrator and other key stakeholders.
• Experience interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience processing employees returning to work and coordinating modified duties.

Skills

• Knowledge of human resources management and 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, and workers’ compensation.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze and balance partners' needs with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.

Special Requirements

• May be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• May be required to travel.

Schedule

• Full time, 40 hours per week.
• Monday through Friday schedule, first shift hours.
• Hybrid schedule – combination of in-office and telework in accordance with the Telework Policy.
• Central Office located at 450 Columbus Blvd in Hartford, CT, with modern amenities and easy access to all major highways.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• Competitive starting salary and structure.
• A healthy work/life balance for all employees.