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Program Associate 2 - Office of the Arts

State of Connecticut Executive Branch
Email

Recruitment #260815-7500AR-001
Location: Hartford, CT
Date Opened: 8/21/2026 12:00:00 AM
Salary: $90,426* - $116,548/year (*New state employees start at the minimum.)
Job Type: Open to the Public
Close Date: 9/8/2026 11:59:00 PM

The State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is seeking to hire a Program Associate 2 - Office of the Arts within the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA).

ABOUT US

COA is Connecticut’s State Arts Agency (SAA) and is a partner to the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Education Program Associate II works to ensure that Connecticut students have the opportunity to learn in, about, and through the arts. The position is responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating all aspects of COA arts education programs, including administration of its education-related grants and services, partnership management and growth with key organizations, and coordinating arts education policy efforts. Keeping current with issues facing the field and finding creative ways to address them are vital to the effectiveness of this position.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

Identify issues and trends affecting arts education:

  • Analyze how these issues impact student access to arts education statewide.
  • Work with key partners to develop statewide arts education strategies within the context of COA's strategic plan and goals.
  • Review and analyze grantee reports to ascertain constituent needs; use the grants database for reporting, evaluation, and general information; and make site visits to grantees and potential applicants and partners to provide assistance and consultation, and to keep current with their activities and the issues they are facing.

Manage Arts Education programs:

  • Develop, manage, and coordinate arts education grant program activities with input from COA program staff. Assure proper implementation of grant policies and procedures and compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements.
  • Develop grant programs to meet challenges in arts education and communities within the context of COA's strategic plan. Manage and evaluate these programs.
  • Prepare grant program criteria and guidelines; assist applicants and grantees with understanding program guidelines and requirements. Provide applicants with feedback from panel review as appropriate. Process grant applications and grant contracts and review grant reports to verify funded activities are accomplished.
  • Select and support grant application reviewers/panelists as needed and arrange and facilitate electronic and on-site panel meetings. Serve as a voting member of staff panels as needed.
  • Manage current Arts Education grant programs, including Every Child Art Experience and current strategic partnership grants.

Manage Arts Education program services and collaborations:

  • Manage CT’s high school Poetry Out Loud/Poetry Ourselves program, including working collaboratively with management partners, setting yearly goals for participation in and growth of the program. Assure compliance with National Endowment for the Arts requirements for the program, including submitting an annual plan and final report, and other requirements as needed.
  • Serve as liaison and initiator for arts education planning and development in coordination with local, state, and regional partners, schools, and other partners.
  • Identify, manage, and collaborate with arts education strategic partnership awardees. Determine areas of strategic growth for partnerships and work collaboratively with staff to fulfill educational partnerships goals.
  • Manage and develop programs to identify and otherwise support teaching artists and their professional development.
  • Provide arts education support and information to school administrators, teachers, teaching artists, and community members. Facilitate collaboration between and among the growing network of arts, education, and community groups. Participate in COA's social media platforms as appropriate. Coordinate and conduct workshops and other services for arts educators, teaching artists, communities, and arts service organizations.

Manage general COA program requirements:

  • Collaborate with COA staff on program design, development, and direction, including analysis of issues, program and project goals, evaluation, and reporting. Work collaboratively on grant guidelines and panels.
  • Assure education program compliance with Section 504/ADA accessibility issues.
  • Support and advise on policy efforts in arts education.
  • Manage budgets of grant programs and other line items or projects assigned.
  • As identified and/or needed, write and manage federal and other grants that support education programs. Prepare required interim and final reports in a timely manner.
  • Participate actively in staff arts initiatives, including but not limited to, staff field trips, arts conferences or recognition events, arts activities at the State Capitol, cultural district events, etc.
  • Ensure COA website is updated with current information on arts education programs.
  • Other activities as described in the Program Associate II job description and as dictated by the needs of the Office of the Arts.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Monday - Friday (some weekend and evening work may be required)
  • Full-time (40 hours per week)
  • First shift (8 hours per day to be scheduled between 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM)
  • Location: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103
  • Hybrid opportunity (combination of in-office and telework in accordance with the Telework Policy)

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Economic and Community Development this class is accountable for performing the most complex tasks in administering a program area and acting as a specialist in programs intended to encourage artistic and cultural activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Performs specialized tasks in developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating art projects within a major program area; 
  • Coordinates all projects and associated technical and support staff within a major program area; 
  • Develops programs at the community level or serves community and state arts resources; 
  • Documents and evaluates program needs; 
  • Represents the agency at meetings of professional and community organizations and participates in meetings of the agency and of its committees; 
  • Prepares reports on agency programs; 
  • Prepares and monitors program area budget; 
  • Prepares grant agreements between the agency and clients; 
  • Provides technical assistance within the area of personal expertise; 
  • May prepare and edit material for release to the public; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of professional level experience in general arts administration or in the management or productions of arts programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • A Bachelor's degree may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
  • A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with public speaking
  • Experience managing multi-part projects that require strong attention to detail
  • Experience in program evaluation and use of data to inform program design and case making decisions
  • Experience administering arts education programs

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  • Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

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