Department of Early Childhood Legislative Liaison **Non-Classified**.

Department Information

NOTE: while this position is non-classified and we will be accepting applications from residents and non-residents of Colorado, the incumbent is required to establish residency within the State by the first day of employment.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, and building an economy that works for everyone.

Committed to Diversity - We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. If you’re looking for a place where you can be your authentic self at work and celebrate the uniqueness of those around you, then we want to talk to you! State of Colorado employees were asked to reflect on their experience with equity, diversity, and inclusion. Click here to learn more about their experiences Colorado For All - Colorado Employees Reflect on Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

We Offer a Generous Benefits Package Including

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• State paid life insurance policy
• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined benefit or defined contribution)
• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans
• State paid short-term disability coverage
• Additional optional life and disability plans
• Credit Union membership
• Training and professional development
  
  

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits .

This position will have the opportunity for a hybrid schedule (combination of in-office and remote workplace). **Please note - equipment provisioning and certain onboarding tasks will take place in person, in our downtown Denver office, on the first day of employment.**

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality, and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education and well-being of all Colorado's young children, their families and early childhood professionals in all settings. CDEC provides access to collaborative, coordinated, quality early childhood programs and support to children, families, and early care professionals in an effort to best prepare Coloradans for future success. CDEC works with many partners, including parents, schools, child care providers, Early Childhood Councils, counties, Community Centered Boards, early intervention service providers, family resources centers, county human services, county public health, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to provide high-quality early childhood and family support programs.

The Policy and Legislative team is responsible for advancing policy and fiscal interests to achieve the strategic mission and vision of the Office, with both the Governor's Office and the Colorado General Assembly. The team works on behalf of the Department’s leadership team, coordinating and facilitating the legislative agenda and implementation process, articulating the Office's position on legislative and fiscal matters, and regularly engaging with external stakeholders, partners, and advocates to accomplish the Department’s policy and fiscal objectives.

Description Of Job

What you’ll be doing:

The Legislative Liaison is the lead lobbyist for the Department of Early Childhood. This position assists with the development of the Department’s legislative agenda, ensuring the Department’s legislative initiatives align with the initiatives of the Governor’s Office, the vision of the Executive Director, and the Department’s mission and goals. This position analyzes legislation proposed by other state departments, agencies, and stakeholder groups, and identifies impacts to Department programs. When necessary, this position establishes an approach for developing the Department’s position on proposed legislation, including, but not limited to, amendments and testimony. This position seeks and secures legislative sponsors for proposals; negotiates with members of the General Assembly; communicates with constituents, stakeholder groups, agencies, and other state agencies to ensure that proposed statutory changes accurately reflect efficient Department capability; and reviews and acquires the approval for the submission of fiscal notes. The position prepares materials and arranges for testimony at hearings including the Department’s budget presentation with the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). This position helps keep the Department's executive leadership team apprised of changes in State and Federal legislation.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Experience Only:
  
  

At least seven years of recent professional public sector or community-based experience working with public policy analysis and implementation, and review of legislation. Experience must have included: at least one (1) year in a lobbyist, advocacy, or liaison capacity with the Colorado General Assembly or other State General Assembly.

OR

• Education and Experience:
  
  

Bachelor's degree in a field of study related to political science, public policy, public administration, human services, education, early childhood, or a closely-related field ; AND at least three years of recent professional public sector or community-based experience working with public policy analysis and implementation, and review of legislation. Experience must have included: at least one (1) year in a lobbyist, advocacy, or liaison capacity with the Colorado General Assembly or other State General Assembly.

Substitutions

Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Administration or a related field.
• Previous state experience relevant to this role
• Policy, legislative, and budget experience.
• Experience working with the Colorado General Assembly
• Early childhood experience - Familiarity with the Office/Department of Early Childhood, early childhood programs, and/or early childhood education.
• Public sector experience - Experience working in local, state, or federal government.
  
  

Essential Competencies

• Experience managing multiple high-stakes projects with multiple deliverables simultaneously.
• Professional experience in budget, legislative, and policy analysis and development.
• Ability to work effectively with various key stakeholders, speak and write authoritatively and compellingly, resolve communication problems, and manage competing interests.
• Ability to work well with project stakeholders regardless of position or authority, including executive sponsors, team members, department heads, customers, vendors, and staff
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication and public speaking skills.
• Excellent negotiation and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative, team-oriented, often virtual work environment.
• Organization and planning - Strong planning and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
  
  

Highly Desirable Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Exceptional attention to detail
• Open-minded
• Comfortable with ambiguity
• Performs well under pressure
• Curious
• Collaborative
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical
• Flexible
• Creative
• Emotionally intelligent
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Resolves conflict effectively
  
  

Definition Of Professional Experience

Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.
• Employees who have been disciplinary terminated, resigned in lieu of disciplinary termination, or negotiated their termination from the State of Colorado must disclose this information on the application.
• Minimal/Occasional local in-state travel is required.
• Position my be required to participate in statewide travel to meet with stakeholders and complete required job duties.
  

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ( dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us ), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

Supplemental Information

A cover letter and resume or CV must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

How to Apply (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)

Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; if you submit a cover letter or resume, they will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.

Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below.

Comparative Analysis Process

The comparative analysis process will consist primarily of a review of applications against the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Applications will be reviewed in comparison to all others in the applicant pool in order to identify a top group of candidates who may be invited for a final interview. Depending on the size of the applicant pool, additional selection processes may be utilized to identify a top group of candidates. Applicants will be notified of their status via email.

Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date will result in your application being rejected.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ADAAA Accommodations: The Colorado Department of Early Childhood is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator, the Director of Human Resources: naomi.gonzales@state.co.us .

The Department does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.

Technical Assistance

If you experience difficulty in uploading or attaching documents to your online application, or for any other technical difficulties, call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 anytime between 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).