Watch Center Analyst III

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is a consolidated Emergency Management and Homeland Security team. The division's mission is to lead and support Colorado’s efforts to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from all-hazard events.

The Division is comprised of the Director’s Office, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Office of Grants Management (OGM) and Office of Prevention and Security (CIAC) and Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC).

The Watch Center component operates 24/7 and supports CDPS leadership as well as other partners with overall situational awareness and real time information collection, dissemination and analysis during a critical incident affecting Colorado and is the main point of intake and notification of incidents, and emerging threats for the Department, and petitions for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). The goal is to maintain situational awareness of any event or incident—either natural or man-made—that may require a state response or be of interest to state-level leadership. Assigned analysts also provide tactical support for local partners upon request.

Safe2Tell Colorado is a school safety prevention program administered by the Colorado Attorney General's Office.   Safe2Tell tips are received from across Colorado and sometimes the nation.  Tips are received via phone, web, or mobile app and are anonymous. Anonymity of the tipster is protected by statute.  The tips are disseminated to schools and law enforcement by CDPS DHSEM Analysts.  Safe2Tell operations are 24/7.

The All Threats Intelligence Unit (ATIU) is responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of threat and all hazard information for the purpose of information sharing on criminal activities and terrorism-related threats affecting Colorado. The ATIU collaborates with private sector, local, tribal and federal partners to support and protect Colorado and its citizens.

The Colorado Preventing Targeted Violence (CO-PTV) Program is a multidisciplinary public health-informed approach to targeted violence prevention that works to equip communities with the tools to prevent targeted violence through awareness and education, building trusted partnership, and providing continued support to assist in local prevention efforts. 

The infrastructure protection and cyber-security programs promote greater resiliency of government, non-government, and private-sector facilities, systems, assets, and employees through an array of prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery strategies designed to deter, delay, detect and defend against human threats and technological hazards, while reducing the impact of natural hazards. The programs also provide a range of technical assistance to enhance their security posture and preparedness against all-hazards. Through the development and maintaining of public-private partnerships and ongoing support of state government agencies, the programs aims to expand information sharing opportunities, enhance data collection and threat reporting to produce actionable intelligence, provide training and awareness, and adopt a layered, defense-in-depth strategy to assure the resiliency of Colorado communities and Colorado state government infrastructure. Under the CIAC’s Infrastructure Protection program, The Whole of State initiative for critical infrastructure allows the State of Colorado to actively maintain an inventory of critical infrastructure nodes and facilities in the state, and maintain a database of this inventory that is utilized by numerous emergency management officials during significant emergency events. Cybersecurity analysts support Colorado’s Whole of State cybersecurity effort to make Colorado the most resilient state against cyber-attacks across several areas of focus. Specifically, the Cyber Team works to identify and investigate emergency threats and vulnerabilities to the SLTT, critical infrastructure and private sector communities; provides timely, accurate, and actionable information; supports the sharing of best practices within and between sectors with regards to enhancing cyber protections; and offers technical assistance and coordination support specific to cyber assessment support, incident response support, and cyber program maturity growth.

• Hybrid, minimum three days onsite in Lakewood 

• Work unit core business hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Primary Training Lead for Watch Center Staff

Will be the primary training analyst for Watch Center staff. 

Staffs all 24/7 hotline(s) within the CIAC, receives and makes calls from the public or law enforcement specific to various legislative requirements. Answers “hotlines” to receive and refer calls from the public about specific hotlines, and to collaborate with other state agencies to obtain information necessary or beneficial for responding to requests. Intakes, analyzes, disseminates, and provides dispositions of all reported hotline(s) calls. Provides relevant resources, information and collaborate with other state agencies to obtain relevant information necessary or beneficial for responding to requests. 

As directed, provides pre-disaster support to the State Emergency Operations Center training and exercise program. During a state declared disaster, provides operational support to the State Emergency Operations Center as directed.

Additional duties may include, but not be limited to: Providing W/C leadership with updates and input to the “living” W/C policies and training manual (shared responsibility with all W/C staff), directly assigned in-depth SAB products. May attend/assist as a representative of the CIAC for special events/meetings and possible assistance with command post duties/responsibilities as previously indicated.

Watch Center Inbox Monitoring Trainer
Reviews, assesses, and processes information provided to the Watch Center through the Watch Center email inbox and the CIAC inbox. This will include assessing both raw and complete intelligence information originating from the public or professionals sent to the Watch Center. Evaluates the information for its level of importance. This may include distribution of intelligence information to partners via the Watch Center notification matrix and other CIAC platforms. Handles documents and communications with partners and CIAC staff in accordance with the CIAC Security Policies and Privacy Protection Policy (protecting civil rights and civil liberties). Determines the level of urgency of information, appropriate audience for dissemination, and expected level of detail in documenting assigned tasks. Provides 2nd-level customer support and takes action pertaining to inbox monitoring and receiving information or intelligence, following the appropriate Watch Center and CIAC policy.

Situational Awareness/Liaison

Compiles, analyzes, and disseminates information and intelligence from various agencies, the public, and other sources, and promotes these sources to maintain the exchange of pertinent information among various disciplines including law enforcement, fire, emergency management and homeland security agencies. The Watch Center Intelligence Analyst requests, receives and documents information of a confidential nature. Coordinates inter-state and intra-state information and intelligence pertaining to criminal activity and criminal movement, and exercises independent judgment to ensure accurate and reliable information is disseminated to the proper authority. The Watch Center Intelligence Analyst maintains liaison and intelligence exchange with other law enforcement agencies. Utilizes electronic, technical, and support systems equipment.

The position dialogues with individuals via telephone or email, providing requested information, responding to questions, or seeking information from individuals. Assesses unfolding events and determines the appropriate method and message to relay leadership personnel within CDPS, based on the integrity, reliability, and urgency of the situation. Uses professional judgment to determine which tools should be used to send an alert notification to the appropriate leadership personnel, taking into consideration the sensitivity of the information and dynamics of the information.

Intelligence and Analysis
Performs intermediate analytical tasks for both tactical and strategic information, as applicable and relevant, using established intelligence community tradecraft methods and tools for information analysis and intelligence development. This includes developing and writing products independently, providing final review of the development of law enforcement workups, gathering information for trend analysis, and writing and reviewing basic intelligence bulletins, in partnership with other analysts. Other duties will be assigned within the scope of this position's analytical skills. This includes accessing classified documents. This position is required to obtain, hold, and maintain a U.S. Department of Homeland Security ‘Secret’ clearance.

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• Six (6) years of demonstrated experience as a crime analyst or law enforcement officer
  
  

OR Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• A combination of related education and relevant experience as a crime analyst or law enforcement officer equal to six (6) years.  If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, transcripts must be attached at the time of application

   

Required Competencies and Skills

• Active listening

• Critical thinking

• Strong organizational and follow-up skills

• Effective communication skills

• Ability to prioritize

• Strong interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• Leadership experience

• Experience writing policies

• Experience training staff

• Planning experience

Conditions of Employment 

Appeal Rights
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb.  A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

• Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.

• Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. 

• Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them. Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.  

• Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process. 

• Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points. Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form. 

• Application Tips: For an overview of the State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video.  

• Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).

• Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application.  Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

• e-Verify: CDPS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

• Selection Process: After applications are screened for the Minimum Qualifications, CDPS intends to use the comparative analysis process outlined below. Pursuant to state personnel board rule, if there are 6 or few candidates who minimally qualify, said candidates may be referred directly to the Appointing Authority for a post referral assessment and/or consideration.

• Comparative Analysis Steps may include (dates are tentative and subject to change): 

  • Structured application review by a panel of SMEs - October 28-30

  • Written exercise - November 5

  • In-person panel interview - November 9