Senior Policy Advisor - Workforce and Higher Education (Internal Candidates Only)

Colorado for All 

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. 

Colorado For All - Colorado Employee Reflections

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, making housing more affordable and available, improving public safety, and building an economy that works for everyone. The Office of the Governor's staff includes budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.

Promotional Opportunity 

This announcement is open only to eligible individuals currently employed within the Office of the Governor. 

The announcement is for transparency purposes only to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. 

Only candidates currently employed within the Office of the Governor will be considered.

Position Title: Senior Policy Advisor - Workforce and Higher Education

Hiring range; $105,000-$115,000 annually, depending on qualifications

Position Description: The Governor’s Office of Policy and Research is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor for Workforce and Higher Education to provide strategic policy and legislative analysis, project management, press guidance, and general policy support for the Governor's agenda, with a focus on the areas of workforce and higher education. The Senior Policy Advisor will report to the Director of Policy and Research.

The Senior Policy Advisor will be responsible for coordinating and implementing a bold workforce policy development strategy across agencies and stakeholders to align resources and streamline programs to address our state’s workforce challenges, including implementation of HB26-1317.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Senior Policy Advisor will maintain policy expertise, track legislation and budget items, develop strategies, and be prepared to brief and advise the Governor and other administration officials concerning all the issue areas assigned. 

The Senior Policy Advisor will coordinate this work as needed with other policy advisors, other offices of the Governor (including communications, operations, budget, legal, etc.), and appropriate state agencies. The Senior Policy Advisor will also serve as a key leader in implementation of HB26-1317, and work closely with the Governor’s legislative team to help advance the Governor’s agenda during legislative sessions and in the interim. They will develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant state agencies, key stakeholders and constituencies throughout the state to inform this work. This may entail travel within the State. This role will also be responsible for cultivating existing relationships, developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders and constituencies throughout the state to inform this work.

Desired Skills and Competencies: The successful candidate should have the ability to multitask and function effectively in a complex professional environment to advance the Administration’s priorities. They should be a highly agile detail-oriented strategic thinker with well-developed decision-making, research and analytical skills. The Advisor should also have strong written and verbal communications skills, advanced interpersonal skills with strong networking capabilities, the ability to learn and assimilate information quickly, and the ability to influence and persuade to effect solutions to complex problems. A well-developed familiarity with Colorado workforce policy and other issues, as well as federal law and policy, would be an asset.

Additional competencies should include the ability to conduct policy research; the ability to assimilate and synthesize complex information into relevant, logical and organized formats for analysis and discussion; and the ability to identify and minimize potential conflicts in goals and objectives, missions and agendas.

Education/Experience:

• Strong knowledge of and demonstrated accomplishments in workforce development or higher education.

• 3 years work related experience, i.e. federal, state, or local government, policy analysis, government relations, non-profit, etc.

• Knowledge of data and trends within workforce development.

• Public policy analysis and development skills, as demonstrated by professional and/or academic experience.

• Detail oriented and organized with the ability to work in a fast paced environment.

• Effective written and oral communication skills.

• Familiarity with governmental and legislative processes, i.e., familiarity with the lawmaking, ballot initiative process, and citizen petition process.

• A high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.

• Sound strategic thinker who is familiar with the public sector, preferably at the state level.

• Familiarity with national issues and Colorado and understanding of issues unique to this state.

Conditions of employment: Currently employed within the Office of the Governor.

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)

• 12 paid holidays per year

• Medical and dental plans

• State paid life insurance policy of a minimum of $50,000 or 1x annual salary

• Choice of 2 retirement plans

• 401K and 457 plans

• State paid Short Term Disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Credit Union Membership

• RTD pass

• Training and professional development

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

Inclusion and Belonging

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 Office of the Governor 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 Senior Human Resources Director) at [email protected].