Program Compliance and Oversight Manager

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This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system.

This posting is open to both current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of application. However, please note that upon hire, you will be required to establish residence within the State of Colorado.

The Program Compliance and Oversight Manager provides department-wide leadership for compliance, program oversight, and monitoring across CDHE programs. This role establishes scalable oversight frameworks, risk-based monitoring approaches, and clear compliance expectations to ensure programs are designed, implemented, and managed in alignment with statutory, grant, and fiscal requirements.

Serving as the primary bridge between programmatic and fiscal operations, this position drives departmental alignment by translating complex statutory and grant requirements into practical, everyday tools. The manager acts as a trusted internal consultant and subject matter expert, advising department leadership on emerging compliance risks, streamlining cross-divisional workflows, and proactively embedding internal controls into the early stages of program design.

This position provides operational guidance and strategic recommendations, strengthening consistency, accountability, and audit readiness across programs. It proactively identifies risks, monitors trends, and recommends process and control improvements to enhance program integrity and performance. The role conducts targeted compliance and financial reviews, supports monitoring activities, and provides technical assistance to staff and partners to promote continuous improvement and adherence to requirements.

This position does not supervise any employees.

This intermediate level position is responsible for independently performing specialized duties in support of fund management and compliance and monitoring for the Department of Higher Education. This position must exercise judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures, practices and policies of the work unit.

The duties listed below reflect the different types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.

 Program Governance & Framework Design

• Design and maintain department-wide frameworks for program governance, oversight, and accountability aligned with statutory, state, grant, and federal requirements.
• Establish consistent expectations for program structure, documentation, implementation, and compliance.
• Standardized program lifecycle practices, including award design, implementation, modification, and closeout.
• Develop and apply risk-based oversight models to guide monitoring intensity and intervention.
• Support contract development and procurement processes, with a focus on risk assessments and compliance with state policies.
• In collaboration with the Budget and Finance Team, review contracts and grants to ensure clear compliance provisions.
• Serve as a liaison between program and fiscal teams to ensure consistent interpretation of requirements.

• Develop and maintain department-wide compliance and risk management processes that promote prevention, consistency, and audit readiness.
• Embed compliance requirements into program design through guidance, templates, and decision-support tools.
• Identify and assess department-level risks; recommend and implement policy, process, or control improvements.
• Apply subject matter expertise of 2 CFR Part 200 to inform compliance strategies.
• Analyze and report compliance data to support leadership decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Ensure subrecipient monitoring frameworks promote compliance with 2 CFR 200 and applicable regulations.
• Support program staff in conducting programmatic and financial compliance reviews of subrecipients, including site visits and desk reviews.
• Develop and implement risk assessment tools, monitoring processes, and guidelines based on identified risks and prior findings.
• Develop templates and tools and support the preparation of monitoring reports, documentation of findings, and development of recommended corrective actions.
• Collaborate with program staff to identify trends, risks, and systemic issues, and recommend improvements to strengthen oversight practices.
• Partner with the Budget & Finance team to conduct financial monitoring, review expenditure allowability, and streamline the subrecipient reimbursement process.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to both program staff and subrecipients, including support for implementing corrective actions following monitoring reviews.

• Develop and deliver training, tools, and guidance to support compliance and monitoring across staff and partners.
• Translate regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance and resources.
• Establish onboarding and ongoing training to promote consistent understanding of fund management expectations.
• Identify recurring challenges and disseminate best practices to strengthen department-wide capacity.

• Coordinate across divisions to align fund management approaches and minimize duplication.
• Monitor trends and findings to inform improvements to governance, compliance, and monitoring frameworks.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and internal controls related to program administration and fund stewardship.
• Standardizing internal control documentation, program staff, fiscal teams, and external partners.

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: 

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in higher education or related field

Substitution: Four (4) years of experience in a related field can replace the education requirement of a bachelor’s degree

• Experience in grant or contract management, compliance, monitoring, or auditing.
• Experience conducting subrecipient financial monitoring and compliance reviews.
• Experience working with institutions of higher education or public-sector partners.
• Experience with 2 CFR 200 

• Valid Colorado driver’s license and compliance with all requirements for driving a state vehicle are required throughout the term of employment

• Experience with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) and Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE) 

• Grant management, compliance, and program administration.
• State fiscal rules and federal grant requirements (2 CFR 200).
• Standard office practices, procedures, software and equipment, including the use of personal computers, telephones, Zoom, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams).

• Assess risk, analyze financial and program data, and interpret regulatory requirements.
• Conduct compliance or financial monitoring reviews and producing actionable reports.
• Communicate and translate complex requirements into practical guidance.
• Exercise sound professional judgment, attention to detail, and discretion in review and audit-sensitive environments.
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, leadership, and external partners.
• Work effectively in both independent and team situations

 Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)

The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time
• Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings
• Occasionally may push or pull an object
• Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard
• Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds
• Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects
• Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to [email protected]

Typical Working Conditions

• The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid, or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday– Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.
• The position may require periodic in-state and out-of-state travel requiring occasional overnight stays. The position requires the ability to travel independently through the state including overnight stays.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.

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.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education 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 Human Resource Director at [email protected] or call 720.264.8575.