Executive Director of the Department of Personnel & Administration

Who We Are

Colorado Governor-elect Phil Weiser is committed to an administration that represents all of Colorado, and serves and protects every Coloradan. Governor-elect Weiser and his team will lead State government to ensure that we serve the people of Colorado, working to make their lives better, and together, we meet opportunities and challenges with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. His commitment to serve as the People’s Governor means that he and his team will have a sustained focus on how to make Colorado safer, more affordable, more sustainable, and a great place to live, build a business, and raise a family.

We Have Strong Core Values

Our core values drive our actions. We are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, acting with integrity, and operating transparently; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about improving the lives of the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to solve problems creatively and operate with a continuous improvement mindset; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other as a team and collaborate effectively.

Department Information

The Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA) provides centralized support to state government agencies and institutions, thereby enabling them to focus their limited resources on their mission and the delivery of services to Colorado citizens. DPA performs core functions that provide the infrastructure, processes, services, guidance, and tools necessary to alleviate redundancy in state government and minimize costs. The department collaborates with employees, agencies and institutions, vendors, and citizens to develop innovative ways to provide cost-effective solutions that further the state’s ability to conduct business. Led by the Executive Director's Office, the department operates through six divisions: Capital Assets, Central Services, Human Resources, Office of the State Architect, Office of the State Controller, and Office of Administrative Courts.

Department: Office of the Governor; Department of Personnel & Administration 

Position Title: Executive Director

Summary of Functions: The Executive Director is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet and oversees the agency, providing executive leadership by establishing and effecting broad policies and objectives related to DPA’s mission, values, and strategic objectives. This position champions the Executive Branch’s engaged values-based culture, including fostering a working environment to support principled public servants who are innovative and better together. . The Executive Director provides visionary and operational leadership, fostering trust and collaboration, such that DPA delivers credible and effective service to all state agencies and the general public. This position establishes and maintains effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including other state agencies, the legislature, and public and private entities to influence policies and operational improvements. This position also serves as the State Personnel Director, charged with overseeing all facets of human resources for state employees; labor relations, including negotiations and responding to labor disputes; and analyzing and responding to appeals within the State Personnel Director's purview.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Oversee and manage DPA operations, directing the implementation of departmental services, policies, and programs. Ensure successful execution and alignment with the department’s goals, Governor’s initiatives and service expectations of stakeholders. Implement and support policy, budgetary and management options needed to establish, modify, or maintain the agency's administrative requirements and procedures for the facilitation of program delivery

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including other state agencies, the legislature, and public and private entities, to influence policies and operational improvements and position the agency as a credible resource providing effective service to its customers

• Receive input from program directors, labor, agency executive directors, deputy directors, HR directors, state auditor's office, Legislative Audit Committee, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) and the Governor's office regarding statewide programs and policies

• Execute fiscal management that operates within the approved budget and maintains the agency in a positive financial position

• Manage the development and execution of the department's communication strategy and activities. Ensure alignment with overall department policy, vision, goals, and Governor's office initiatives

Organizational Culture & Leadership

• Champion and oversee all facets of the department's statewide equity office’s strategic plans and initiatives. Collaborate with agency leadership and employees in efforts to remove disparities in employment and programs. Ensure an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to everyone, encouraging and respecting varying perspectives and ideas

• Build and sustain employee engagement strategies rooted in development, rigorous performance management, and a positive workplace culture

• Champion effective change management strategies that sustain employee engagement and a positive culture

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Build and cultivate a high performing team through effective leadership focused on recruiting and retaining top talent, providing guidance, coaching, and development to direct reports. Create a clear vision for the department marked by collaboration, transparency and opportunities to learn

• Maintain a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and out-of-the box problem solving. Foster and promote a culture of continuous learning and development throughout the agency

• Manage and effectively balance conflicting priorities between the immediate needs of divisions and the priorities and longer-term objectives of multiple state agencies

State Personnel Director

• Oversee the Division of Human Resources (DHR) in carrying out delegated responsibilities of the State Personnel Director. Manage the delegation to DHR, ensuring oversight of the personnel director rules and centralized aspects of the Human Resources function, including, but not limited to, benefits, compensation, risk management, and HR systems

• Ensure the development and implementation of human resource programs in alignment with the overall mission and strategy of the state. Lead efforts to further position the state as an employer of choice, resulting in innovative best practices and policies that help build a high-performing culture of success, accountability, transparency, and collaboration

• Oversee the state's equity, diversity, & inclusion strategy, ensuring delivery of equitable services and employment opportunities inclusive of all Coloradans

• Manage statewide labor relations, including maintaining a positive labor relations philosophy that furthers strategic goals and ensures compliance with the Employer’s obligations as outlined in the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act, statewide partnership agreements, and agency side agreements as applicable. Provide leadership during the statewide labor relations negotiation, navigating competing priorities, budgetary restrictions, and the needs of state agencies and institutions while meeting the collective goals established through the Act

Legislative, Cabinet, and Community Responsibilities

• Lead efforts to prepare the annual legislative agenda, determining statutory changes and priorities for submission. Attend and testify at legislative hearings while overseeing preparation of responses to JBC questions and testimony points. Secure legislative approval of programs and services, including budgetary approval, through clear and concise proposals conveying the needs of various agencies and programs

• Build a good relationship with the legislature and serve as the point person for directing the department’s response to proposed legislation that may impact the department’s operations

• Serve as an official department representative to the public as well as legislative committees, local officials, agency executives, other jurisdictions, community action groups, professional organizations, and stakeholders regarding the department's programs and services

• Anticipate and manage stakeholder reactions to policy changes; discern and reconcile varying perspectives and interests; design and implement workable solutions. Direct an integrated legal and policy strategy, anticipating and preparing for potential challenges

• Communicate with legislators, department heads, state employees, agency HR directors and staff, employee associations, and other work groups to cooperate on various matters such as supporting key initiatives or creatively resolving business challenges and compliance issues

• Advise the Governor on all relevant policy and programmatic issues arising from state and federal legislative activities. Maintain the ability to work well and cooperatively as a member of the Governor’s team, which includes all Cabinet officers and staff

Organizational Relationships: State Personnel Board; Office of Information Technology; Office of State Planning and Budgeting; Joint Budget Committee; school districts; Colorado WINS; Chief Performance Officer

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution in management, business administration, public administration, law, political science, or another closely related field

• Education or experience in public or private human resources management, personnel administration, or labor and employee relations

• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of merit-based employment, including fair, equitable, and nonpartisan personnel practices

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Five years of leadership experience with a combination of responsibilities in operations, finance, human resources, and/or process improvement

• Proven ability to provide leadership and expertise in strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and evaluation of operations

• Proven experience leading a team with diverse professional experience and qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in public sector financial management, policy analysis, development, and implementation

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills: written, verbal, and interpersonal with an ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences

• Demonstrated success at cultivating strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and creating partnerships at all levels within the organization to achieve results

• Experience as a results-driven, agile, change agent with the commitment and confidence to assume a leadership role in a complex environment

• Empathetic and engaging individual, who listens well, is responsive, solutions focused and results oriented

• Ability to work in a complex political environment

• Ability to lead with integrity, accountability, high energy, and initiative, with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership and operations

• Functional experience in workforce engagement initiatives, total compensation, learning and development, strategic recruitment and retention, performance management, organizational design, employee and labor relations, and laws and regulations affecting human resources

Conditions of employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed

HOW TO APPLY: 

Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date.

A resume 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.

Benefits 

The State of Colorado offers a competitive benefits package to permanent employees:

• PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage

• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage

•  Life and AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave

• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

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

ADAAA Requests

The State of Colorado is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our office 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 Coordinator at [email protected].

We believe that diverse teams produce better results and encourage people of a variety of backgrounds and qualifications to apply.