Executive Director, Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) (Remote from anywhere in CO)

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The Executive Director leads the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) and is accountable for the state's mission of connecting every Colorado household to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. This high-profile position has three core responsibilities:

1. Program delivery and fiscal stewardship. Direct the compliant, accountable investment of federal and state broadband funds, including BEAD, the Capital Projects Fund, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the state-funded Advance-Local program, as well as the strategic execution of the Digital Access and Inclusion Program and the Broadband GIS Program. The emphasis is on delivery, monitoring, data integrity, and closeout of awarded projects.

2. Statewide strategy and partnerships. Develop and execute strategies with state agencies, local governments, Tribal nations and private-sector partners to reach the state's connectivity goals and to expand broadband access, adoption and affordability, with particular attention to healthcare, education, public safety and economic development.

3. Office leadership. Lead and develop the Colorado Broadband Office, setting direction and building the team, systems, controls and culture needed to deliver a large, complex grant portfolio in a changing federal environment.

   
   

The Executive Director works in partnership with the Governor's Office, legislative leadership, federal agencies such as NTIA and Treasury, local governments and private-sector stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Delivery & Fiscal Stewardship

• Deliver the federal and state grant portfolio. Lead implementation of the approved BEAD Final Proposal and other BEAD initiatives, oversee the Advance Colorado Broadband portfolio (BEAD, CPF, SLFRF and Advance-Local), and manage high cost support mechanism funds from award through closeout, in compliance with federal and state requirements.

• Ensure accountability and compliance. Establish risk-based subrecipient monitoring, financial controls and corrective-action processes, including suspending or rescinding awards when warranted. Hold providers accountable for build timelines, speeds, affordability, cybersecurity and environmental/historic review (NEPA) requirements across fiber, wireless and satellite projects. Ensure non-deployment projects contribute to the mission of connecting every Colorado household to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet.

• Steward funds and data. Partner with OIT finance and budget teams on state allocations, federal reporting, audits and financial health. Lead the strategic direction of the Broadband GIS Program, maintaining the CBO Mapping Hub, spatial analytics, and broadband data, including FCC Broadband Data Collection engagement, to drive evidence-based decision-making and precise grant targeting.

Statewide Strategy, Policy & Partnerships

• Drive statewide connectivity strategy. Be accountable for progress toward the state's household and rural connectivity goals. Develop the strategy to close remaining gaps, including a statewide middle-mile roadmap and digital access and adoption initiatives for healthcare, education and public safety.

• Engage federal partners. Maintain strong relationships with NTIA, Treasury and the congressional delegation, track federal rules and funding opportunities, and adapt programs to remain compliant and competitive.

• Build partnerships. Coordinate with state agencies (including CDOT, DOLA and the PUC), internet service providers, local governments, Tribal nations, nonprofits, and advocates. Streamline permitting and rights-of-way, and communicate program decisions transparently.

• Advance policy and communicate. Develop legislative and policy strategy with the Governor's Office, present to legislative committees, and serve as spokesperson to the media.

Office Leadership

• Lead the team. Set the vision and priorities for the CBO, and recruit, develop and retain a high-performing team in grant management, compliance, engineering, data analytics, digital inclusion, and stakeholder engagement.

• Build capacity and continuity. Build the systems, processes and controls to manage grants at scale, manage supporting vendors, and plan for continuity as federal funds sunset and the program shifts toward long-term oversight.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, OIT’s hiring team considers only the contents of your application to review your qualifications. Please do not include any attachments (such as resume or cover letter) with your application as these items are not used by OIT’s hiring team.  

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis. 

This is a skills-based job announcement. The required minimum qualifications and/or education (if substituting for the proven experience, knowledge, and skills), are as follows: 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five or more years of executive-level experience leading cross-functional teams and enterprise-wide programs, operating and influencing effectively across the organization.

• Experience administering large-scale federal or state grant programs, including compliance, subrecipient monitoring, closeout and audit readiness.

• Experience in operations relevant to broadband and related technologies.

• Demonstrated experience managing various stakeholder groups, including private sector partners and federal, municipal and state agencies.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate tactical and strategic issues and opportunities to technical, legislative, media, and community audiences.

• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis, but cannot completely substitute for these qualifications. 

• Training or Certification related to the work assigned to the position will be assigned credit towards substitution for experience and/or education, but cannot completely substitute for these qualifications. 

• If the minimum qualifications include a degree requirement, additional appropriate paid or unpaid experience will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience of Colorado geography, rural and Tribal communities, and the methods, challenges and opportunities of digital inclusion and connecting underserved communities.

• Experience with BEAD, NTIA, Treasury CPF or similar federal broadband programs, or with a multi-technology (fiber, wireless, satellite) deployment portfolio.

• Experience with NEPA and environmental review processes, and with managing programs through changing federal policy.

• Experience designing or overseeing digital inclusion, digital equity, and broadband adoption strategies for historically underserved, rural, or Tribal communities.

• Practical knowledge of GIS applications, spatial broadband mapping, and data-driven policy in state or federal contexts.

Conditions of Employment:

OIT employees must comply with any screening procedures in place at state agency locations where they might perform work. 

A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process. Post-employment background checks will be required for specific agencies as business needs dictate, which may include a polygraph exam, fingerprint-based criminal history search, reference checks, and a drug test.

This position may require travel within the specified geographic area, and to locations across the state as needed. 

If this posting indicates “remote from anywhere in CO” in the title, periodic reporting to the primary state work location designated for the position is required. All remote work must be performed in Colorado. 

While candidates from out of state will be considered for this role, the candidate selected for the position must relocate and reside in Colorado on the first day of their new position.  A reasonable timeframe for relocation will be established on an individual basis, while considering business needs, and determining a start date.

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Visit our How to Apply webpage to learn more about our application process and what to expect after you apply.

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.

The Governor's Office of Information Technology 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 ADA Coordinator at [email protected] or call (303) 764-7900.

This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies based upon business need. 

The Governor's Office of Information Technology does NOT offer sponsored Visas for employment purposes.