Chief Strategy Officer for the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment

The Department of Labor and Employment keeps Colorado strong and competitive. We connect workers with great jobs  and assist those who have been injured on the job. We help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own by providing temporary wage replacement and we ensure fair labor practices. We provide an up-to-date and accurate picture of the economy that helps in decision making. And we protect the workplace – and Colorado communities – with a variety of consumer protection and safety programs.

This is a values-driven organization, committed to accountability, agility, collaboration, and respect.

We believe in outstanding customer service, an inclusive culture, continued process improvement and in our role as a trusted and strategic partner. Recognizing that knowledgeable employees drive our success, we are seeking dedicated individuals who exhibit our shared values and our passion for quality and excellence in all we do.

In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer excellent benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans 

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• MotivateMe employee wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Access to participate in employer-supported employee affinity spaces

• RTD EcoPass Commuter Program

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information go to https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

Our agency website: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

CDLE has implemented a pilot program on March 1st, 2022 which will award Disability Hiring Preference Points similar to the Veterans’ Preference Points program. During your application process you will be asked if you would like to be considered for either of these programs for additional points in the hiring process. To learn more about Disability Hiring Preference and what will be required to participate, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/state.co.us/disability-hiring-preference/home

PLEASE NOTE: With the beginning of this program, CDLE will no longer accept attachments of any kind with applications. Please be as thorough as possible in documenting your education and work history in the application system. Attachments will not be accepted or considered during any phase of the hiring process including minimum qualification screening, comparative analysis, or interviews.

• Ensures department initiatives and priorities have continued relevance, goals are regularly updated, and corrective measures are identified and executed as business conditions or other factors change.
• Drives the annual strategic planning process for the Department by acting as the project manager and ensuring alignment between the Governor’s Office, ED, Deputy ED’s and the executive leadership team.
• Ensures key opportunity and deadline dates are met with high quality deliverables, vetted through the appropriate stakeholders and communicated effectively.
• Keeps the Executive Director apprised regarding critical initiatives such as the Future of Work, New Americans, Just Transition, Paid Family Leave, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
• In alignment with the Department’s vision and mission, the CSO is responsible for monitoring the progress of initiatives intended to achieve Department goals and make recommendations for corrective measures, improved execution, timing, ROI, and executive accountability.  
• Coordinates and aligns projects and initiatives across the Department that support Department priorities, strategies and goals.

• Resolves escalated scheduling conflicts involving the Executive Director and his Deputy Executive Directors to ensure the highest priorities are being met and identifies alternate solutions to address issues. 
• Prepares talking points or briefings with appropriate background information for use by ED and Executive Team.
• Crafts agendas for Executive Team meetings, prioritizing requests for agenda topics and ensuring efficient discussion and decision-making. Ensures accountability on any action items arising from these meetings.
• Facilitates execution and approval of ED communications with a focus on ensuring Executive Director messaging achieves associated internal and external goals.
• Prepares the ED or his/her designee for upcoming meetings/events by conducting required background research, ensuring he/she has all the relevant information, talking points, and materials necessary to be productive and engaged.
• Engages on behalf of the ED with internal services to monitor and manage the ED’s needs around budget, procurement, accounting, business technology, staffing, performance management reporting, etc.
• Acts as the Executive Director’s delegate in staffing critical positions reporting to the EDO or supporting high priority positions that will contribute to the strategic plan.
• Oversees membership on and participation in Governor’s working cabinet groups to ensure commitments are clear and understood, deadlines are met, and that effective collaboration takes place with other working group members to achieve stated goals.

• Meets regularly with designated office, initiative and project leads to provide direction and receive progress updates on behalf of the ED.
• Ensures the ED’s priorities are being incorporated in overall plans from inception to completion.
• Verifies critical deadlines are on track to be met. Removes barriers to execution and escalates/resolves issues as necessary to maintain momentum.
• Determines potential overlaps and synergies among multiple department-wide projects and ensures all potentially impacted initiatives, divisions, offices or stakeholders are connected and in alignment.
• Monitors and drives legislative implementation, and tracks legislative and budget needs and deadlines.
• Makes recommendations for improved execution, timing, ROI, accountability and tracking.

• Ensures strategic alignment between the Governor’s Office and CDLE.
• Ensures Governor’s Dashboard performance indicators are complete, accurate and provided on time.
• Creates and reviews complex analytical products for submission to the Governor’s Office upon request.
• Serves as the ED’s delegate as requested, handling inquiries and developing action plans to address them, and assisting with the preparation and dissemination of communications.
• Acts as the primary internal point of contact in the event of high profile issues that impact the department’s staff and/or services. The role of the CSO is to facilitate decision making from the Executive Director’s Office, and support senior leadership by providing swift response times and available resources from the EDO.
• Makes recommendations as to what is to be escalated to law enforcement, reported to the Governor’s office or managed in the media and works with appropriate internal partners to execute decisions.
• Receives and provides updates until the situation is resolved. Tracks incidents, identifies
• lessons learned and modifies and communicates process changes as necessary.

• Critical Thinking
• Strategic Planning and Program Execution Skills
• Initiative Management
• Communication (oral and written, multiple levels and audiences)
• Collaboration
• Emotional Intelligence
• Strategic, Systems level thinking
• Coalition Building
• Stakeholder Management
• Ability to Function Effectively in a Highly Political Environment

Minimum Qualifications:

10 years of professional experience in Operations, Human Capital Management, Technology, or strategic planning. Your application must demonstrate strategic program planning as part of your experience. Please be sure this is clearly included on your application. 

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to ten (10) years.

• You must pass a thorough background check prior to employment which will include the E-Verify process.
• This position is Non Classified and therefore is not subject to the State Classification System and is considered "At Will".
• If an applicant is selected that is not a current Colorado resident, that applicant must become a Colorado resident before starting the position.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact: [email protected]

Minimum Qualification Screening

A Human Resources Analyst will only review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of the official State of Colorado online application, CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience and qualifications must be specifically documented on your online application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process for this position will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit with your application materials. Therefore, it is extremely important to document in the work experience/job duties portion of your online application the extent to which you possess the education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. It is also important to thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions on the application completely and thoughtfully. Your answers may be rated based on your writing ability (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing) as well as the content of your answer.

Work Visas

CDLE does not sponsor Work Visas of any type.

Applicant Use Of AI

The use of AI tools to aid in preparing application materials is allowed under the condition that the applicant independently verifies and confirms the information's accuracy before submission. Applicants are fully accountable for the content of their submissions and must ensure the safe and ethical use of any AI tools. Furthermore, active and direct participation in the interview process is required.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE AND/OR FUTURE VACANCIES

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 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 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment 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 Coordinators at [email protected]. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For all other inquiries about this recruitment effort, please call 303-318-8200. 

While a salary range is posted for this position, an eventual salary offer is determined by a comprehensive salary analysis, which considers multiple factors including but not limited to education and experience compared to others in the organization doing substantially similar work.