DOLA Homeless Program Specialist (Community & Economic Development III)

Who can Apply

This opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.

About the Colorado Department of Local Affairs

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado’s approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of “Local Affairs,” which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability.

Vision

The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible, affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities.

Mission

Our mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities.

Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs?

The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs. 

In addition, we offer a great location and great benefits, which include:

• Medical and Dental Plans

• Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus pre-tax and ROTH 401K, and 457 plans

• Employee Wellness Programs

• Paid Life Insurance

• 11 paid Holidays per year plus Vacation and Sick Leave

• Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage

• RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees

• Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Training opportunities

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

Please see the  Benefits Overview video for details on the benefits offered to employees.

The Division of Housing (DOH) partners with local communities to create housing opportunities for Coloradans who face the greatest challenges to accessing affordable, safe, and secure homes. DOH supports projects ranging from homelessness prevention to homeownership. Our work includes:  

• Increasing and preserving Colorado's inventory of affordable housing.

• Managing rental assistance vouchers.

• Creating and supporting collaborative approaches to end homelessness.

• Regulating the construction and installation of factory-built structures.

Under the mission of DOLA, the Homeless Programs Specialist is responsible for grant management, compliance monitoring, and program oversight for the Homelessness Resolution Program (HRP) and other homelessness programs. The position manages a portfolio of grants focused on housing and homelessness and provides technical assistance to grantees to support compliance with state and federal funding requirements.  This position will advise and guide multiple grantees and service providers on various technical issues relating to homeless programs for special populations (veterans, youth, families, persons with disabilities, justice-involved, and/or chronically homeless).

For more information, visit the Division of Housing - Homelessness Resolution Program.

The primary duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Grant Management and Monitoring

  • Manage a portfolio of grants, oversee budgets and expenditures, review payment requests, process amendments, monitor performance, and ensure compliance with applicable program and funding requirements.

  • Conduct risk-based monitoring of grantees to assess performance, financial management, and compliance. Use identified risks to determine the appropriate scope and method of monitoring, including desk reviews and on-site monitoring.

• Program Administration and Implementation 

  • Implement program requirements, policies, procedures, and processes to support consistent administration of homelessness and housing programs. 

  • Interpret and communicate state, federal, grant, contract, and program requirements to grantees and applicants.

  • Communicate guidelines and policies to grantees, contractors, and applicants through regular meetings, written communication, FAQs, and website updates. 

  • Identify process improvements, as appropriate.

  • Promote accurate reporting, data quality, appropriate documentation, and prevention of duplication of benefits.

• Technical Assistance

  • Provide ongoing technical assistance and guidance to grantees, including nonprofit organizations, local governments, housing authorities, and Continuums of Care (CoCs).

Class Code & Classification Description

H1N3XX   Community and Economic Development III

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience Only: 

Six (6) years of professional experience that includes a combination of experience in both:

• At least two (2) years working directly with individuals experiencing homelessness or with low-income housing programs. 

AND 

• At least two (2) years providing grant management, grant oversight or programmatic grant implementation as the primary duty.

OR

Education and Experience: A combination of related education in business, social work, behavioral health, non-profit management, public policy, political science, housing and human rights, business administration, public administration, nonprofit administration or a closely related field (as determined by the agency) AND experience as described above equal to six (6) years. There is no substitution for one (1) year of professional grant management, grant oversight or programmatic grant implementation experience as a primary duty. 

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for.

Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit.

Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.

Required Competencies 

• Ability to review and interpret financial and programmatic information for compliance

• Ability to manage multiple grants, deadlines, and competing priorities

• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind 

• Ability to interpret federal and state regulations

• Ability to provide technical assistance and training to grantees

• Attention to detail

• Planning and organizational skills

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Word

• Problem-solving skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a State of Colorado permanent employee working in homelessness or housing programs.

• Experience managing grants, including budgets, performance reporting, and compliance monitoring.

• Experience administering state or federally funded homelessness or housing programs.

• Experience interpreting and applying state and federal grants or program requirements.

• Experience providing technical assistance and guidance to grantees, including nonprofit organizations, local governments, housing authorities, and Continuums of Care (CoCs).

• Experience developing and implementing program policies, procedures, guidelines, and other program materials.

Conditions of Employment

• You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position. 

• Pre-employment criminal background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process. 

• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DOLA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. DOLA does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

• MUST have a valid, unrestricted Colorado drivers license with a safe driving record. A safe driving record requires the following: 

  • No convictions within the last seven (7) years for Reckless driving; Vehicular manslaughter; Driving under the influence (DUI); Two (2) or more driving while ability impaired (DWAI) convictions; One (1) conviction related to bodily injury or death to another person as described in C.R.S. 42-4-239. Eluding the police; or Street racing. 

  • No convictions within the last five (5) years for: Three (3) or more careless driving convictions; or  Speeding 20 mph over the speed limit. Two (2) convictions related to distracted driving or use of a mobile  electronic device as described in C.R.S. 42-4-239. 

  • No convictions within the last three (3) years for: Three (3) or more moving violations with a total of more than seven (7) points assessed on the license; or Suspension or revocation of driver license (unless for unpaid child support or other suspension not related to a moving violation).

  • No requirement of a breath monitoring device, also known as Interlock, to operate a motor vehicle.

Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement will result in your application being rejected.

Applicants may submit a resume, cover letter/letter of interest detailing how their experience and background address the stated minimum and preferred qualifications/competencies of the job and attach to the online application. Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be accepted. Please address every requirement for the position with your experience in your application.

The application may include the following documents. If providing these documents, they MUST be uploaded at the time of application:

• A resume (this is not a substitute for the online application demonstrating work history)

• Cover letter / letter of interest

• Transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)

• DD214 (member-4 form) from applicants that may be eligible for veteran’s preference

Comparative Analysis

Current and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions, and reinstatements) are required to participate in the comparative analysis process through this job posting.

Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for the position. Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, training and experience review, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants. Be sure your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum qualifications. Address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position duties, required competencies and preferred qualifications in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

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. 

DOLA 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 a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Melissa Bellew, DOLA ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Email Address: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

Biweekly Pay: As of July 1, 2023, all DOLA new hires, including transfers of current state employees and reinstatements of former state employees, will be placed on the biweekly pay schedule. This means you will be paid every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods over the course of a year. Biweekly pay is also lag pay, meaning you will be paid two weeks after the end of each pay period. Please click here for more information about the move to biweekly payroll.

Technical Assistance: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching

documents to your online application) please contact NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

Appeal Rights: An applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website,https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available atspb.colorado.gov.

For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Danielle Milone via email at [email protected].