Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood

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 Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality, and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education, and well-being of all of Colorado's young children, their families and early childhood professionals in all settings. 

Department: Office of the Governor; Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Position Title: Executive Director

Summary of Functions: The Executive Director oversees and manages the agency, providing executive leadership by establishing and effecting broad policies and objectives related to CDEC’s mission, values, and strategic objectives. The Executive Director provides visionary and operational leadership, fostering trust and collaboration, such that CDEC delivers credible and effective service to the early childhood community. They will oversee the Early Childhood Leadership Commission and the Child Abuse Prevention Board, and administer the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. This position will spearhead early childhood initiatives and policy implementation. This is an exciting opportunity to be a leader as Colorado becomes the best state in the country for serving and supporting children below the age of five, while supporting their whole families. This position establishes and maintains effective working relationships with external stakeholders including other state agencies, the General Assembly, and public and private entities, to influence policies and operational improvements. The Executive Director is part of the Governor’s Cabinet. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

A strong candidate will be a leader in the early childhood field with excellent communication and management skills, experience with data-driven decision-making, and a deep knowledge of early childhood policy and governance. 

Strategic & Operational Leadership: 

• Manage CDEC operations and direct the implementation of departmental services, policies, and programs. Ensure successful execution and alignment with the department’s goals, Governor’s initiatives, and 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 General Assembly, public entities, and private entities) to influence policies and operational improvements and to position the department as a credible resource that provides effective service to its customers

• Support the statewide universal preschool system that serves children and families in Colorado, including leading processes to define standards, licensing, and prioritization of funding

• Receive input from program directors, the public, agency executive directors, deputy directors, the State Auditor’s Office, the Legislative Audit Committee, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), and the Governor’s Office regarding statewide programs and policies

• Manage the department’s finances to ensure it operates within the approved budget and maintains 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: 

• Align Colorado’s early childhood system to a statewide, unified early childhood vision that results in all Colorado children, families, and early childhood professionals being valued, healthy, and thriving 

• Expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood offerings across the state

• Lead collaboration across agencies to ensure a user oriented early childhood systems experience for families and providers

• Champion and oversee all facets of the department's equity, diversity and inclusion 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 respectful of diverse perspectives and ideas

• Ensure 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

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 and oversee preparation of responses to Joint Budget Committee (JBC) questions and testimony points

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

• Serve as an official department representative to the public, 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. 

• Advise the Governor’s Office 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 Cabinet, which includes all other executive directors and Governor’s staff

Organizational Relationships: Departments of Human Services and Education; Department of Health Care Policy & Financing; Department of Labor and Employment; Early Childhood Leadership Commission; Child Abuse Prevention Board; Chief Performance Officer

Preferred Education/Experience:

A minimum of five years of executive leadership experience building a vision and orienting team members toward executing that vision, including experience leading large-scale change:

• Experience in early childhood and systems management

• Experience managing large teams and complex budgets

• Knowledge of the federal government and early childhood programs

• Experience in leading and navigating teams through regulatory processes

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal), with the 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 

• 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

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.

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.