Colorado residents: Senior Water Policy Advisor - MANAGEMENT

• Salary: $100,620.00 – $161,004.00 Annually
• Location: Denver County, CO
• Job Type: Full Time
• Job Number: FAA01383-10/12/23
• Department: Department of Public Health & Environment
• Division: Water Quality Control Division
• Opening Date: 10/12/2023
• Closing Date: 10/25/2023 5:00 PM Mountain
• FLSA: Determined by Position
• Primary Physical Work Address: 4300 E Cherry Creek South Dr. Denver, CO 80246
• FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Information

This job announcement is open to all permanent residents of the State of Colorado.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Be Bold… Make a real difference . . .
Do you have a passion and drive to apply your talent to create a better Colorado? Are you looking for a career that provides you with opportunities to improve the world around you? The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is seeking diverse individuals from all backgrounds to apply for a fantastic position that makes a direct impact on improving the lives of Colorado citizens. Our mission is to protect and improve the health of Colorado’s people and the quality of its environment.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Our tobacco-free campus offers free parking and is conveniently located near RTD bus lines, Glendale City Set, and the Cherry Creek bike path. In addition to a great location and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Employee wellness programs and facilities
• Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Bike to work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks
• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Flexible retirement benefits including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off
• Mentoring program with opportunities for mentors and mentees
• Tuition assistance for college level courses including Masters degree programs
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, and
• A variety of employee resource groups

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:  
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-serviceDescription of Job

The Work Unit:

The Water Quality Control Division is responsible for protecting the state’s rivers, creeks, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater and assuring that Colorado’s citizens are assured safe and continuous drinking water from over 2000 public water systems in the state. Specifically, division staff implement the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act In addition, the division implements Colorado’s Water Quality Control Act. The division is staff to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Control Commission. The division has three programs. The Safe Drinking Water Program implements the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The Clean Water program implements the federal Clean Water Act and Colorado’s Water Quality Control Act. The division’s Operations program provides financial, communications, and business support services for the entire division.

The Position:

The Senior Policy Advisor is a critical role, providing guidance to the division director, program managers, and department leadership on various water quality policy matters. They coordinate with and support the department’s legislative team, aligning programs with the division director’s vision to achieve long-term policy goals. This involves expert advice on legislation, leading implementation through programs, and participating in negotiations and budget proposals. The role engages stakeholders to address high-profile issues and develops water quality policies and regulations for Colorado. They oversee interactions with the Attorney General’s Office, represent the division in forums, and collaborate with environmental and health programs. Any proposal of new regulations is done in coordination with the division director and other programs for consideration by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission.Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

 Minimum Qualifications/Substitutions:
There are (3) three ways you can qualify for this position: 

This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. “See Resume” will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.  A copy of your transcript must be submitted at the time of application (Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.)

Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.
• The position requires infrequent travel for conferences, workshops and meetings.  Travel is estimated to be 5% or less of work time.  Travel may require using a state vehicle.
  

Preferred Qualifications:
The preferred experience and abilities are highly desirable for this position and will be considered in selecting the successful candidate:

• Applicants with an advanced degree in engineering, environmental science, or environmental law are strongly encouraged to apply
• Demonstrated knowledge of clean water or drinking water laws, regulatory frameworks, enforcement, and litigation
• Proven experience in policy analysis, development and implementation
• Knowledgeable and proficient in Microsoft Suite and Google Suite
• Ability to work collaboratively across CDPHE, State government, other organizations, and the regulated community to achieve results
• Familiarity with the principles of environmental justice
• Excellent listening skills
• Ability to adapt quickly to change and easily considers new approaches
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Outstanding skills and abilities in verbal and written communications
• Excellent organizational skills; the ability to set, track, and accomplish priorities, goals, and timetables to achieve maximum productivity, knowing the status of activities at all times
• Experience managing complex and time-sensitive projects
• Proven leadership skills

Supplemental Information

A complete application packet must include:

1. A completed State of Colorado application.
2. A cover letter that describes how your professional experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position.
3. Unofficial transcripts, if using education to qualify for minimum qualification requirements.

The Selection Process 

1. All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
2. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
   • Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
3. A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

Appeal Rights: 
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position or that as a result of no longer being considered, you were discriminated against, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. If an applicant seeks to have an allegation of discrimination reviewed by the Board, that person must file an appeal (petition for hearing) within 10 days of the action or receipt of any final written selection decision. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: 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. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

E-Verify:  CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

Agency: State of Colorado

Address: See the full announcement by clicking
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Website: https://careers.colorado.gov/