County Administration Policy and Contract Specialist

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PERA retirement benefits including PER

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job

11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued

Flexplace and Flextime work

Job summary

State of Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy & Financing seeks a Contract Administrator IV to lead policy for the Centralized and Shared Service program, oversee contract and IGA development, and ensure compliance with federal and state requirements. This role directs policy content for program contracts, evaluates contractor performance, and guides statewide program improvements.

This position requires strong stakeholder engagement, rulemaking, and cross‑agency collaboration to align

Qualifications

• Seven years of relevant professional experience in contract administration, intergovernmental agreements, public administration, program administration, policy development or implementation, regulatory compliance, procurement, grants administration, or a closely related field.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Health Care Policy, or related field AND three years of relevant professional experience in contract administration, intergovernmental agreements, public administration, program administration, policy development or implementation, regulatory compliance, procurement, grants administration, or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy development and implementation for the Centralized and Shared Service program, ensuring alignment with federal and state requirements, Department policies, and sub-regulatory guidance.
• Establish program policy requirements and support consistent statewide implementation.
• Identify policy and operational gaps and develop solutions and implementation approaches.
• Direct implementation of new initiatives and monitor program performance, contractor deliverables, and key metrics.
• Evaluate contractor performance and coordinate improvements when policy, compliance, or oversight concerns are identified.
• Coordinate procurement, contracting, stakeholder communications, and ongoing program support.
• Analyze program data, research best practices, and incorporate lessons learned into policy and program improvements.
• Lead the development, review, implementation, and administration of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and related contracts with counties, cohorts, and subcontracted entities.
• Ensure contractual requirements align with federal and state requirements, Department policies, and program objectives.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and gather and evaluate feedback related to contractual requirements, implementation concerns, and proposed changes.
• Coordinate contract and IGA revisions with Department subject matter experts and other internal partners.
• Develop county business process and administrative standards and incorporate approved requirements into IGAs and related guidance.
• Coordinate with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), when applicable, to align administrative requirements.
• Monitor contract and IGA timelines, identify implementation barriers, and coordinate solutions to support timely execution.
• Lead the development and coordination of county administration policy, rulemaking, operational guidance, and county-facing communications.
• Initiate and support rulemaking activities and facilitate stakeholder engagement related to county administration requirements.
• Coordinate the interpretation and implementation of applicable federal and state requirements with Department subject matter experts.
• Develop and issue clear and consistent guidance through rules, memos, operational communications, web-based resources, and other communication channels.
• Collaborate across the Department to ensure county-facing guidance and expectations are accurate, timely, and consistent.
• Evaluate stakeholder feedback and implementation concerns to identify opportunities for clarification, policy updates, or additional engagement.
• Identify gaps or inconsistencies in county-facing guidance and coordinate resolution across affected program areas.

Skills

Communication

Critical thinking

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Conflict resolution

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Health Care Policy, or related field

Job description

STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENCY REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION

NOTE: This announcement may be used to fill multiple openings.

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) oversees and operates Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and other state public health programs for qualified Coloradans. Our mission is to improve health care equity, access and outcomes for the people we serve while saving Coloradans money on health care and driving value for 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.

As part of the State of Colorado, HCPF offers a competitive benefits package:

• 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
• Accrued Sick Leave for State of Colorado Temporary Employees
• Flexplace and Flextime work arrangements
• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program
• Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees
• Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs. https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

The Partner Relations and Administration Division serves as the Department's primary liaison to counties, tribes, and local partners, providing expertise in county relations, administrative oversight, communications, fiscal management, and county contract and grant administration. The Division oversees county compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, manages county administration funding and fiscal monitoring, and provides strategic recommendations to Department leadership to improve local administration and operations affecting more than 4,500 county and eligibility site staff. Within the Division, the County Administration Fiscal Unit manages county administration funding, budgeting, accounting, fiscal compliance, regulatory oversight, and the County Grant Program, administering the statutory funding system that supports county human and social services operations, including eligibility determination, program integrity, audits, quality assurance, and other essential Medical Assistance Program functions.

The Division includes the County Administration Fiscal Unit, which serves as the Department’s fiscal management team for county administration funding. The Unit is responsible for county administration funding, accounting, budgeting, fiscal compliance, regulatory oversight, and administration of the County Grant Program. This statutory funding system, supported through federal, state, and local funding, is the primary funding mechanism used by counties to support Medical Assistance Program operations within county human services departments. The funding supports county functions that affect multiple areas of the Department, including eligibility determination, program integrity, subrecipient monitoring, performance improvement, audits, and quality assurance.

Position Summary

This position serves as the Department’s lead policy and subject matter expert for the Centralized and Shared Service program, establishing policy requirements and ensuring consistent statewide implementation. The position oversees policy content for program contracts, evaluates contractor performance, reviews program metrics, and directs policy and program improvements. It leads the implementation of new initiatives and develops and updates county administration IGAs, rules, memos, and other sub-regulatory guidance. The position also leads county administration rulemaking, stakeholder engagement, and the interpretation and communication of federal and state policy requirements. Through ongoing research, analysis, and program evaluation, the position identifies opportunities to strengthen program performance, compliance, and statewide consistency.

Key Responsibilities

Centralized and Shared Service Policy

• Lead policy development and implementation for the Centralized and Shared Service program, ensuring alignment with federal and state requirements, Department policies, and sub-regulatory guidance.
• Establish program policy requirements and support consistent statewide implementation.
• Identify policy and operational gaps and develop solutions and implementation approaches.
• Direct implementation of new initiatives and monitor program performance, contractor deliverables, and key metrics.
• Evaluate contractor performance and coordinate improvements when policy, compliance, or oversight concerns are identified.
• Coordinate procurement, contracting, stakeholder communications, and ongoing program support.
• Analyze program data, research best practices, and incorporate lessons learned into policy and program improvements.

County and Cohort Intergovernmental Agreements

• Lead the development, review, implementation, and administration of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and related contracts with counties, cohorts, and subcontracted entities.
• Ensure contractual requirements align with federal and state requirements, Department policies, and program objectives.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and gather and evaluate feedback related to contractual requirements, implementation concerns, and proposed changes.
• Coordinate contract and IGA revisions with Department subject matter experts and other internal partners.
• Develop county business process and administrative standards and incorporate approved requirements into IGAs and related guidance.
• Coordinate with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), when applicable, to align administrative requirements.
• Monitor contract and IGA timelines, identify implementation barriers, and coordinate solutions to support timely execution.

County and Cohort Administration and Policy

• Lead the development and coordination of county administration policy, rulemaking, operational guidance, and county-facing communications.
• Initiate and support rulemaking activities and facilitate stakeholder engagement related to county administration requirements.
• Coordinate the interpretation and implementation of applicable federal and state requirements with Department subject matter experts.
• Develop and issue clear and consistent guidance through rules, memos, operational communications, web-based resources, and other communication channels.
• Collaborate across the Department to ensure county-facing guidance and expectations are accurate, timely, and consistent.
• Evaluate stakeholder feedback and implementation concerns to identify opportunities for clarification, policy updates, or additional engagement.
• Identify gaps or inconsistencies in county-facing guidance and coordinate resolution across affected program areas.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code and Class Description

Contract Administrator IV H1H4XX

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience Only:

Seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in contract administration, intergovernmental agreements, public administration, program administration, policy development or implementation, regulatory compliance, procurement, grants administration, or a closely related field.

OR

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Health Care Policy, or related field AND Three (3) years of relevant professional experience in contract administration, intergovernmental agreements, public administration, program administration, policy development or implementation, regulatory compliance, procurement, grants administration, or a closely related field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior or current state experience related to the duties of this position.
• 7+ years of experience working with public assistance programs
• Strong foundational understanding of Medicaid.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, rigorous attention to detail, ability to perform at a very high level under pressure and within tight deadlines, superb organizational skills, ability to build trust with senior decision-making audiences, and experience leading teams directly or indirectly through influence.
• Experience with call center operations and/or quality assurance (QA) auditing and performance monitoring.
• Experience ensuring compliance with federal and state statutes, regulations, grant requirements, procurement standards, and contract management policies, preferably in a public sector environment.
• Experience working within Colorado state government, county human services, Medicaid administration, or other public sector organizations administering federally or state-funded benefit programs is strongly preferred.

DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.

Skills to Support Success

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Adaptability
• Attention to detail
• Conflict resolution
• Collaboration

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All positions at HCPF are security sensitive positions and require that the individuals undergo a criminal record background check as a condition of employment.
• Employees who have been disciplinary terminated, resigned in lieu of disciplinary termination, or negotiated their termination from the State of Colorado must disclose this information on the application.

Appeal Rights

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [e-mail] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

ADAAA Accommodations

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 Department of Health Care Policy & Financing 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 Coordinator, Anupreet Kaur, at [e-mail].

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.