DOLA Project Manager - Executive Director's Office (Term Limited)

Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs is seeking a Project Manager I to oversee and manage key projects that strengthen local communities. The role involves planning and implementing initiatives with a focus on collaborative stakeholder engagement and effective project delivery to support Colorado's governance and housing solutions.

Benefits

Medical and Dental Plans

Flexible Retirement Plans

Employee Wellness Programs

Paid Life Insurance

11 Paid Holidays per Year

Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage

Training Opportunities

Variety of Free Discounts on Services

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of project management experience preferred.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a project or portfolio of projects.
• Develop and provide project management direction for initiatives.
• Identify ongoing project risks and issues while managing key stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Project Management

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Suite

Job description

This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2027. The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.

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

This job posting is intended to fill a position within the Executive Director’s Office. For more information on the agency visit the Department of Local Affairs website .

Individuals in this position will support program teams in the Divisions responsible for implementing key priorities within the Department. Priority projects and programs include, for example, implementing new legislation, improving housing contracting processes, designing competitive applications for housing development funds and/or land use reforms for local governments. The Department seeks a project manager to assist the program teams in implementing these priorities and ensuring the Department stays on track with key deadlines.

Primary tasks for this position include:

Project Management

• Independently manage a project or portfolio of projects of varying size up to and including large, major, complex projects. Larger projects may impact policies and programming across the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), local governments, other State agencies, and/or the Governor’s Office. Efforts may include:

  • Develop and provide project management direction to ensure overall success of initiatives. This includes developing project implementation plans, covering project scope, objectives, schedules, deliverables, and success criteria that support DOLA’s goals in collaboration with management and project sponsors.

  • Analyzes the complexity of a project to determine the most appropriate deployment plan.

  • Integrate continuous improvement and agile approaches to project deployment.

  • Ensuring the Department and program team is communicating clearly and transparently with key parties interested in the relevant project.

• Proactively manage the full life cycle of projects through the overall project plan, scope, change control, risks, issues, impacts, and reporting, which may include:

  • Supporting project teams by leading project meetings, tracking action items, preparing agendas, etc. Formulating and managing self-developed project schedules, priorities, progress, and work plan.

  • Proactively managing changes in project scope, identifying potential risks, and devising contingency plans.

  • Identifying potential problems and encouraging suggestions to improve the overall performance of the project for customer satisfaction.

  • Managing the project’s key client and stakeholder relationships.

  • Creating and monitoring status reports from the project team to troubleshoot problem areas and deliver overall progress reports to agency leadership and/or key partners.

• Identify ongoing project risks and issues, including those that have financial, legal, and resource impacts to the project, which may include:

  • Working with the assigned project staff to manage risks and issues through the development of mitigation strategies.

  • Documenting issues, deploy mitigation strategies and present plans of actions to the project team, and partnering agencies’ leadership.

  • Proactively managing changes in project scope, identifying potential risks, and devising contingency plans.

• Assessment of available project management tools, and development of project management templates and standards.

• Other duties as assigned.

Class Code & Classification Description

H1K2XX Project Manager I

H1K3XX Project Manager II

While this position is posted as a Project Manager I, there is flexibility for progression should the top candidate have the skills and experience for the Project Manager II classification.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience Only for Project Manager I: Seven (7) years of professional experience in project management on high priority projects, process improvement, change management, and/or data analysis. At least two of those years must include substantial project management responsibilities.

OR

Education and Experience for a Project Manager I: A combination of related experience, described above, and education in business administration, public administration, social work, public affairs, organizational development or a related field (as determined by the agency) which total seven (7) years. For example, a bachelors degree and three (3) years of related experience.

The Project Manager II classification includes the experience listed above with an additional 1 year requirement. The selected candidate will be assessed for class placement.

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

• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple deliverables and interest groups

• Ability to interpret federal and state regulations or program guidelines

• Ability to consult, advise, influence, and work collaboratively across teams

• Capability to sustain a respectful and productive work environment that inspires teamwork and positive results

• Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret a variety of data to identify trends and draw conclusions

• Strong attention to detail

• Strong analytical skills

• Strong dedication to public service

• Excellent problem-solving skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and organize work to accommodate shifting deadlines

• Ability to provide clear, concise, and objective responses to complex program questions

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Word, and Google Suite

• Strong interpersonal skills

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Federal, State or local government experience

• Experience implementing legislation in the federal, state, or local government, for example through administrative rulemaking

• Project management certification or other completed training program

• Project management related to implementing new government programs, substantial modifications of programs, or launching new products (public, nonprofit or private)

• Change management and/or process improvement certifications (ex. Six Sigma, Lean, Agile, ADKAR, etc.)

• Experience with process improvement efforts in a public sector context

• Experience with project management frameworks and tools, such as Kanban boards, Agile backlog and sprint planning, SmartSheet, Jira, Trello, etc. but flexibility about which tools are utilized

• Experience with data analysis

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.

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 that MUST be uploaded at the time of application:

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

• 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 [e-mail].

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 [e-mail] 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 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 acknowledgment 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.

For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Melissa Bellew via email at [e-mail].