New Americans Communications Coordinator

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 59,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits (PERA)

Health and dental plans

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Paid holidays plus vacation and sick

Health Savings Account

Wellness program

Flexible schedules

ODA/ADA accommodations

Employee discount programs

Job summary

State of Colorado seeks a Marketing & Communications Specialist III within the Department of Labor and Employment to lead statewide communications planning and external content strategy.

The role focuses on countering misinformation, promoting immigrant inclusion, and aligning messaging with departmental goals, while ensuring accessibility and clear, plain-language communication.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in strategic communications, project coordination, or related roles.
• Experience developing resources that meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 or similar).
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly in writing and graphical formats.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and lead statewide communications strategy and editorial calendar.
• Coordinate external communications projects including annual reports and press materials.
• Manage public information and CORA records processes and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Strategic communications

Project management

Plain language writing

Quality assurance

Tools

Drupal

CMS

Email newsletter platform

Job description

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO ONLY

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM on MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026

This position is intended to be primarily remote, however it may be required to report to the listed address at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business need.

This position is term-limited and is currently expected to expire on June 30, 2028. The applicant selected for this position will be required to sign a waiver of retention rights.

The Department of Labor and Employment keeps Colorado strong and competitive. We connect workers with great jobs and assist those who have been injured on the job. We help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own by providing temporary wage replacement and we ensure fair labor practices. We provide an up-to-date and accurate picture of the economy that helps in decision making. And we protect the workplace – and Colorado communities – with a variety of consumer protection and safety programs.

This is a values-driven organization, committed to accountability, agility, collaboration, and respect.

We believe in outstanding customer service, an inclusive culture, continued process improvement and in our role as a trusted and strategic partner. Recognizing that knowledgeable employees drive our success, we are seeking dedicated individuals who exhibit our shared values and our passion for quality and excellence in all we do.

In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer excellent benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERADefined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• MotivateMe employee wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Access to participate in employer-supported employee affinity spaces
• RTD EcoPass Commuter Program
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information go to https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

The salary range for this posting is:

• HOURLY: $28.59 - $39.38
• BIWEEKLY: $2,286.92 - $3,150.14
• MONTHLY: $4,955.00 - $6,825.30

This position serves as ONA’s implementation lead for all communications produced by ONA. This position will also serve as the liaison with the Office of Government, Policy & Public Relations (GPPR) at the Department. This position will recommend and develop a brand identity for ONA as well as communicate data, success stories, increase public awareness of ONA’s services and of New Americans, and collaborate with subject matter experts to create and promote accurate and engaging content. This position also supports the External Relations Manager, and ONA Director as needed in completing executive requests to support the Executive Director’s Office, the Governor, the legislature, or state peers, and must be comfortable in presenting complex information in concise written and graphical form. This position’s primary functions are:

Strategic Communications Planning

This position will drive the development of a comprehensive communications plan to counter misinformation, strengthen immigrant integration, and promote ONA’s initiatives and programs. The messaging will align with ONA’s mission, vision, and values and the strategy will leverage ONA’s strengths and opportunities.

External Communications Project Management

This position is the project coordinator for ONA’s external communications. The Communications Coordinator leads project management for recurring and targeted communications, such as ONA’s annual report, newsletters, project or program announcements, and more. This position develops and updates tools and templates to support teamwide collaboration and unified communications. The position reviews content from subject matter experts (grant, policy, outreach, and program staff) to create a single voice for ONA, ensure quality standards, and ensure content is digitally accessible, in plain language, and concise.

Public Information and Records Management

This position is the primary point of contact for ONA's public information and records, responsible for managing all aspects of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request process. In this role, the position collaborates with internal and external partners to ensure that all communications are transparent, legally compliant, and effectively archived, safeguarding New Americans’ privacy protections.

Key activities include:

• Develop, execute, and lead ongoing quality improvement processes for an ONA annual statewide communications strategy and editorial calendar.
• Craft strengths-based messaging that celebrates and uplifts Colorado’s New Americans and strengthens public understanding of immigrant and refugee integration in Colorado.
• Build and maintain a repository of success stories and utilize a variety of tools and channels to share these stories.
• Lead writing, project management, and cross-team content collection for key external communications products, including ONA’s annual report, research reports, program announcements, press releases, and more.
• Act as ONA’s liaison to the Department’s GPPR for coordinating design for external digital communications projects.
• Lead ONA’s website strategy and ongoing content updates using Drupal.
• Coordinate ONA’s electronic newsletter as a core vehicle for external communication.
• Manage all ONA listservs, including adding members, moderating content, ensuring adherence with guidelines.
• Align all communications with ONA’s messaging principles, Department brand guidelines, digitally accessible (ADA compliant), plain language, and culturally and linguistically appropriate.
• Serve as ONA's final content reviewer to ensure a unified voice while training staff on communication guidelines, tools, and templates.
• Direct the communication strategy, promotion, and media collateral for major ONA events, including community convenings, award ceremonies, and policy briefings.
• Serve as ONA’s primary contact and records custodian for Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests.

Residency Requirement:

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

Class Code & Classification Description:

H4K3XX Marketing & Communications Specialist III

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position to include: Strategic communications plan development and execution. Communications project management including planning, developing and managing timelines, assessing and communicating project progress, quality assurance, and evaluation.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of professional work experience with refugee and/or immigrant communities.
• Personal or professional engagement with refugee and/or immigrant serving organizations in Colorado
• Strong familiarity with evidence-based communications for immigrant inclusion
• Communications experience in a highly sensitive content area
• Experience developing resources that meet state digital accessibility standards and clear understanding of WCAG 2.1 guidelines
• Website strategy and website editing experience on any Content Management System (CMS)
• Experience with electronic newsletter platform(s)
• Performing similar duties as a State of Colorado classified employee.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a Colorado resident at time of application.
• You must pass a thorough background check prior to employment to include the E-Verify process.
• This position is term-limited and is currently expected to expire on June 30, 2028. The applicant selected for this position will be required to sign a waiver of retention rights.

Appeal Rights:

As 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: [phone]. Phone: [phone]. Email address: [e-mail]. 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 at spb.colorado.gov.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact: [e-mail]

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE AND/OR FUTURE VACANCIES

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 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.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment 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 Coordinators at [e-mail]. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For all other inquiries about this recruitment effort, please call 303-318-8200.

While a salary range is posted for this position, an eventual salary offer is determined by a comprehensive salary analysis, which considers multiple factors including but not limited to education and experience compared to others in the organization doing substantially similar work.