Nutrition and Food Systems Specialist - Term-Limited

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Colorado PERA retirement options

Optional 401(K) and 457

Employer-paid life insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Flexible working arrangements

11 paid holidays

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Employee wellness programs

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

State of Colorado's Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) seeks a Health Professional III within the Prevention Services Division to lead nutrition and chronic disease prevention initiatives, including produce prescription programs and partnerships with diverse stakeholders across Colorado.

The role focuses on project management, contract monitoring, and technical assistance for state and local partners, ensuring alignment with work plans while advancing health equity and

Qualifications

• Six years of relevant public health experience with program or project management.
• Experience with contract or grant management.
• Experience in community outreach and engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives.
• Education with related experience may substitute for part of the experience.

Responsibilities

• Content Expertise and Technical Assistance
• Partnership Development and Maintenance
• Project Management and Contract Monitoring

Skills

Public health program management

Partnership development

Contract management

Project planning

Grant management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in public health, health sciences, or related field

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

ABOUT CDPHE:

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state.

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• TERM LIMIT: This position is term limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 9/30/2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.
• The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.
• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor’s discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

CDPHE Offers:

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.
• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.
• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Potential flexible working arrangements
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.
• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee wellness programs.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Work Unit:

The Prevention Services Division (PSD) is actively building a workforce reflective of the diverse communities we serve. The Division strives to understand the needs of Colorado’s communities and encourages contributions of stakeholders in identifying and solving public health problems. We are committed to providing a respectful, supportive, and inclusive work environment that demonstrates our commitment to accepting and respecting individuals from all communities. The Division is also committed to the professional development, collaborative effort, and sustained wellness of its workforce.

The Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch (HPCDP), in the Prevention Services Division (Division), plans, designs, implements, and evaluates public health interventions related to chronic disease and related risk factors, with a goal of improving health-related quality of life for all Coloradans. Special emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, analyzing and making data and evidence-informed decisions, capacity-building, partnerships, and integration between program efforts for efficiency and effectiveness. The HPCDP Branch includes Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other Related Dementias, Comprehensive and Colorectal Cancer Control, Healthy Eating and Active Living, Tobacco Education, Prevention and Control, the Cancer, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program, and Healthy Communities.

We are aware that many chronic diseases share the same systemic causes: tobacco use, lack of access to nutritious foods, built environments to support physical activity, social connectedness, and poverty and economic instability.

These systemic injustices and additional risk and protective factors are shared across many of the outcomes we address. Our work continues until all Coloradans can live healthy lives in a way that celebrates intersectional identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability, and geographic location.

The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) and Cancer Unit exists to create an environment that encourages Coloradans to eat healthy and be physically active in their everyday lives and where the healthy choice is the easy choice. The Unit exists to increase cancer prevention and control across the continuum of care, including primary prevention, screening and early detection, and cancer survivorship.

What You Will Do:

The position exists to implement strategies to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, including produce prescription and incentive programs, increase access to healthy food, and improve nutrition security in Colorado.

This position operates independently to support the produce prescription program design, the Colorado food system, produce procurement, and policies regarding reimbursement and sustainability of programs to provide consultation, education, training, technical assistance, and resources for chronic disease and obesity prevention and policy work. This position determines methods for implementing and accomplishing activities set forth in the Rural Health Transformation Project (RHT), State Physical Activity and Nutrition grant (SPAN), and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) work plan by reviewing the evidence base and literature regarding produce prescription program interventions; determining appropriate technical assistance for specific audiences to increase the likelihood of audience engagement and adoption and identifies gaps in current initiatives or communication strategies to determine appropriate updates or revisions to increase effectiveness.

Further, this position maintains Partnership Development and Maintenance with statewide partners, state agencies, local public health agencies, community based organizations, providers and clinics, community members (i.e., food policy councils, farmers and producers), and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and eliminate redundancy for chronic disease prevention-related nutrition and healthy eating programming and strategies regarding produce prescription programs and nutrition security. This position determines and identifies individuals or organizations who are not currently engaged, are necessary contributors or as prospective strategic partners to effectively and successfully implement the project work plans; determining where the interests and activities of potential partners are strategically aligned with the branch, division, and the department work plan priorities, determining which state and national networks, trainings and conferences to attend and/or to present at to advance work plans and priorities; and determining appropriate methods to monitor contracts to meet state fiscal and contract guidelines while maintaining partner relationships.

This position is also expected to Project Manage and Monitor Contracts to support the development, organization, implementation, monitoring and communication of RHT, SPAN, and MCH work plans to achieve annual objectives. The position reports progress on work plan implementation and ensures that documentation is completed in accordance with established internal processes while adhering to grant reporting requirements. In doing so, this position identifies systems for ongoing or periodic analysis and reporting of projects to determine when program/project adjustments are needed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Content Expertise and Technical Assistance
• Partnership Development and Maintenance
• Project Management and Contract Monitoring

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:

C7C3XX Health Professional III

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in public health, nutrition, healthcare, healthy food access community-based programs, or a closely related field, that included program or project management, contract or grant management, client/partner technical assistance, community outreach and engagement, and/or implementation and evaluation of related programs or activities.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education with a degree in public health, health sciences, nutrition, healthcare administration and/or relevant experience in public health, nutrition, healthcare, healthy food access community-based programs, or a closely related field, that included program or project management, contract or grant management, client/partner technical assistance, community outreach and engagement, and/or implementation and evaluation of related programs or activities equal to six (6) years.

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process. “See resume” will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation. In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

**If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:

1. Demonstrated experience with nutrition programs, produce prescription program design, the Colorado food system, produce procurement, program reimbursement policies, program sustainability, or increasing access to healthy foods.
2. Demonstrated experience working with diverse partners such as statewide partners, state agencies, local public health agencies, community-based organizations, healthcare providers and clinics, community members (i.e., food policy councils, farmers, and producers), or other collaborative groups to achieve shared goals.
3. Demonstrated expertise with content related to increasing access to healthy food and supporting produce prescription program implementation and providing technical assistance to organizations or partners to influence implementation of best practices and program adoption.
4. Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects or initiatives simultaneously.
5. Demonstrated experience independently planning and advancing work, including identifying workplan activities, identifying next steps, anticipating potential challenges, and using judgment to move projects forward.
6. Experience developing and managing/monitoring contracts, statements of work, or similar agreements.
7. Interpersonal and conflict management skills.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Residency Requirement Options: This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.
• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor’s discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.
• This position is term limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 9/30/2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.
• TRAVEL: This position will travel 10% of the time, travel is predominately site visits or trainings that may be conducted alone or with other CDPHE employees.

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.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.
• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.
• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• 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.
• 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.
• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

CDPHE does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

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.

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 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 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 at [e-mail] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.