Operations and Project Management Unit Manager - Term-Limited

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental plans

Flexible working arrangements

11 paid holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is seeking an operational manager for the Prevention Services Division to lead the Unit's workflow, grant/contract governance, and program operations. You will supervise staff, govern cross-functional processes, and coordinate with central departments to ensure efficient, compliant program delivery.

The role emphasizes structured process improvement, risk management, and collaboration across fiscal, procurement, and human resources to support

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of relevant experience in program operations leadership, grant/contract governance, administrative workflow management, or supervision.
• Education or equivalent experience in related fields as described in minimum qualifications.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Program Operations Leadership: supervise four FTE and provide branch-wide operational leadership.
• Oversee grants, contracts, procurement, and program implementation activities.
• Develop standardized workflows and drive process improvement across funding streams.
• Coordinate with Fiscal, Procurement, Contracts, Compliance, and HR units.

Skills

Operations leadership

Grant management

Contracting lifecycles

Process improvement

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Public Administration/Public Health/Project Management/Healthcare Administration

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 6/30/2031. 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 (HPCDP) Branch in the Prevention Services Division (PSD) reviews, plans, designs, implements, and evaluates public health interventions for chronic diseases and related risk factors to improve health-related quality of life for all Coloradans. Particular emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, data-driven and evidence-informed decision-making, capacity building, partnerships, and the integration of program efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The statewide chronic disease programs within the HPCDP Branch include Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Comprehensive Cancer Control, Colorectal Cancer Control, Diabetes Prevention and Management, Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, Healthy Eating and Active Living, the Cancer, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program, and the Tobacco Education, Prevention and Cessation Grants Program.

We are aware that many chronic diseases share the same systemic causes: tobacco use, lack of access to nutritious foods, built environments that support physical activity, social connectedness, and poverty and economic instability. These systemic injustices, along with additional risk and protective factors, are shared across many of the outcomes we address. Colorado For ALL means working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It means we support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.

The Operations and Project Management Unit provides branch-wide operational coordination, implementation support, workflow management, and process improvement support for grantmaking, contracting, and program implementation activities across multiple chronic disease prevention programs and funding streams. Operational implementation activities are centralized within this unit to improve operational consistency, workload distribution, standardized implementation processes, and coordination throughout the full grant and contract lifecycle, including solicitations, negotiations, operational tracking, and closeouts.

What You Will Do:

This position serves as the operational manager for the unit and directly supervises four FTE, providing branch-wide operational leadership, supervision, and strategic governance over implementation workflows, grantmaking systems, contracting, procurement, and program operational practices across the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch.

The position supervises Operations and Project Management Unit staff and establishes, directs, and governs standardized operational systems, implementation frameworks, workflow management practices, project coordination activities, and operational procedures that support branch implementation across multiple funding streams and program areas.

The position directs and governs operational implementation activities related to grants and contracts throughout the full implementation lifecycle, including solicitation development, operational planning, implementation coordination, negotiations, workflow tracking, amendment coordination, implementation tracking systems, operational closeout activities, and implementation support.

The position designs and directs operational implementation activities between branch staff and centralized departmental units, including fiscal, procurement, contracting, legal, compliance, and human resources. The position also identifies operational risks, workflow barriers, implementation challenges, and process improvement opportunities. Develops and implements operational strategies to improve implementation quality, operational consistency, accountability, and workload management across the branch.

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Operations Leadership
• Unit Leadership, Supervision, and Personnel Management
• Branch Leadership of Process & Quality Improvement
• Branch Operational Coordination and Consultation

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:

H1B5XX Administrator V

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:

Eight (8) years of relevant experience in program operations leadership, grant/contract governance, administrative workflow management, business process improvement, or operational unit supervision.

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education with a degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health, Project Management, Healthcare Administration, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Communications, Finance, or a related field, and/or relevant experience in program operations leadership, grant/contract governance, administrative workflow management, business process improvement, or operational unit supervision equal to eight (8) 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:

1. Demonstrated experience supervising professional administrative/operations staff, balancing workloads across competing priorities, resolving team conflicts, and fostering a collaborative, accountable work environment.
2. Expertise overseeing complex grantmaking, procurement, and contracting lifecycles—including competitive solicitations (RFAs/RFPs), scope of work (SOW) negotiations, pre-routing quality reviews, and year-end closeouts.
3. Experience applying structured quality improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA) or change management frameworks (e.g., PROSCI) to map workflows, establish standard operating procedures (SOPs/templates), and reduce administrative processing times.
4. Proven ability to manage operational dependencies, resolve processing stalls, and negotiate solutions between program teams and centralized support divisions (Fiscal, Procurement, Contracts, Compliance).
5. Demonstrated initiative in independently investigating operational bottlenecks, navigating ambiguous organizational guidelines, and providing strategic operational advice to senior leadership.

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 Driver South, Denver, CO 80246.
• This position is term limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 6/30/2031. 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 5% of the time, travel is predominately in-state to meet with local stakeholders, partners and grantees, with occasional out-of-state travel to meet with national partners.

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.

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.