Program Assistant I - Investigative Operations Specialist

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Wellness program

Job summary

State of Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment seeks a Program Assistant I to support the Job Protection, Retaliation, and Interference Investigations Section within FAMLI. The role involves triage of complaints, legal analysis, and coordination with the Division’s leadership.

Qualifications include four years of related experience or an education/experience combination equal to four years, plus strong organizational and communication skills. Colorado residency is required.

Qualifications

• Four years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned such as paralegal experience, litigation experience, employment law, AG office experience, personal injury, court administration.
• Education + experience combination equal to four years.
• Competencies include critical thinking, organizational skills, communication, and maintaining a neutral, professional demeanor.
• Must be a current Colorado resident at time of application.
• Background check including E-Verify will be required.

Responsibilities

• Investigate incoming complaints and perform jurisdictional triage to distinguish eligible from ineligible claims.
• Maintain the unit's system of record, track deadlines, and manage active case load with senior management oversight.
• Provide advanced support by organizing voluminous evidentiary productions and protecting confidential information.
• Serve as the primary liaison for the Job Protection and Retaliation Unit and improve operational processes.
• Ensure clear, timely communications and neutral, fact-based adjudications in investigations.

Skills

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Neutral demeanor

Attention to detail

Education

Education/experience equivalent to four years

Job description

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2026

This position will have hybrid workplace options available but will still be required to report to the listed address at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business need.

This posting does not accept resumes, cover letters, or attachments of any kind. Please be as thorough as possible in detailing your work history, education, and training in the application form.

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.

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

Our agency website: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

CDLE has implemented a pilot program on March 1st, 2022 which will award Disability Hiring Preference Points similar to the Veterans’ Preference Points program. During your application process you will be asked if you would like to be considered for either of these programs for additional points in the hiring process. To learn more about Disability Hiring Preference and what will be required to participate, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/state.co.us/disability-hiring-preference/home

PLEASE NOTE: With the beginning of this program, CDLE will no longer accept attachments of any kind with applications. Please be as thorough as possible in documenting your education and work history in the application system. Attachments will not be accepted or considered during any phase of the hiring process including minimum qualification screening, comparative analysis, or interviews.

The salary range for this position is:
$25.93 - $34.38 Hourly
$2,074.62 - $2,750.77 Biweekly
$4,495.00 - $5,960.00 Monthly

The Family and Medical Leave Insurance Division’s (FAMLI) Policy unit administers and executes all compliance and regulations for the FAMLI division and program. This includes all legal analysis, research, rulemaking, and communications, all of which are critical to the program's success. The unit educates the public about their rights and responsibilities under the laws and regulations within the unit’s statutory authority and jurisdiction. This includes monitoring legislation, case law, and internal appeals impacting the Division, supporting FAMLI’s rulemaking including legal research, stakeholder outreach, public hearings and coordination with the Attorney General’s Office; preparing legislative budget impact statements; responding to requests from members of the General Assembly; making recommendations to Division and Department leadership concerning changes to policies and procedures; assisting with technical requests from members of the General Assembly; and, providing support to the Division Director for various hearings and presentations to the General Assembly and Congressional staff. This unit also works closely with the Division’s operations teams, including technology, communications, and customer service, to ensure the accurate application of policies, rules, regulations, and laws across various systems, processes, and areas of compliance.

The Job Protection, Retaliation, and Interference Investigations Section of the Policy Unit is responsible for investigating possible violations of the job protection, retaliation, and interference provisions of the FAMLI Act and its implementing regulations. This Section is tasked with the legal analysis, review, and approval of the FAMLI Division’s positions and communications related to job protection, retaliation, and interference. This Section guides the development of rules and guidance on both the substantive and procedural aspects of investigations into job protection, retaliation, and interference.

This position serves as the primary liaison and central point of contact for the Job Protection and Retaliation Unit, maintaining comprehensive oversight of all incoming complaints. Functioning with a high degree of independence, this role continuously evaluates operations to identify, develop, and execute the process improvements necessary to manage a high-volume, quasi-judicial docket.

As the unit's primary gatekeeper, the position conducts initial jurisdictional triage of incoming complaints, analyzing complex documentation to distinguish relevant from irrelevant claims and presumptive FAMLI eligibility before complaints are advanced for formal investigation. To mitigate compliance risks, this position exercises centralized control over the unit’s system of record, meticulously tracking strict investigative deadlines, managing active caseload assignments, and proactively advising senior management of approaching deadlines and compliance risks.

Furthermore, this position provides advanced technical support to the unit by organizing voluminous evidentiary productions, protecting highly confidential information, and serving as the final quality-control checkpoint to ensure all administrative correspondence is polished and accessible. Ultimately, by engineering the unit's operational framework, this role ensures the seamless delivery of division services and empowers the investigative team to focus exclusively on neutral fact-finding and complex legal adjudications.

SAVE THE DATE: ONLINE TESTING WILL START AT 8:30 AM ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 16TH 2026 AND WILL CLOSE MONDAY NOVEMBER 23TH AT 11:59PM.

After minimum qualification screening, there will be an online exam covering Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, email usage, multitasking, and basic support skills through interactive simulation questions.

Program Assistant I

Minimum Qualifications

Experience Only

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position such as paralegal experience, litigation experience, employment law, AG office experience, personal injury, court administration.

Or

Education and Experience

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal certification/ Degree in paralegal studies from an ABA certified program
• Previous docketing experience
• Previous experience working within complex record systems
• Experience in litigation, employment law, wage & hour, discrimination & leave law

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated critical thinking skills to evaluate, analyze, and decide clearly and quickly to solve problems.
• Impeccable organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proven ability to accurately prioritize, coordinate several competing responsibilities, and meet strict deadlines while providing oversight over incoming complaints into the JPRI Unit.
• Superb written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a neutral, professional, calm, and collaborative demeanor during high-stakes interactions with distressed or agitated parties.
• Prior experience conducting limited fact-finding interviews and summarizing interviews for investigative purposes.
• Advanced computer skills, including strong proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Specific expertise in formatting, editing, organizing, redacting, bookmarking, hyperlinking, and Bates labeling voluminous evidentiary documents.
• Prior experience handling highly sensitive personnel, medical, and legal evidence.
• Capacity to see problems as opportunities to find creative and effective solutions that enhance overall unit productivity.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a current Colorado resident at time of application.

You must pass a thorough background check prior to employment which will include the E-Verify process.

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]

Minimum Qualification Screening

A Human Resources Analyst will only review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of the official State of Colorado online application, CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience and qualifications must be specifically documented on your online application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process.

Comparative Analysis Process & Exam

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process for this position will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit with your application materials. Therefore, it is extremely important to document in the work experience/job duties portion of your online application the extent to which you possess the education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. It is also important to thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions on the application completely and thoughtfully. Your answers may be rated based on your writing ability (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing) as well as the content of your answer.

Work Visas

CDLE does not sponsor Work Visas of any type.

Applicant Use Of AI

The use of AI tools to aid in preparing application materials is allowed under the condition that the applicant independently verifies and confirms the information's accuracy before submission. Applicants are fully accountable for the content of their submissions and must ensure the safe and ethical use of any AI tools. Furthermore, active and direct participation in the interview process is required.

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.

Accessibility and Accommodations

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.

Salary Determination

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.