Program Development Specialist Apprentice - Administrator I

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits (PERA)

Medical and dental health plans

Health Savings Account

Paid life insurance

Disability coverage

11 paid holidays + vacation/sick leave

Wellness program

Flexible schedules

RTD EcoPass

Student loan forgiveness programs

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is seeking an Administrator I apprentice within the State Apprenticeship Agency in Colorado. This entry-level role provides on-the-job learning, mentorship, and exposure to apprenticeship program development, registration, and compliance.

Working under experienced supervisors, you will support Sponsors, employers, education and workforce partners, and other stakeholders while progressively building skills in federal and state apprenticeship laws

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills: ability to communicate effectively with employers, state agency partners, education and workforce development partners.
• Technology fluency: comfortable with agency technology platforms and digital tools, and able to explain, demonstrate, and support their effective use by Sponsors and partners.
• Critical thinker: identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options, consider alternatives, and use sound reasoning.
• Flexibility: adapts to new information, changing conditions, or obstacles, and considers different perspectives.
• Results-oriented: able to meet goals and customer expectations within time constraints and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Support apprenticeship program development, registration preparation, technical assistance, training, reporting, and cross-functional agency initiatives.
• Assist Sponsors, employers, education and workforce partners, and other stakeholders by supporting apprenticeship program development, registration preparation, technical assistance, training, reporting, and cross-functional agency initiatives.
• Progressively build competency in applying federal and state apprenticeship laws, interpreting program requirements, communicating apprenticeship information, supporting regulatory processes, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Technology fluency

Critical thinker

Flexibility

Results-oriented

Education

4 years related experience

Job description

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO ONLY

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 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

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

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 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: $23.52 - $39.36 Hourly $1,881.23 - $3,148.80 Biweekly $4,076.00 - $6,822.40 Monthly

The Colorado State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), publicly known as Apprenticeship Colorado, is housed within the Employment and Training Division (E&T) of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and serves as the state’s authorized regulatory authority for Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Acting under delegated authority from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship (OA), the SAA is responsible for the registration, oversight, quality assurance, and continuous improvement of registered apprenticeship programs statewide in accordance with federal and state law.

The SAA advances industry-driven, high-quality career pathways by supporting the development and expansion of new RAPs and the sustainability of existing RAPs, ensuring Sponsor compliance with federal and state standards, and providing administrative and technical assistance to Sponsors, while collaborating with partners to strengthen oversight, quality, and system-wide alignment. Through regulatory oversight of program registration and quality assurance, supported by strong data stewardship and coordinated operational processes, the work unit plays a direct role in ensuring that Colorado workers and businesses have access to equitable, high-quality apprenticeship opportunities that support a future-ready workforce.

The work unit is comprised of three integrated teams: Program Development (PD); Quality Assurance (QA); and Systems, Technology, Analytics, and Reporting (STAR), which work collaboratively to support apprenticeship program development and expansion, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure accurate data, consistent processes, aligned systems, and effective technology that enable high-quality Registered Apprenticeship statewide.

This entry-level position within Colorado's State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), provides a structured "earn while you learn" experience through on-the-job learning, related instruction, and mentorship. The apprentice develops the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to support the development, registration, and ongoing success of high-quality Registered Apprenticeship Programs throughout Colorado.

Working under the guidance of experienced Program Development Specialists and the Program Development Supervisor, the apprentice assists Sponsors, employers, education and workforce partners, and other stakeholders by supporting apprenticeship program development, registration preparation, technical assistance, training, reporting, and cross-functional agency initiatives. Throughout the apprenticeship, the position progressively builds competency in applying federal and state apprenticeship laws, interpreting program requirements, communicating apprenticeship information, supporting regulatory processes, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts that strengthen Colorado's Registered Apprenticeship system.

Administrator I

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

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

• Experience performing similar duties as a State of Colorado classified employee.

Required competencies

1. Strong Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with employers, state agency partners, education and workforce development partners, and other stakeholders in person and in writing. Maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders across the state. Comfort presenting, communicating, and synthesizing complex information to a wide variety of audiences. (Skill/Ability)
2. Technology Fluency & Collaborative Use: Comfort with using agency technology platforms and digital tools, and ability to explain, demonstrate, and support their effective use by Sponsors and partners to complete apprenticeship-related work collaboratively, troubleshoot common issues, and ensure accurate and timely submission of required information. (Skill/Ability)
3. Critical Thinker: Take initiative to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options, consider alternative solutions, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, and use sound reasoning to arrive at appropriate decisions. (Ability)
4. Flexibility: Modifies own behavior and work activities in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Views issues/problems from different perspectives. Considers a wide range of alternatives, including innovative or creative approaches. Strives to take actions that are acceptable to others having differing views. (Ability/Other Characteristic)
5. Results-Oriented: Ability to meet individual, organizational, and grant goals as well as customer expectations. Ability to work, coordinate activities, and ensure effective performance while operating within time constraints and competing priorities. (Ability/Other Characteristic)

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a Colorado resident at time of application.
• You must pass a thorough background check prior to employment which will include the E-Verify process.

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.