VPAL Director (Program Management I) – Violence Prevention & Applied Learning Unit.

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Attorney General in Colorado is seeking a dynamic leader to head the Violence Prevention and Applied Learning (VPAL) unit within the Criminal Justice Section. This newly created role will shape strategic direction, supervise staff, and coordinate grants with state partners and external vendors.

The position demands overseeing multiple workstreams, ensuring high-quality curriculum development and training delivery, and aligning work with statutory mandates while collaborating

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of professional experience overseeing a program or managing operations of a team.
• Combination of education in legal studies (such as a Juris Doctor), program management, or a closely related field AND professional experience overseeing a program or managing operations of a team equal to eight (8) years.

Responsibilities

• supervise the VPAL unit staff and external vendors; oversee curriculum development and training delivery.
• manage unit grants and pursue new funding opportunities.
• oversee two statutory boards and annual reports.
• coordinate with diverse stakeholders including government, community, and law-enforcement partners.
• ensure statutory mandates (HB26-1312, HB26-1009, SB25-304, C.R.S. 24-31-701 et al.) are met and timelines are achieved.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Staff supervision

Curriculum development

Stakeholder coordination

Grant management

Education

Legal studies or related field (e.g., J.D.)

Job description

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

This newly created leadership role will guide and strengthen the Violence Prevention and Applied Learning (VPAL) unit, shaping its strategic direction, structure, and statewide impact. The successful candidate will oversee complex, multi-stream program implementation; ensure high-quality curriculum development and training delivery; manage grant-funded initiatives; support statutory boards; and coordinate diverse partners across government, community, and law-enforcement sectors. This role is ideal for a strong leader who is ready to help us build a new unit and ensure Colorado’s statutory mandates are met with clarity, excellence, and accountability.

Who We Are

The Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law is the \"People's Lawyer.\" The Attorney General, Phil Weiser, was elected by the people of Colorado and is the State's chief lawyer and law-enforcement official. Our vision for the Department of Law is: \"Together, we serve Colorado and its people, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy and promoting justice for all.\" Our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, drive our actions and demonstrate our focus on being principled public servants who are innovative and better together.

Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General’s Office here .

Description Of Job

Within the Criminal Justice Section, the Violence Prevention and Applied Learning (VPAL) unit brings together the State’s peace-officer training and violence-prevention efforts into a single, coordinated portfolio. The unit houses six efforts: the Basic Law Enforcement Academy Redesign; the Basic Law Enforcement Academy Instructor Methodology (IM) Program; the ERPO education and law-enforcement training suite; the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) program; the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (CDVFRB); and the Sex Assault Response Review Board (Sex Assault Board).

What You Will Do

This is a new leadership position created lead and strengthen the VPAL unit. It is responsible for ensuring there is a clear plan and a coherent structure for the effective implementation of all of the unit’s workstreams, for the overall quality of the unit’s work product, and for executing the unit’s strategy. This position directly supervises the unit’s staff and external vendors; performs and oversees substantive curriculum development and training delivery; manages the unit’s grants and pursues new funding; oversees the unit’s two statutory review boards and their annual reports; and coordinates external stakeholders, including working with the legislature as required. This position ensures all statutory mandates — including HB26-1312 (academy redesign), HB26-1009 (statewide LAP), SB25-304 (Sex Assault Board), and C.R.S. 24-31-701 et. al. (DVFRB) — are met, and implementation commitment and timelines are achieved.

This recruitment may be used to fill other Program Management positions within the Criminal Justice section at the Department of Law.

Salary note

Salary note: Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

Minimum Qualifications and Substitutions

Please document all relevant experience in detail on your application. Experience will not be inferred or assumed. Any part-time experience listed will be prorated.

Experience Only

Eight (8) years of professional experience overseeing a program or managing operations of a team. This experience must include formal supervision of staff and managing large-scale projects or initiatives.

Education And Experience

A combination of education in legal studies (such as a Juris Doctor), program management, or a closely related field AND professional experience overseeing a program or managing operations of a team equal to eight (8) years. This experience must include formal supervision of staff and managing large-scale projects or initiatives.

Please note, relevant education may substitute for six (6) years; qualified candidates must demonstrate at least two (2) years of related experience.

If you are qualifying under the Education and Experience option listed above, you must submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Note: Candidates possessing a foreign degree must submit a translation (evaluation) of their degree from an accredited institution, such as The National Association of Credential Evaluations Services in order to be given credit for the degree.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the minimum qualifications, if you possess any of the following specifically include the details on your application. This information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.

• Knowledge of law-enforcement training environments, including POST academies and peace-officer education.
• Subject-matter expertise in violence prevention including work related to domestic violence, ERPOs and gun violence prevention, lethality assessment, or sexual assault.
• Experience staffing or managing statutory boards, commissions, or advisory bodies.
• Experience in curriculum design and instructional development, including developing and delivering training to adult-learners.
• Ability to coordinate diverse stakeholders, including government, community, and external partners.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) and experience as a licensed attorney analyzing and consulting on laws.
• Experience with grant-funded work, including grant compliance, reporting, and securing new grant funding.
• Knowledge of Colorado POST standards and the statewide academy system.
• Knowledge of competency-based education and guided experiential learning models.

Required Competencies

• Strong organizational skills and a high degree of detail orientation;
• Experience managing complex projects or programs with multiple concurrent workstreams and deadlines;
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft reports, recommendations, and strategic plans;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively work with, and supervise, a wide range of individuals.

Conditions Of Employment

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Position is expected to work in office a minimum of 2 days a week. Flexible work arrangements may change at any time based on business needs.

Assessment Information

Colorado Revised Statutes require that all state employees be hired and promoted through comparative analysis of merit and fitness. Upon meeting the minimum qualifications, the next phase of the process is typically a structured application/resume review by a panel of subject matter experts against the job duties and/or preferred qualifications in this job announcement to determine technical competence, depth and breadth of experience and potential job fit.

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement and demonstrates the level of responsibility assigned.