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

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Office of the Attorney General in Colorado is seeking a senior leader to guide the Violence Prevention and Applied Learning (VPAL) unit. This role will shape strategic direction, supervise staff and vendors, and ensure high‑quality curriculum development and training delivery.

The successful candidate will manage grants, coordinate statutory boards, and engage diverse partners across government, community, and law‑enforcement sectors to meet Colorado’s mandates with clarity and accountability.

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of professional experience overseeing a program or managing operations of a team with formal supervision.
• Either JD or related field plus 8 years’ experience with supervision and large projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen the VPAL unit to ensure a clear plan and coherent structure.
• Supervise staff and external vendors; oversee curriculum development and training delivery.
• Manage unit grants, pursue new funding, and coordinate two statutory boards and annual reports.
• Collaborate with legislature, government, community, and external partners to meet statutory mandates.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Curriculum development

Grant management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

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.

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.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

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

H1A2XX PROGRAM MANAGEMENT I

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.

OR

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.

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.

The Office of the Attorney General offers challenging, interesting, and meaningful work. We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that a diverse workforce adds quality and perspective to the services we provide to the public.

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.
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position. Current experience is preferred.

It is imperative that the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work product, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants as the materials may be used to identify a top group for additional assessment or establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

Appeal Rights

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed, and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [e-mail] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

WHY WORK FOR US

We Embrace Flexibility

We aim to produce outstanding work product for our clients, be efficient with our time, and support each other as team members – which also means we embrace flexible working arrangements when and where possible.

We Are Committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At the DOL, our commitment to DEI is thriving. We know that we are better together when our differences are valued and everyone is inspired and empowered to contribute. As such, we strive to provide a safe environment where individuals feel valued and respected for who they are; demonstrate a behavior and mindset where differences are welcomed, and individuals are treated equally and empowered to do their best work; and promote growth and innovation through a diverse workforce. We empower an active Diversity Equity & Inclusion Impact Team that creates approaches to ensure safe spaces and a culture supportive of people being their authentic selves, hosts events and programs on DEI areas important to our employees, enables development and sustainability of resource groups that give a voice to historically marginalized populations, focuses on retaining our incredible talent, and more! If your professional goals include promoting growth and innovation with colleagues who recognize that we are better together when our differences are valued and respected, then DOL is your place to be!

We Have Strong Core Values

Our core values drive our actions. At the Department of Law, we are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, rigorous legal analysis, and careful evaluation of facts; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to identify the best approach, make deliberate decisions, and look to improve; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other and collaborate.

We are Committed to Developing our Employees

We are deeply invested in our talent and regularly provide meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth through training and coaching. Further, our professional development and performance goal setting process is collaborative and ongoing, and aimed at helping our employees grow and succeed.

We Offer Excellent Benefits

In addition to the comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package including competitive medical, dental and vision health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans with Colorado PERA, and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many other unique benefits that we offer, including:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a state government employee, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. A borrower may qualify for forgiveness by making 120 on-time payments while employed full-time in public service, if they have certain kinds of federal loans in a qualifying repayment plan
• Free access to an on-site fitness center
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, and an employee discount program
• Employer-paid mental health and counseling services through Colorado State Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-paid annual attorney registrationdues
• Employer-provided access to professional development training and CLE through PLI, Department of Law University and other entities.

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.

ADAAA Requests

The Department of Law 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, Julie Christopher at [e-mail].