Director of Talent Innovation

At the State of Colorado, we value our employees! We understand that an engaged workforce is vital to ensuring the state government is bold, consistent, and joyous as it conducts the business of Colorado. Like many employers, the State of Colorado is challenged with attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees. To meet the challenge, the State has embarked on a journey to increase the profile of the State of Colorado as an Employer of Choice. The State's 2021 strategic plan focuses on select steps over the next three years to increase the State's profile as an Employer of Choice. The goal is simple: "to provide a great professional environment and culture that attracts and retains the best and brightest to our workforce."

NOTES:

This posting is open only to individuals on a promotional list of the listed department. The posting is for transparency purposes only to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Applications from individuals not on the department promotional list will not be accepted.

DESCRIPTION OF JOB:

Colorado is a resource rich state and its most vital resource is its people. Just as we cultivate our natural resources to make Colorado a more prosperous state, so too must we invest in and cultivate our citizens. Colorado must have a supply of skilled talent to attract and keep companies and jobs, these are key underpinnings of an effective economic development ecosystem. To be competitive in the global marketplace, Colorado businesses and industries require innovation to support quality, quantity and capacity associated with talent innovation.

With a focus on primary employers, the director of talent innovation leads the planning, development, and rollout of the Opportunity Now suite of programs at the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and other state and federal funded programs. The ideal candidate should be detail oriented, a strong leader, innovative thinker, and have the ability to work collaboratively with other state agencies, stakeholders, and federal, state, county and local partners in the business and education communities. The ideal candidate would excel at developing and implementing processes for distribution and use of funds both from the federal and state, all while creating innovative and useful ways to work with primary employers, community and business partners.

The ideal candidate will lead OEDIT's talent innovation strategies to implement Colorado's Opportunity Now suite of programs with high fidelity of implementation and ongoing stewardship of public resources. The director will be able to assess successes; identify gaps, opportunities, and risks; and propose alternate strategies, tools, and resources. The director will oversee strategy, program implementation and monitoring, performance management, procurement, and audit compliance in close collaboration with OEDIT for the Opportunity Now suite of staff, programs, and related efforts.

Candidates need to demonstrate emotional intelligence, including humility and empathy, leadership, self-reflection and personal growth, and a genuine willingness to receive feedback.

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas:

• Economic Development

• Talent Innovation

• Grants administration

• Fiscal Monitoring and Compliance, Performance Management

• Public/Private Partnerships

• Community engagement

• A proven track record of success implementing diverse programs in government and/or public service programming

This position will coordinate talent development innovation in support of Colorado's economic development efforts in collaboration with state agencies and private partners to support economic development and recruiting industry and business to Colorado.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director is responsible for:

• Developing, implementing and tracking the Opportunity Now suite and related programs.

• Develop mission, goals, and strategic/tactical objectives

• Develop and cultivate external partnerships to further the mission of the program(s)

• Creating and monitoring the project budget, fiscal and human resources required to accomplish project goals.

• Driving accountability by identifying key benchmarks and metrics to assist in the ongoing evaluation and communication of progress to ensure:

  • Opportunity Now programs are implemented with fidelity

  • Accountability measures are outlined with clear expectations and outcomes

  • Learnings are gathered from grantees and across related programs and shared with other partners as well as agencies

  • Closeout is processed for applicable programs

  • Reinforces performance measures and accountability within state and federal funded programs

• Developing on talent innovation and Opportunity Now programs

  • Maintains productive relationships with granting partners to ensure the successful completion of the grants, tax credits and related programming

  • Works collaboratively with key internal and external leaders, partners, community members, and other stakeholders to capture diverse feedback.

• Representing OEDIT on related boards and commissions, such as the Colorado workforce development council and business experiential learning commission

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, this position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business management, communications, economics, finance, public administration, liberal arts, political science, or a closely related field. Please Note: related occupational experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis; AND

At least ten (10) years of professional experience working directly with the administration, public policy, monitoring, coordination, grants, performance management, and the general management of state and federal funding sources. Experience with economic development, policy analysis, grant accounting, governmental auditing and compliance is highly preferred.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated track record of excellence in leadership and management

• Track record in negotiating, partnerships, and grant/program management

• Knowledge of Colorado state government, including the legislative processes, economic development, education, and business landscapes

• Ability to interpret and apply state and federal laws, rules, regulations

• Ability to analyze complex information and streamline communication

• Knowledgeable and skilled in project management

• Ability to make presentations and communicate persuasively

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to prioritize and organize work and meet deadlines

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position.

Salary Range: $150,000 - $160,000 Annually

This position is considered non-classified, which means the position is not part of the Colorado State Personnel System. Therefore, the individual appointed to this position is considered at-will, and is not covered by the State Personnel Rules or the State Classification System. However, this position does come with the same benefits (retirement, insurance, etc.) as every other State employee, and with the same opportunities, pride and passion that comes with working for the great State of Colorado. Even though employment is at-will, non-classified positions have protections against discrimination and retaliation in state and federal employment laws. "At-will" employment means that either the employee or the State may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice or cause, as long as no federal or state law is violated.

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis.

Benefits

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers generous benefits to full-time employees including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month

• 11 paid holidays per year

• Medical plans - choice of Cigna or Kaiser; several plan options (including High Deductible Health Plan with HSA); most plans offered with significant state contribution towards premium

• Dental and vision plans

• Flexible spending accounts

• State-paid life insurance policy of $50,000

• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined contribution or defined benefit) with generous state contribution

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans for additional retirement savings

• State-paid short-term disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program

• Membership opportunity with the Credit Union of Colorado

• RTD (transit) EcoPass

• Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

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.

To learn more about the "State of Colorado For All", visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor 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 Staffing Coordinator, the Director of Human Resources: jennifer.salvatore@state.co.us