Operations Specialist - Term-Limited

Operations Specialist - Term-Limited

Salary

$59,460.00 - $77,304.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

FAA01246-10/07/26

Department

Department of Public Health & Environment

Division

Prevention Services Division

Opening Date

10/07/2026

Closing Date

10/15/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

cdphe_hr_talent_acquisition@state.co.us

Salary Note

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Department Information

This posting is only open to current residents of the State of Colorado.

ABOUT CDPHE:

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado's health and environment - a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado's most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state.

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• TERM LIMIT: This position is term-limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond either June or September, 2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.

• The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.

• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor's discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

CDPHE Offers:

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans.

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance.

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Description of Job

The Work Unit:

The Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Branch in the Prevention Services Division (PSD) reviews, plans, designs, implements, and evaluates public health interventions for chronic diseases and related risk factors to advance health and racial equity and improve health-related quality of life for all Coloradans. Particular emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, data-driven and evidence-informed decision-making, capacity building, partnerships, and the integration of program efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The statewide chronic disease programs within the HPCDP Branch include Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Comprehensive Cancer Control, Colorectal Cancer Control, Diabetes Prevention and Management, Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, Healthy Eating and Active Living, the Cancer, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program, and the Tobacco Education, Prevention and Cessation Grants Program.

We are aware that many chronic diseases share the same systemic causes: tobacco use, lack of access to nutritious foods, built environments that support physical activity, social connectedness, and poverty and economic instability. These systemic injustices, along with additional risk and protective factors, are shared across many of the outcomes we address. Colorado For ALL means working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It means we support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.

The Operations and Project Management Unit provides branch-wide operational coordination, implementation support, workflow management, and process improvement support for grantmaking, contracting, and program implementation activities across multiple chronic disease prevention programs and funding streams. Operational implementation activities are centralized within this unit to improve operational consistency, workload distribution, standardized implementation processes, and coordination throughout the full grant and contract lifecycle, including solicitations, negotiations, operational tracking, and closeouts.

What You Will Do:

This position serves as the operational resource and coordinator of operational workflows and timelines for the assigned branch programs. The position structures, maps, and guides staff through the end-to-end operational lifecycle of grantmaking and contracting, ensuring administrative consistency, efficiency, and program effectiveness. This role combines expertise in grantmaking, contracting, project coordination, and quality improvement to eliminate administrative coordination burdens, improve workflow consistency and analyze and adapt operational processes, and support branch-wide operational standardization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Branch Operations and Grant Lifecycle Coordination

• Process Improvement and Operational Standardization

• Operational knowledge and Technical Assistance

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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:

H1B3XX Administrator III

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience as in project management, contract or grant administration, procurement tracking, operational administration, workflow coordination, or business process improvement. Experience should include at least two (2) of the following core skill areas:

• Coordinating, tracking, or managing administrative project lifecycles, contract routing, purchasing requests, or vendor agreements from initiation through closeout.

• Assembling, auditing, or verifying project packages, scopes of work (SOWs), or budget documents for accuracy, proper formatting, and compliance with organizational standards.

• Applying process improvement or quality improvement techniques (such as workflow mapping, standard operating procedures, or checklist development) to streamline administrative procedures or reduce processing delays.

• Providing operational technical assistance, customer service, or guidance to internal teams or external partners to help them navigate administrative processes or system requirements.

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education with a degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health, Project Management, Healthcare Administration, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Communications, Finance, or a related field, and/or relevant experience in project management, contract or grant administration, procurement tracking, operational administration, workflow coordination, or business process improvement equal to six (6) years.

Experience should include at least two (2) of the following core skill areas:

• Coordinating, tracking, or managing administrative project lifecycles, contract routing, purchasing requests, or vendor agreements from initiation through closeout.

• Assembling, auditing, or verifying project packages, scopes of work (SOWs), or budget documents for accuracy, proper formatting, and compliance with organizational standards.

• Applying process improvement or quality improvement techniques (such as workflow mapping, standard operating procedures, or checklist development) to streamline administrative procedures or reduce processing delays.

• Providing operational technical assistance, customer service, or guidance to internal teams or external partners to help them navigate administrative processes or system requirements.

You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process. "See resume" will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation. In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.

If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:

• Grant & Contract Lifecycle Coordination: Professional experience coordinating the operational lifecycle of contracts, grants, task orders, or purchase orders, including tracking milestones, timelines, and year-end closeouts.

• Operational Quality Control & Package Verification: Demonstrated detail-orientation in performing pre-routing quality reviews on draft scopes of work (SOWs), project budgets, and contract amendments to catch formatting, arithmetic, or compliance errors before final submission.

• Process Improvement & Workflow Optimization: Experience analyzing administrative workflows, mapping business processes, or utilizing quality improvement tools (e.g., Lean, PDSA cycles, or SOP/template creation) to eliminate bottlenecks and administrative delays.

• Operational Technical Assistance & Customer Support: Strong customer service orientation with experience translating complex procurement, fiscal, or administrative guidelines into clear, plain-language guidance for colleagues and partners.

• Digital Tools & Multi-Tasking Under Deadlines: Demonstrated proficiency using digital tracking tools (such as Excel, Google Sheets, Monday.com, or project dashboards) to manage high document volumes, track processing milestones, and maintain organization under tight fiscal deadlines.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Residency Requirement Options:

• This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor's discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

• This position is term limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 9/30/2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.

• TRAVEL: This position will travel 10% of the time, requiring approximately 1x per month to attend meeting requests from partners and to meet with organizations. Position may travel statewide, potentially out of state for training, conferences or meetings.

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: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us. 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 Directors Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

Supplemental Information

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

CDPHE does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

E-Verify:

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

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 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 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 at cdphe_benefits@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agencys contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Are you willing to submit to a pre-employment background check?

• Yes
• No

02

This position requires educational transcripts or diplomas to be submitted if you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position or for the substitution of education for some experience. If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications or substitution for this position, a copy of your unofficial (or official) transcript/diploma is required please attach to your application by the application deadline. Have you attached your transcripts?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you accept that this position is term-limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond either June or September, 2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first?

• Yes
• No

04

Will you in the future require sponsorship for an immigration-related employment benefit?

• Yes
• No

05

Please acknowledge that your answers to the Supplemental Questions below will be used in the Comparative Analysis phase and that you have answered all questions.

• I Understand

06

Describe your experience managing or coordinating administrative project lifecycles, contract routing, or purchasing requests. How do you approach reviewing draft packages (such as scopes of work, line-item budgets, or project plans) to ensure accuracy, complete formatting, and compliance before final approval?

07

Describe a time when you identified an administrative bottleneck, processing delay, or inefficient workflow in your team or organization. What steps did you take to analyze the problem, and what standardized operating procedures, checklists, or template tools did you create to fix it?

08

In this role, you will support staff members who may find administrative pathways complex or frustrating, while managing multiple competing deadlines. Please share an example of how you delivered positive, customer-service-oriented guidance to help a colleague navigate a complex process while keeping your own high-volume tasks organized and on schedule.

Required Question

Employer State of Colorado

Address See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website https://careers.colorado.gov/