Summary

Description

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills, and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $128,556.00 – $218,545.00/year. Our starting hiring range is $128,556.00 – $165,000.00/year, based on experience and education.

We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

In this position you can expect to work on site at least three days a week at the Wellington E. Webb Building- 201 W. Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80202.

What You’ll Do

Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) is creating an economy that works for everyone. We work to ensure the success of Denver’s economy is shared by our residents, businesses, and neighborhoods – because everyone deserves the opportunity to build a future. We do this through multiple divisions: Denver Workforce Development, Neighborhood Equity & Stabilization (NEST), Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO), and Business Development, Innovation & Global (BIG). 

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO will oversee the operational and financial functions of DEDO, including contracting, finance and accounting, compliance, and administrative services. The COO will drive operational excellence, champion diversity, and inclusion, and ensure alignment with DEDO’s mission and goals.  This executive level management position will be a dynamic. Strategic partner in the direction and leadership of DEDOs business lines and executive management team.

Specifically, as Chief Operating Officer, duties include:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee DEDO’s finance, accounting, and federal compliance functions, ensuring the effective use of resources and adherence to regulations.
• Lead administrative and operational processes, including office management, emergency planning, and strategic assignments.
• Develop, refine, and implement standardized processes for contracting, procurement, and other operational areas.
• Drive future organizational design and change management initiatives to develop and maintain a high-performing, motivated, and impactful team by coordinating DEDOs performance management including integration of business analytics and process improvement.

Financial and Regulatory Oversight

• Oversee DEDO’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, as well as compliance and auditing with federal and state grant requirements (e.g., HUD, WIOA, CDBG).
• Oversee DEDO’s compliance and contracting staff to ensure subrecipient adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic insights into financial and operational decision-making.
• Develop clear lines of communication between the finance, accounting and program teams. Work directly with the department of finance on ensuring alignment with city process and objectives.

Strategic Vision and Innovation

• Collaborate with the executive director and the executive team to align operational strategies with DEDO’s mission and objectives.
• Create reporting functionality and utilize data-driven decision-making to enhance operational performance and outcomes.
• Foster innovation and continuous improvement across all operational areas.

Team Management and Development

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team in finance, operations, and compliance.
• Promote professional development and establish a culture of accountability, equity, and inclusion.
• Guide teams through change management initiatives and process improvements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Advocate for various Mayoral and business community priorities, including economic development initiatives that promote equity and inclusion.
• Serve as a liaison between DEDO, community organizations, government agencies, and private-sector partners.
• Build and maintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Leadership Experience: Proven success in leading operations, finance, and compliance functions, preferably in government or non-profit organizations.
• Financial Management: Bring strong financial leadership for the organization and ensure that teams are achieving deliverables with accuracy, timeliness and with the customer in mind.
• Strategic Planning: Expertise in developing and executing strategic plans for operational and financial growth.
• Economic Development: Familiarity with federal grants (e.g., CDBG, WIOA, ARPA) and experience supporting business growth and community revitalization.
• Equity and Inclusion: A track record of promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in organizational practices.
• Process Improvement: Experience in implementing process improvements to drive efficiency and innovation.
• Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, including government officials, community leaders, and business stakeholders.
• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
• Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of leadership experience, which must have included director-level management responsibilities. One (1) year of management experience must include budget and fiscal oversight responsibility, evaluation of business processes, and policy and decision-making experience with planning and organizing multiple programs, projects, operations, or functions.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until February 3, 2025. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than February 3, 2024, at 11:59 PM.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the multiple attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume.
• Cover Letter about your director-level oversight with teams, and your experience with strategic planning, economic development, and process improvement as a leader.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CA1769 Executive

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$131,770.00 – $224,009.00

Starting Pay

$128,556.00 – $165,000.00/year, based on experience and education

Agency

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.