Summary

Description

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado’s natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

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.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

Medical and Dental plans
Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Employee Wellness programs
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
10 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
This work unit exists to manage Cherry Creek State Park, a large, water-based state park, within the guidelines of Colorado State statutes, regulations, and Division of Parks and Wildlife policy and procedures for the use and benefit of over 2 million visitors which utilize the area annually. This unit provides a wide variety of recreational and educational opportunities to the public, while working to ensure that safety and high quality standards are met. It maintains and improves visitor facilities, park infrastructure and natural resources within the park. This unit is responsible for providing visitor services, maintenance functions, natural resource protection, natural resource education, administrative functions, law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation and assisting with statewide programs. The work unit administers State Park Programs within the district, and provides recreation and natural resource management expertise to Federal, State, County, Local and Private entities

Description of Job

This position oversees the annual development, implementation and coordination of the Education, Outreach, and Volunteer programs at Cherry Creek State Park. The position regularly makes operational decisions within the defined boundaries of their programs in accordance with agency policies, park guidelines, and best practices established by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Education, Partnership and Volunteer statewide section. Position regularly interacts with park visitors, the neighboring community, and the general public by providing education and interpretive programming in support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s mission of encouraging environmental and cultural resource stewardship. This position will also support programs involving responsible wildlife viewing, safe outdoor recreation, and ethical hunting and angling.

Interpretation and Education Program Management:

This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing interpretive and educational programs, playing a vital role in engaging visitors and fostering stewardship of natural and cultural resources. Develops, implements, and coordinates educational and interpretive programming for all ages with a focus on promoting environmental and cultural resource stewardship guided by an understanding of the area's natural and cultural significance and heritage. Creates and/or supports opportunities for building responsible outdoor recreation, hunting and angling skills. Develops programs for school children of all ages that support classroom learning and educational objectives. Recruits presenters from partner organizations and local, state and federal government agencies. Promotes education and interpretation programming offsite by presenting at schools, community events or centers, relevant professional conferences, or with other partner organizations. Maintains, updates, and works with the Interpretive Signs and Exhibits Coordinator to develop educational displays, exhibits, signs or other self-guided materials. Incorporates Leave No Trace (LNT) principles into programming and signage to ensure LNT Gold Standard site compliance. Supervises temporary education/interpretation staff and volunteers. Assists with annual statewide temporary employee interpretive training. Attends the annual interpretation and education program supervisor training or other related continuing education opportunities.

Volunteer Management:

This position is responsible for managing the park’s volunteer program, ensuring it supports conservation efforts, enhances visitor experiences, and fosters community engagement. The role involves recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising park volunteers, ensuring they are well-prepared to support interpretive, educational, and outreach programs, as well as special events and park operations. Volunteer opportunities range from one-time, project-specific roles to ongoing and on-site resident positions.

This position is responsible for leading retention efforts, and coordinating hiring and training with section supervisors, and ensuring that volunteer hours are accurately recorded in agency systems.

The role involves developing and expanding volunteer opportunities to enhance park programs, providing educational sessions to increase volunteer knowledge, and coordinating volunteer recognition events, including organizing the venue, meals, awards, invitations, agendas, and other event details.

This position works with the Statewide and Northeast Region Volunteer Coordinators to ensure alignment with broader objectives. Additionally, ensuring volunteers comply with the policies outlined in the volunteer manual and park policies, including uniform requirements, safety protocols, and job duties.

Outreach and Partnership Coordination:

This position is responsible for coordinating outreach efforts and partnerships to support Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s mission and park directives, while also enhancing community engagement. The role includes managing the park’s website and social media accounts, such as Facebook, in line with state and agency policies to communicate programs and events, operational updates, and visitor information. The employee works closely with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Branding and Communications section to create marketing content and promotional materials for the park, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in messaging.

This position organizes and oversees the park’s major events, handling logistics, safety plans, presenter recruitment, sponsorships, and overall event operations.. The role also supports regional outreach events and engages with the general public at local community events to promote the park and park programs, recruit volunteers and sponsors.

Administration and Supervision:
This employee coordinates various administrative duties related to the park’s interpretation, education, volunteer, outreach, and retail programs. Responsibilities include creating annual program budget requests, managing program budgets, and preparing records and reports for program areas, such as work plans, progress reports, employee paperwork, evaluations, and purchase-related documentation. The employee also supervises one temporary park naturalist, overseeing recruitment, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching and mentorship. Additionally, they resolve employee issues in a proper, fair, and effective manner in accordance with State of Colorado personnel’s best practices. Maintains the volunteer program, education database, and organizes events. They ensure all programs and activities comply with park policies, safety regulations, and accessibility standards, and maintain accurate records in compliance with policy. This role includes purchasing authority, making purchases within established rules, and completing the necessary documentation.

Customer Service:
This position supports overall park operations by assisting with Visitor Center management answering visitor questions, addressing visitor complaints, assisting with emergency situations, and completing maintenance tasks such as facility cleaning, trail maintenance, snow removal, and providing other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications
Five (5) years of experience in general Office/Clerical Support, Administrative Assistant Experience, Customer & Public Service, Financial/Procurement Support, Document & Information Management, Coordination/Project Support, retail management, volunteer management, environmental education.

Education and Experience:
A combination of related in any Science related degree will be acceptable, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Outdoor Recreation, Public Administration, Public Engagement/volunteer management, Accounting, Finance and/or relevant experiencegeneral Office/Clerical Support, Administrative Assistant Experience, Customer & Public Service, Financial/Procurement Support, Document & Information Management, Coordination/Project Support, retail management, volunteer management, environmental education equal to five (5) years

Class Code: ADMINISTRATOR
Preferred Qualifications:

Current or former Colorado Parks & Wildlife work or volunteer experience is considered.
Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Adobe, Excel, Google suite, and virtual networking.
Ability to work in a team, excellent communication skills.
Ability to stay organized, work independently, and adapt to a fast-changing landscape.
Professional knowledge of social media platforms

Required Competencies:

Organizational and time management skills.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Strong multi tasking and prioritization skills.
Strong computer skills.
Volunteer management.
Environmental education program management.

Conditions of Employment:

Colorado residency is required at the time of application.
Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating a State vehicle.
Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating State vehicles
Driving and Criminal background checks required
Regular work hours may start before 7 AM and extend past 6 PM.
Weekends, holidays and shift work required
Travel for training and/or other park operational needs as needed
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. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
May be required to travel for trainings, meetings and other job specific needs, this could include overnight travel.
Pursuant to the DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, any worker who will be expected to drive a State-owned vehicle is responsible for maintaining a safe driving record and a valid driver license prior to driving any State-owned vehicle.
To be compliant with the new fleet vehicle policy, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will be pulled for review for workers who:
- Have an assigned State fleet vehicle
- Are required to operate a vehicle as part of the position
- Utilize a State fleet vehicle as a pool vehicle

APPEAL RIGHTS:

It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or 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 under Rules.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process

All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
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 will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
This recruitment may be used to fill more than one vacancy at this level and reporting location.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

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 Department of Natural Resources 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 dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us