Deputy Director of Policy, Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)

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, Vision and Dental plans

• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Employee Wellness programs

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Health Savings Accounts

• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave

• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options

• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

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

For more detailed information, please visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits

About Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC):
The mission of the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is to regulate the development and production of oil and gas, deep geothermal resources, the capture and sequestration of carbon, and the underground storage of natural gas in the state of Colorado in a manner that protects public health, safety, welfare, the environment and wildlife resources. Our agency seeks to serve, solicit participation from, and maintain working relationships with all those having an interest in Colorado's energy resources. 
This position supports the Director as a Deputy Director responsible for policy, agency fiscal planning and administration, and external affairs. 

Description of Job

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

Position Summary: This position is responsible for the development and implementation of Rule and Policy required to effectively regulate the development of energy in Colorado. It also directs financial policy and expenditures, oversees the Hearings Unit, Community Relations Unit, and the Finance Unit. This position liaises with the Commission on behalf of the Director and supports Commission hearings and the rule-making process by directing the Hearings Unit and Commission Secretary in their administration of the Commission hearings schedule and other dockets. The position also liaises with DNR Executive Director's Office and, when directed, the governor's office and the legislature.

Primary Duties:
Rulemaking and Policy:

• Develop and complete complex reports for publication and internal leadership.
• Research and advise on all Local, Regional, State and Federal rules, statutes, and policy relative to energy technologies.
• Provide policy expertise to clients, staff scientists and project leads.
• Develop and implement legislative and administrative strategies to advance environmentally protective energy development.
• Work directly with the Colorado legislature, DNR Executive Director's Office, the Governor's Office, and key administrative agencies, commissions and external stakeholders.
• Track and analyze legislation relating to assigned issues.
• Lead ECMC internal rulemaking processes.
• Lead stakeholder processes convened by administrative agencies.

Management:

• Provide direction and assessment of budget planning and management, hearings and staff support for the Commission, personnel recruitment, development, and performance management. 
• Maintain an effective organization structure and development plan, especially as it regards rulemakings, legislative mandates, and other transitional issues.
• If a legislative or rule change results in additional staff support that was not anticipated as part of the legislative or rulemaking processes, this This position must work with the affected manager to determine how to prioritize the allocation of resources and whether a request for additional resources is required.
• Provide the finance manager with the guidance required to address a budget shortfall or excess, including an evaluation of whether a change in the mil levy or other revenue sources is required.
• Oversee the Community Relations Unit including the development and implementation of a new State-side Environmental Justice-focused Community Liaison Program.
• Oversee the Hearings and Finance Units.

Legislative Initiatives:

• Liaise with the DNR Executive Director's Office and Governor’s offices to develop the annual budget and legislative agenda and provide effective input on prospective legislation.
• Coordinate ECMC’s legislative agenda and budget development and for all interactions with the legislature and integration/assimilation of legislative changes.
• Liaise with ECMC’s Director, Commission, DNR Executive Director’s Office, the Governor’s office and the  Community Relations Manager to ensure all public communications are accurate and timely.

Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise:

• Provide support to the Orphan Wells Mitigation Enterprise in collaboration with the Deputy Director Strategic Services.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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

Minimum Qualifications: 
At least ten (10) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position. This experience could include, but is not limited to, operations management,  natural resource programmatic management, energy-related policy and administration, or compliance and enforcement related to the energy industry.  
OR 
At least six (6) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position. This experience could include, but is not limited to, operations management, energy and carbon management, natural resource programmatic management, energy-related policy and administration, or compliance and enforcement related to the energy industry.
AND
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment in related fields such as public policy, environmental law, policy and administration, or operations management equal to ten (10) years

Substitutions: Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience supervising technical or professional employees rulemaking setting. 
• Legal certification or training. 
• Prior experience with Colorado Oil and Gas development or other energy development processes. 
• Extensive public speaking or stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with ECMC rules and regulations.
• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Demonstrated experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting the law (State and Federal), constitutions, statutes, rules, conceptual models, professional standards, and legal precedents in order to determine their relationship to the question of policy at issue.

• Excellent analytical and organizational skill as well as the ability to operate in a politically sensitive environment.

• Working with general public, professional organizations, consultants, and staff, with sensitivity to their needs, priorities and commitments.

Conditions of Employment: 

• Colorado residency is required at the time of application.
• 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).
• Travel within area of responsibility throughout the State and to and from Denver
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado's driver's license. 
• Able to travel with occasional overnight stays within Colorado. 
• May require travel for field work or offsite meetings.
• This position works independently from an office at home.
• Occasional contact with oil-contaminated media; PPE required and provided.
• You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DNR does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

This is a Hybrid position – The selected candidate will report to the office at 1120 Lincoln Street – Denver, CO two or more days per week as well as occasional travel to other locations throughout the State for meetings, trainings and projects as directed by the supervisor.

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.

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.
 
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
 
ADAAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
 
E-Verify
The Department of Natural Resources participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program's Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you are required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
 
Toll–Free Applicant Support – Technical Help
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues. 
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
 
ADAAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
 
E-Verify
DNR 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.
Toll–Free Applicant Support – Technical Help
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.