Summary

Description

NOTE: while this position is non-classified and we will be accepting applications from residents and non-residents of Colorado, the incumbent is required to establish residency within the State by the first day of employment.

ln accordance with State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, the eligible list derived from this announcement may be used to fill another highly similar vacancy without announcing the new vacancy.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, and building an economy that works for everyone.

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.

We offer a generous benefits package including:
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• State paid life insurance policy
• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined benefit or defined contribution)
• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans
• State paid short-term disability coverage
• Additional optional life and disability plans
• Credit Union membership
• Training and professional development
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

This position will have the opportunity for a hybrid schedule (combination of in-office and remote workplace). **Please note – equipment provisioning and certain onboarding tasks will take place in person, in our Denver office, on the first day of employment.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality, and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education and well-being of all Colorado's young children, their families and early childhood professionals in all settings. CDEC provides access to collaborative, coordinated, quality early childhood programs and support to children, families, and early care professionals in an effort to best prepare Coloradans for future success. CDEC works with many partners, including parents, schools, child care providers, Early Childhood Councils, counties, Community Centered Boards, early intervention service providers, family resources centers, county human services, county public health, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to provide high-quality early childhood and family support programs.

The Communications Unit supports all internal and external CDEC communications, including managing email marketing, social media, media requests, strategic communications plans, digital communications, marketing, websites, and intranet, and manages multiple contracts related to office marketing and communications. It is also responsible for ensuring the department provides equitable and inclusive communication that reaches all early childhood stakeholders, regardless of location, situation, or language.

Description of Job

What You'll be Doing:

The position exists to create a positive public image for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). This position reports directly to the CDEC Communications Unit Manager and assists with establishing and maintaining lines of communication, acceptance, and cooperation between CDEC and its various stakeholders and constituencies, including state, local, and national media. It ensures proactive press relations, executive/speech writing communications, financial communications, diversity public relations, and PR support for key departmental and Governor’s Office initiatives. Additional duties include but are not limited to the following:

Coordinates all Department responses to media inquiries and emerging issues, including providing written resources, conducting phone interviews, and conducting video interviews
Writes press releases, speeches, fact sheets, talking points, articles for publication, memoranda, presentations, newsletters, brochures, letters, and other materials to support internal and external communication goals and activities and to highlight CDEC’s strategic priorities
Serves as the Department’s spokesperson when needed
Leads media relations outreach, including developing media strategies for media inquiry responses or significant agency press releases
Manages crisis communications
Monitors industry news to ensure the Executive Director and other relevant individuals are kept up to date on early childhood research, industry trends, and emerging public policy and/or customer issues
Prepares the Executive Director and other relevant individuals for public engagements and media interviews
Communicates program initiatives and information to various public entities
Monitors industry news to ensure the Executive Director and other relevant individuals are kept up to date on early childhood research, industry trends, and emerging public policy and/or customer issues
Manages processes to analyze and interpret statistics, charts, graphs, tables, and other information to determine necessary changes to external communications strategies and ensure continuous quality improvement
This position coordinates with the Department’s emergency preparedness efforts and the Operations and Facilities Manager, as it relates to critical incident communication.
Collaborates with the Department’s Facility & Operations Manager as it relates in implementing portions of the Department’s Continuity of Operations Plan, Emergency Operations Plans and Emergency Action Plan
Coordinates urgent responses to critical incidents with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience:

Five (5) years of professional experience working in the field of marketing and communications, press and media relations. Examples could include: Public, Non-Profit or Private Sector Management/Administration executing communications to a variety of audiences from policymakers to general public; Designing, writing overseeing communications to achieve program goals and objectives

AND

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Public Administration or related field

Substitutions:
Additional professional related work experience which provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, may substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis. Additional education in a related field may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.

**** IF USING EDUCATION AS A SUBSTITUTION, YOU MUST ATTACH A COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS TO YOUR APPLICATION****

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application and in the supplemental questions. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section and supplemental questions 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.

DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.

Preferred Qualifications:

State experience relevant to this position.
Demonstrated experience in media relations, including crafting proactive press strategies, serving as a spokesperson, and managing high-pressure or crisis communications.
Proven ability to develop executive-level speeches, talking points, and public statements tailored to diverse audiences including policymakers, media, and the general public.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with a command of AP Style and experience writing for a variety of channels (press, web, social, presentations).
Ability to navigate complex, politically sensitive issues with clarity, discretion, and alignment to organizational goals.
Experience advising senior leaders or public officials on messaging strategy, interview preparation, and audience engagement.
Experience in government, nonprofit, or mission-driven communications roles supporting public-facing initiatives.

Highly Desired:

Knowledge and experience in the field of early childhood systems, family support programs, or related public policy areas in Colorado or nationally.
Bilingual-English/Spanish
Familiarity with Colorado media landscape and state government communications protocols

Conditions of Employment:

Occasional statewide travel to various speaking engagements and in response to critical incidents.
Applicants must pass a thorough background check and motor vehicle check prior to employment.
Employees who have been disciplinary terminated, resigned in lieu of disciplinary termination, or negotiated their termination from the State of Colorado must disclose this information on the application.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

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

How to Apply (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; if you submit a resume and cover letter, they will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.

Complete Applications must include the following documents:

A complete CDEC Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
Your Resume
If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below.

Comparative Analysis Process
The comparative analysis process will consist primarily of a review of applications against the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Applications will be reviewed in comparison to all others in the applicant pool in order to identify a top group of candidates who may be invited for a final interview. We anticipate interviews for this position will be done via Google Meet/Hangouts or Zoom. Depending on the size of the applicant pool, additional selection processes may be utilized to identify a top group of candidates. Applicants will be notified of their status via email.

Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date will result in your application being rejected.

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 is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do. 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.

ADAAA Accommodations:
CDEC 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 the ADA Coordinator: CDEC_Benefits@state.co.us.

The Department does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.

Technical Assistance
If you experience difficulty in uploading or attaching documents to your online application, or for any other technical difficulties, call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 anytime between 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).