Summary
Description
Department Information
Love Colorado? There is no better way to define your future and build your career than to work for the State of Colorado.
Finding Your Purpose
When you work for the State of Colorado, you're working to improve your community, impact the lives of those around you, and ensure that our shared natural resources will be available for generations to come.
Finding Your Passion
Each position makes a difference by helping people, enhancing our livelihood and making Colorado a better place to live. Learn more about the mission of each of our Departments and Institutions and the unique roles they serve!
Commitment to You
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and our departments encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. See what current state employees have to say about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Colorado for All
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.
Colorado For All – Colorado Employee Reflections
Department Information
Office of the Governor
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, making housing more affordable and available, improving public safety, and building an economy that works for everyone. The Office of the Governor's staff includes budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.
Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives (OFFSI)
The Governor’s Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives (OFFSI) works to maximize federal funding opportunities, effectively implement federal and stimulus funding, and execute strategic initiatives that build from cross-agency lessons from a coordinated response. The Office specifically works on the $8.7B in American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) Colorado received and the anticipated $10B from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (“BIL” or “IIJA”) and the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”). Through a cross-agency team and a network of local grant navigators, the Office operates as a convener of state agencies, local governments, and other entities to improve the drawdown of federal funds for Colorado while improving government systems to drive efficiencies and implement federal funding. Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives reflects the diverse work that goes beyond economic recovery including implementing long-term transformative investments of ARPA funds, maximizing IIJA/IRA opportunities to move Colorado forward, cross-agency coordination and engagement to improve systems strained by the pandemic recovery, and strategic work on Governor priorities.
Our focus is on:
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Maximizing competitive federal funding opportunities
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Ensuring federal and stimulus funding is spent effectively, impactfully and equitably.
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Building upon lessons learned to improve public systems.
Description of Job
Department: Governor’s Office of Communications with a dotted line to the Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery.
Salary Range: $85,000-$105,000
FLSA Classification: Exempt
TERM LIMITED:
Please note: This is a term-limited position until December 31, 2026.
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Organizational Relationships: This position directly reports to the Governor's Director of Communications, with a dotted line to Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives (OFFSI) leadership, including the Chief of OFFSI. The position organizes and works closely with agency staff working specifically on communications efforts pertaining to federal funds and federal affairs. The position also oversees a Communication Coordinator who supports the communication of federal funding opportunities to agencies and community partners.
Summary of Functions:
The Senior Communications Advisor on Federal Affairs is responsible for supporting Governor Polis’ communication around federal engagement in Colorado by coordinating and building communication strategies that: tell the story of how state and federal resources are ensuring Colorado maintains a leading economy, compared to other states; respond to the changing environment in Washington DC; support agencies in communicating around federal affairs to local governments and communities; and generate a proactive message about the importance of federal funding in Colorado.
This position exists in the Governor's Office and will support, highlight, and oversee the broader communications planning, development, and rollout of communications relating to federal affairs. This includes rapid response, proactive communication, stakeholder engagement, and developing story telling. While the position will work to address the changing federal landscape and emerging issues, the position will also work to highlight and defend Colorado’s success in the implementation of federal funds, including the American Recovery Plan Act, CARES Act, State Stimulus, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including key activities, successes, and other timely updates. This position will advise, consult, and strategize on messaging, branding, and engagement as well as develop opportunities to tell the Colorado story.
This position leads federal affairs messaging for the Governor’s Office, including working with the office of federal funds, policy, operations, budget, and communications teams, among others, and other State agencies, coordinating with all agency public information officers and other executive and communications staff. This individual will work closely with the Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives, including the Chief, Director of Implementation, Director of Federal Affairs, Director of IIJA and IRA Strategic Coordination and key Governor’s staff working on federal funding to ensure consistent communication.
Special projects assigned as necessary.
Roles and Responsibilities
This position will be depended on to source, craft, and share pertinent information and messaging on Colorado’s federal affairs, including responding to actions from the federal government, building links to communities across Colorado and assessing opportunities. Functionally, this means coordinating with cross-functional teams focused on creative problem-solving, communications, messaging and storytelling, and timely responses to internal and external inquiries.
This individual will interact regularly with multiple departments and must gain a working knowledge of the various divisions and overall operations of the agencies supported by the team. A strong candidate will have excellent communication and organizational skills, will be adept at critical and strategic thinking, and will have a thorough understanding of government processes and outreach.
Proactive and Responsive Communications
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Be the go-to person in the communications team related to federal affairs.
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Monitor federal administration and congressional actions, develop and execute communications/media strategies to advance Colorado’s priorities in the federal context
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Coordinate with the Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives and Governor’s Office teams, including policy, budget, and communications and community engagement, and others on upcoming actions, announcements, plans and strategies, and other internal events, projects, or work products.
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Coordinate messaging within the Governor’s Office, and coordinate messaging across all State agencies in partnership with agency public information officers related to Federal Affairs, including funding received, actions by the federal government, and impacts on Colorado.
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Work in a timely manner to respond to media and stakeholder inquiries with the agencies and their appropriate liaisons to the Governor’s Office.
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Ensure messaging consistency across reportable materials, including reports submitted to federal agencies and creating summary snapshots, presentations, and messaging.
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Understanding of accessibility standards and ensures all Governor’s office produced documents follow guidelines.
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Support the communications team broadly with ad hoc projects and team assistance.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
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Coordinate with the press secretary and the press team, as well as the community engagement team to proactively engage Coloradans about the federal priorities and impacts of federal actions.
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Manage the Communications Coordinator to develop content for webinars, websites, newsletters, fact sheets, media inquiries, and more to proactively communicate funding opportunities, awards, and emerging federal issues and impacts within different levels of government and externally.
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Support state agency stakeholder engagement to ensure awareness around federal affairs, including coordinating efforts to ensure the Governor's Office is able to communicate opportunities and impacts across various groups (i.e. ensure different audiences know how to access various resources– e.g. individuals vs. governments).
Communications of Impact, Successes, and Lessons Learned
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Take the lead on crafting compelling stories that accurately reflect the impact of federal actions in Colorado, including effects on State programs, local communities, and citizens.
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Develop materials that capture the history, progress, and lessons learned from Colorado’s response to economic recovery and maximizing federal funding.
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Help build a vision and timeline for delivering an effective communications plan and resources to help summarize actions needed, including press materials, one-pagers, digital content, and other products for the Governor’s Office to leverage in promoting Colorado’s federal work, including efforts to draw-down and implement federal funds, protect existing programs, and support the Governor’s larger priorities.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Education and Experience:
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A minimum of three (3) years of experience leading information sharing, public relations, and communications in complex environments, preferably in government, non-profit, or advocacy work.
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Demonstrated ability to deliver information, messaging, and stories in a compelling way.
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Proven ability to establish strong cross-functional relationships across different disciplines and teams.
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Extensive experience using data and information to promote transparency, highlight successes, and provide context to the public or broad, diverse stakeholders.
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Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams on high-profile issues, while building capacity for agility and creativity to achieve better results.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Demonstrates expertise and aptitude in both communications and storytelling in a complex, politically-charged arena.
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Strong communication and leadership skills. Willingness and ability to apply concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of the work performed.
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Self-motivated and able to effectively manage time and tasks.
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Ability to solve complex problems creatively, participate in continuous improvement, and adapt to the ideas of others.
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Strategic thinking and ability to align others to a common vision.
Conditions of employment:
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information
To Apply:
A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.
The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:
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Medical, dental and vision plan coverage – including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*
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Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*
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Wellness programs – participation can reduce employee premiums*
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Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*
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Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
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Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
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Annual leave 13.33 hours per month with a maximum 240 hours; Sick leave: 6.66 hours per month with a maximum of 360 hours.
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Retirement benefits** – including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans – https://www.copera.org/
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Hybrid work arrangements
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Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Discount Program
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Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global (contact CSU Global for latest offerings).
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Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support.
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Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees.
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Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility.
*To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state’s benefits portal: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.
**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates
Belonging and Access
The State of Colorado encourages 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.
ADAAA Accommodations
The Office of the Governor 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 Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.
