Food and Energy Assistance Division Deputy Director.

The State of Colorado is hiring a Deputy Director for the Food and Energy Assistance Division, located in Denver, CO. This hybrid position requires working in the office two days a week. The role involves overseeing programs like SNAP and LEAP that support low-income households. The organization values employee wellness, diversity, and collaboration, offering various benefits including retirement plans, health insurance, and paid leave.
Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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CDHSCareers

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 10 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Description Of Job

This position is Hybrid, working 2 days in the office per week. These working arrangements are subject to change

Work Unit:

The purpose of the Food and Energy Assistance Division (FEAD) is to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, Food Distribution Programs (FDP), Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT), and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

These programs exist to safeguard the health and well-being of low-income, financially eligible households by providing SNAP and SEBT benefits redeemable for food items at authorized retailers, support through LEAP for heating expenses, commodities for household programs administered by food banks, school meal commodities, and payment processing in the EBT card. The programs operate in all counties in Colorado, and some are administered locally by the county departments of human/social services. The FEAD Division supervises county departments of human/social services in the administration of these programs and is responsible for assuring that all counties comply with the terms of their county policies and are in compliance with all federal and state statutes and regulations. Division staff write state-level policies and rules; train county staff on policies, procedures, and effective case management skills; provide technical assistance to counties on automated systems issues and ongoing implementation; work with the General Assembly on legislative and fiscal initiatives affecting programs operation; report to federal government on federal programs implementation; monitor county performance in their implementation of the programs; and allocate federal block grant funds to the counties for their use in implementing the program. The Division is the primary link between the county departments of human/social services and the federal government on many issues. The Division also works closely with other Divisions and Offices within the Department, other state agencies, the General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, and client advocacy organizations in the implementation of welfare reform.

What You Will Be Doing:

This is a high-level position that manages a variety of functions that support the overall operations of the division. This position is one of five management positions and is tasked with primary responsibility for internal operations of the Division, SNAP County Administration (State Administrative Expenses cost allocated by formula at the County level), and FEAD operations teams including the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) team, the Emergency Processing Unit (EPU), and the tax intercept team. Additionally, the position will carry out key division support tasks to support program and operation teams such as leading the Results Driven Management System (RDMS) work, internal process improvement and prioritization work, and professional development and culture for employees. The position concludes and develops work plans to direct, advise, and assist the Division Director with strategic planning related to staffing that enhances division programming and assures compliance with funding requirements and cost savings in contractual agreements.

Finally, the position acts as an important link in the communication/coordination process between the other program managers and the various grant programs by providing operational support and critical budgetary, data, and Federal information needed to carry out their responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine whether it meets minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications but must be clearly documented. In the experience portion of the application, the applicant must describe the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies, and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement. Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; your cover letter and resume will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all of your relevant experience in the work experience section on the application itself.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered. Answers such as "N/A", "In Cover Letter" or "See Resume" will not be accepted.

Experience Only:

Ten (10) years of relevant experience leading managerial staff and supervising a complex, diverse professional workforce that must have included: achieving program results, establishing organizational structures, implementing strategic work plans, employee development, and supporting team culture.

OR

Education And Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in leading managerial staff and supervising a complex, diverse professional workforce that must have included: achieving program results, establishing organizational structures, implementing strategic work plans, employee development, and supporting team culture equal to ten (10) years.

Substitutions:
• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis (e.g. Four years of additional years of experience will substitute for the degree requirement.)
• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis (e.g. MA degree in Business will substitute for two years of required experience.)

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with the results-driven management system (RDMS) or another formalized performance management system
• Experience working with teams to develop and implement strong organizational effectiveness processes
• Experience working with data to inform performance management and strategy
• Experience with fostering employee growth and development
• Experience with public benefits program administration, especially CDHS programs and services
• Experience with strategic planning .
• Experience supervising employees
• Experience managing and directing administrative processes in a governmental organization
• Relevant years of State service should be considered as a preferred qualification to be used to determine the top candidates on the referral list. (Partnership agreement 10.1.)

Conditions Of Employment:
• Standard Background – Name check, TRAILS, CMS and JBITS
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

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 acknowledgment 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.

A standard appeal form is available at www.colorado.gov/spb . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact Victoria.Crocket @state.co .us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. 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.

ADAA Accommodations:

CDHS 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 ADA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER