Strategy Officer

Department Information

Department Information

• Maximizing competitive federal funding opportunities from the IIJA and IRA
• Ensuring federal and stimulus funding is spent effectively, impactfully, and equitably.
• Building upon lessons learned to improve public systems.

Description of Job

The Governor’s Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives employs Strategy Officer positions to partner with executive branch agencies. These positions perform advanced, specialized, and professional-level work by serving as key advisors, conveners, and subject matter experts while providing advice, counsel, and strategic direction on a wide range of highly complex fiscal management, process improvement, organizational development, and program implementation issues. The Strategy Officers support the draw-down and implementation of federal funding within the State of Colorado through the planning, development, rollout, and monitoring of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), State Stimulus funding, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other key funding investments. To do this, the Strategy Officers will support agency program structure, staffing, fraud prevention, reporting and monitoring, performance management, procurement, audit compliance, process improvement, applications for federal funding, and strategic initiatives.

In cooperation with the Governor’s Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives (OFFSI), the Strategy Officers will ensure federal funds are effectively implemented, maximize new federal funding opportunities, and build upon the lessons learned to improve public systems.

The Strategy Officers will work closely with executive agencies and cross-functional teams on the development and implementation of funding focused in part on stakeholder engagement and community relations, communications, performance management, fiscal reporting, and compliance. They work in a cohort of innovative, entrepreneurial public leaders across State Government, all driven to build Colorado's economy back stronger.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Supports and leads cross agency teams to protect federal funding, support federal affairs, and ensure the proper implementation of federal funding.
• Coordinates training and professional development opportunities for agency staff.
• Engages in strategic initiatives to build upon the lessons learned from ongoing implementation to improve public systems.

Coordination with Federal, State agency and Inter-governmental Partners

• Meets with Federal and intergovernmental partners to collaborate on the path forward and participates in the planning, reporting and performance measurement of the collaborative statewide approach to federal fund utilization.
• Maintains productive relationships with granting partners to ensure the successful completion of the grants, minimize the risk of re-capturing funds, and to help develop and maintain policy and procedures to maximize and leverage federal reimbursement.
• Addresses and highlights issues with Federal Policies and Procedures, State Intergovernmental Partners which negatively impact sub-recipients.
• Engages in the maximization of new federal funds within agencies based upon available funding within key areas.

Grant Program Strategy and Administration

• Oversees and leads all disaster/stimulus recovery programs under assignment purview.
• Ensures grant compliance with applicable Federal, State, and award letter regulations and requirements.
• Develops program performance, monitoring, and evaluation standards with the OFFSI team and implements these standards at the agency level.
• Incorporates stakeholder engagement, community relations, communications strategy and fiscal compliance into the planning and implementation of program design.
• Coordinates state and federal grants awarded relevant agencies, as assigned, ensuring the maximum return and leverage of federal dollars.
• Support agencies with the grant review process and recommendations for funding.
• Participates in Federal and State audits and develops plans or processes to resolve adverse audit findings. Ensures proper internal controls are in place and followed.

Implementation, Oversight, and Reporting

• Defines performance-based qualitative and quantitative metrics (outcome measures) and measures progress toward achievement of performance metrics and communicates progress.
• Monitors and evaluates programmatic and operational effectiveness, and determines changes required for improvement.
• Supports agency program staff in the ongoing compliance monitoring of subrecipients.
• Assists agencies to prioritize and execute on efficient spending of funds.
• Works collaboratively with key internal and external leaders, partners, community members, and other stakeholders to capture diverse feedback.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• At least 7 years of relevant experience
• A bachelor's degree in a related field
• Experience with state government budget, policy analysis, and performance management
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated ability to work with diverse interests through coalition building, community relations, and advocacy
• Experience with training and leading teams
• Strategic thinker, with experience in economic recovery
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, and act with transparency and integrity
• Solution-oriented approach, with strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to organize information, manage workload, prioritize, and deliver to deadlines
• Strong verbal presentation skills are needed

Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed.

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:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)
• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Medical and dental plans
• State paid life insurance policy of a minimum of $50,000 or 1x annual salary
• Choice of 2 retirement plans
• 401K and 457 plans
• State paid Short Term Disability coverage
• Additional optional life and disability plans
• Credit Union Membership
• RTD pass
• Training and professional development

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 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 Senior Human Resources Director) at gov_hr@state.co.us.