Digital Accessibility Manager (Project Manager I) - Term Limited

This is a term-limited position with an anticipated end date of September 30, 2025.  The position may be extended depending upon funding availability and will be eligible for full benefits.

Who can Apply

This opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.

About the Colorado Department of Local Affairs

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado’s approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of “Local Affairs,” which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability.

Vision

The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible, affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities.

Mission

Our mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities.

Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs?

The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs. 

In addition, we offer a great location and great benefits, which include:

• Medical and Dental Plans

• Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus pre-tax and ROTH 401K, and 457 plans

• Employee Wellness Programs

• Paid Life Insurance

• 11 paid Holidays per year plus Vacation and Sick Leave

• Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage

• RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees

• Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options

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

• Training opportunities

• Variety of Free discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

Under the auspices of the Executive Director’s Office, the Communications Team is responsible for developing and executing the Department of Local Affairs’ communications strategy, ensuring that it effectively conveys our department objectives and engages Coloradans. 

The Digital Accessibility Manager will be in charge of formulating and executing a strategy to address current digital accessibility concerns, integrating accessibility principles into future digital resources for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), with a specific focus on eliminating the Division of Housing (DOH) backlog of digital assets by the statutory required deadline. Established under House Bill 21-1110, the position capitalizes on state agency resources to identify and resolve digital accessibility issues.

The primary duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Oversee the comprehensive design, management, and supervision of the Department's digital accessibility program, entailing the formulation of objectives, project plans, and progress assessment methods to ensure optimal usability of the Department's websites, applications, and documents for all users with a specific focus on the Division of Housing backlog of digital assets. 

• Ensure accessibility standards outlined in the Office of Internet Technologies Technology Accessibility Program (TAP). 

• Serve as the foremost authority on digital accessibility within the Department, this position provides direction to senior leaders on resource allocation, policy formulation, procedure establishment, and guideline development concerning digital accessibility. 

• Create a streamlined system to facilitate reasonable adjustments for enhanced digital accessibility and establish monitoring mechanisms to track progress and measure improvements.

• Collaborate with various groups, create connections, and communicate with different people involved to make sure the Department's programs include accessibility in all the information they share with the public.

• Track data and ensure important milestones are in line with the Department’s statutory requirements, making sure the program is doing what it was meant to do, and matches the Department's goals and established metrics.

• Serve as the Department’s expert on AccessGov.

• Other duties, as assigned.

Class Code & Classification Description

H1K2XX      Project Manager I

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience Only: Seven (7) years of experience implementing Digital Accessibility Standards and/or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2.

OR

Education and Experience: A combination of related education in business management, communication or a closely related field (as determined by the agency) AND experience as described above equal to seven (7) years.

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for.

Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit.

Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.

Required Competencies 

• Ability to interpret federal and state regulations 

• Ability to read and understand financial statements and records  

• Strong mathematical skills 

• Attention to detail

• Planning and organizational skills

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Word, Pivot Tables

• Problem-solving skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Written and oral communication skills

• Strategic thinking and analytical skills

Preferred Qualifications 

• Knowledge and experience working with the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act (CADA)

• Knowledge of and experience working with Colorado House Bill 21-1110

• Work experience in digital accessibility implementation at a state agency

• Work experience in digital accessibility implementation at DOLA

• Additional years of experience implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2  

• Experience in project management

• Experience in training

• Experience managing vendor relationships

• Experience working with Drupal and AccessGov

Conditions of Employment

• You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position. 

Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement will result in your application being rejected.

Applicants may submit a resume, cover letter/letter of interest detailing how their experience and background address the stated minimum and preferred qualifications/competencies of the job and attach to the online application. Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be accepted. Please address every requirement for the position with your experience in your application.

The application may include the following documents that MUST be uploaded at the time of application:

• A resume (this is not a substitute for the online application demonstrating work history)

• Cover letter / letter of interest

• Transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)

• DD214 (member-4 form) from applicants that may be eligible for veteran’s preference

Comparative Analysis

Current and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions, and reinstatements) are required to participate in the comparative analysis process through this job posting.

Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for the position. Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, training and experience review, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants. Be sure your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum qualifications. Address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position duties, required competencies and preferred qualifications in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

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 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.

DOLA 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 a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Melissa Bellew, DOLA ADA Coordinator at melissa.bellew@state.co.us.

Email Address: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

Biweekly Pay: As of July 1, 2023, all DOLA new hires, including transfers of current state employees and reinstatements of former state employees, will be placed on the biweekly pay schedule. This means you will be paid every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods over the course of a year. Biweekly pay is also lag pay, meaning you will be paid two weeks after the end of each pay period. Please click here for more information about the move to biweekly payroll.

Technical Assistance: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching

documents to your online application) please contact 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.

Appeal Rights: An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director. As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action. For further information on the Board Rules, you can 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/board-rules.

For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Melissa Bellew via email at melissa.bellew@state.co.us.