DNR Executive Director's Office Budget and Policy Analyst IV

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position provides professional-level budget and policy analysis within the Executive Director’s Office (EDO) of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The role involves developing budget documents and fiscal procedures, directing expenditures to meet management objectives within legislative appropriations, and advising leadership on spending and revenue issues. The position acts as a subject matter expert, employing analytical and statistical techniques to identify policy issues and recommend changes based on evolving budget, economic, and programmatic needs. Key responsibilities include a significant leadership role in the annual legislative budget request development, with a focus on water-related areas and oversight of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Division of Water Resources. This includes providing guidance to divisions, critically reviewing budget proposals, advising leadership on budget initiatives, ensuring detailed and defensible budget items, recommending prioritization of initiatives, monitoring budget documentation, and overseeing responses to information requests from the Governor’s Office, Joint Budget Committee, and General Assembly. The position also serves as the finance manager for the EDO, maintaining budget models, advising on budgetary impacts, establishing EDO budget processes, and acting as the EDO budget representative to the Governor’s Office and General Assembly. Additionally, the role oversees assigned central operating appropriations (e.g., vehicle lease payments, OIT common policy, leased space) and manages state/federal stimulus and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds, including administrative allowances. The position also leads special projects and assignments as they arise.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of budget and policy analysis, development and implementation, public or private sector management or administration that included budget formulation, execution, and analysis.
OR A combination of related education from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, Mathematics, Government, or in another field of study directly related to the assignment and four years of experience in budget and policy analysis, development, and implementation; or four years of public or private sector management or administration that included budget formulation, execution, and analysis equal to eight (8) years.
Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will substitute for the degree requirement and two (2) years of the required experience.
Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis.
The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application.
Attention to Detail
Analytical & Critical Thinking Skills
Compliance
Leadership
Problem Solving
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience interpreting and applying the Colorado Fiscal Rules and/or Procurement Code to complex purchasing/contracting situations.

Nice To Haves

Sophisticated communication, collaboration, and process management skills in work with internal and external partners that have competing needs and priorities to gain consensus and ensure deliverables are of high quality and completed in accordance with guidance and deadlines.
Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced, and complex environment to establish priorities; coordinate and track deliverables; and plan, direct, and monitor work of others.
Takes ownership of all responsibilities and assignments with a commitment to accuracy and completeness, delivers high quality work products within prescribed time, and operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.
Ability to provide efficient and effective customer service both internally and externally.
Critical thinking skills to develop creative solutions to complex, interpersonal, process, and systemic challenges.
Ability to synthesize, interpret, and report on complex or technical information, in an appropriate format and at an accessible level for the identified audience.
Experience with the state budget process, including preparing budget requests, submitting responses to requests for information from the legislature, and experience analyzing the fiscal impact of legislation.
Experience with the State's electronic accounting system (Colorado Operations Resource Engine or "CORE"), the State's electronic budgeting system (Performance Budgeting or "PB"), or other similar databases or IT systems used for research and analysis.
Current or former State experience relevant to this position.

Responsibilities

Provides professional-level budget and policy analysis.
Develops budget documents and fiscal procedures necessary to implement the Department’s annual budget.
Directs expenditures to ensure management objectives are met within Long Bill and legislative appropriations.
Advises the Budget Director, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Division Directors, and division fiscal personnel on spending and revenue issues.
Employs and designs various analytical and statistical techniques to identify policy issues and recommend changes.
Has a significant leadership role in the development of the Department’s annual legislative budget request, with an emphasis on water-related issue areas and oversight of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Division of Water Resources.
Provides conceptual and technical guidance to assigned divisions on the development and submission of potential budget requests.
Conducts a critical review of proposed decision items, budget amendments, and supplementals by analyzing expenditure patterns and justifications.
Advises the DNR leadership team on budget initiatives, available alternatives, and consistent methodologies.
Works with assigned divisions to ensure approved budget items are appropriately detailed and fully defensible.
Offers recommendations on the prioritization of all Department budget initiatives.
Monitors divisions progress in developing budget narratives, schedules, and other supporting documentation.
Oversees all responses to information requests that affect assigned divisions or common policy areas from the Governor’s Office, Joint Budget Committee, and General Assembly.
Serves as the finance manager for the DNR Executive Director’s Office, with oversight of the division’s personal services and operating budgets.
Maintains detailed budget models to support accurate projections, tracking monthly and other periodic data on expenditures and encumbrances.
Advises the Budget Director and EDO leadership team on proposed actions or potential issues with a budgetary impact.
Establishes and directs all EDO budget processes, including the division’s participation in the development of the annual legislative budget request.
Acts as the EDO budget representative to the Governor’s Office and the General Assembly with responsibility for defending the division’s position and negotiating resolutions.
Serves as DNR’s subject matter expert on assigned central operating appropriations including vehicle lease payments, OIT common policy and real-time billing, capitol complex leased space, and the department’s leased space portfolio.
Establishes and implements a department-wide process for the strategic development, implementation, and oversight of assigned central appropriations and associated management policies.
Determines the appropriate cost allocations for every division in the Department and monitors expenditures within established budgets.
Conducts detailed analyses of departmental common policy needs and developing the necessary legislative budget requests.
Analyzes the impact of proposed policies and initiatives on the department’s resources needs.
Represents the department in statewide planning efforts in areas such as fleet electrification, reducing physical footprint, and reimagining/greening government initiatives.
Oversees and administers the obligation and expenditure of administrative allowances associated with all state and federal stimulus funds, as well as funds received through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Coordinates with the DNR Chief Financial Officer, DNR Budget Director, DNR Operations team, and all department programs with stimulus or IIJA funds.
Provides guidance on and oversight of all stimulus and infrastructure funds received by assigned divisions and programs.
Assists the DNR Recovery in building and implementing processes for any tracking or reporting requirements.
Leads special projects and assignments as they arise, such as representing the Department on the Greening Government Leadership Council or other statewide working groups.
Serves as the budget representative on the DNR Operations Team.
Supports efforts to install charging stations for electric vehicles at state parks and other department facilities.
Drafts department-wide communications and/or presents on all-staff town hall calls.
Conducts special research and required data analysis when called for.

Benefits

Medical and Dental plans
Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Employee Wellness programs
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program