Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (Chief Executive Officer)

Administrative Services for Independent Agencies • Denver, CO

10h • $180,000 - $200,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

Child Protection Ombudsman Position: Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (Chief Executive Officer) Agency: Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman Location: Denver, Colorado, Hybrid Reports to: Ombudsman Advisory Board Salary: $180,000–$200,300 annually Salary placement within the range will be based on qualifications and experience. The anticipated hiring range is toward the upper end of the posted range. A Once-in-Career Leadership Role Are you a leader whose career has prepared you to hold complexity without becoming reactive, to speak uncomfortable truths with integrity, and to lead without needing to control outcomes? Are you an experienced executive who understands public trust as a responsibility, not a talking point? If this description reflects how you already lead, this role offers the opportunity to apply that leadership at a statewide level, where judgment and independence matter most. Colorado is seeking its next Child Protection Ombudsman, an independent statewide leader entrusted with safeguarding fairness, accountability, and learning across the child protection system. The Agency: The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) is an independent state office established in statute to provide oversight of Colorado’s child protection system. The office serves as a neutral forum for members of the public to raise concerns related to child protection services and as a source of credible, system-level insight for state leaders. Its work focuses on how child protection systems operate in practice, where they fall short, and what can be learned to strengthen fairness, accountability, and outcomes for children, youth, and families across Colorado. The Ombudsman does not operate programs, make placement decisions, or advocate for agencies. Instead, the office reviews complaints, investigates concerns, evaluates system performance, and identifies patterns and trends that inform recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and other stakeholders. Housed within the Colorado Judicial Branch and operating independently from the agencies it reviews, the CPO’s authority is grounded in law, independence, and disciplined analysis. The office occupies a unique position within state government, where its influence depends not on enforcement authority, but on independence, judgment, and the trust it earns. The Role: A Leadership Mandate As Child Protection Ombudsman, you will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the office and report to the Ombudsman Advisory Board. You will lead a highly skilled team engaged in emotionally complex, high-stakes work. You will represent the office publicly in legislative hearings, judicial settings, media inquiries, and community forums. You will assess systems that are under constant scrutiny, and you will do so without becoming politicized, defensive, or detached. This role requires calm authority, moral courage, and the ability to speak truth to power without losing credibility or relationships. Your Scope of Accountability You will have executive responsibility for: Setting strategic direction and ensuring fulfillment of the office’s statutory mission. Leading and supporting senior leadership, including the Deputy Ombudsman and Director of Client Services. Overseeing complaint investigation, system evaluation, and public reporting processes. Serving as the primary spokesperson for the office. Engaging credibly with legislators, judicial leaders, agency executives, media, and the public. Fostering an inclusive, mission-driven culture that supports staff working in emotionally complex environments. This is a hands-on executive role. Authority and accountability are inseparable in this role. What Impact Looks Like Within your first 12–18 months, you will have: Reinforced the office’s ethical independence and public trust. Strengthened internal systems for complaint review, trend analysis, and transparent public reporting. Built credibility with staff, Board members, legislators, judicial partners, counties, and advocacy organizations. Elevated statewide understanding of the Ombudsman’s role and value. Delivered evidence-based recommendations that influence policy, practice, and system behavior. Success in this role is measured by clarity, credibility, and impact. The Experience You Will Need

Requirements

• An advanced graduate degree or equivalent professional experience in public administration, nonprofit or government leadership, social work, public policy, behavioral sciences, or a related field.
• Deep working knowledge of ombudsman principles or comparable independent oversight functions, including neutrality, confidentiality, due process, and ethical judgment.
• Demonstrated understanding of child-serving systems such as child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and their intersection with law and courts.
• A proven record of leading system-level change that produced measurable improvements in outcomes, processes, or organizational culture.
• At least seven years of executive-level leadership with direct accountability for strategy, budgets, operations, and workforce leadership or experience commensurate with this requirement.
• The ability to analyze legislation and policy and communicate complex findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• A documented commitment to equity, fairness, and public accountability.
• A reputation for integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.

Nice To Haves

• Juris Doctor, Ph.D., or professional doctorate in a relevant field.
• Experience within the Colorado state government, including legislative or budget processes.
• Public reporting and data analysis experience that informs policy recommendations.
• Media engagement and issues management experience in high-visibility environments.
• Direct experience with independent oversight, investigations, or ombuds work.

Responsibilities

• Setting strategic direction and ensuring fulfillment of the office’s statutory mission.
• Leading and supporting senior leadership, including the Deputy Ombudsman and Director of Client Services.
• Overseeing complaint investigation, system evaluation, and public reporting processes.
• Serving as the primary spokesperson for the office.
• Engaging credibly with legislators, judicial leaders, agency executives, media, and the public.
• Fostering an inclusive, mission-driven culture that supports staff working in emotionally complex environments.

Benefits

• The position includes a comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid leave and holidays, retirement through Colorado PERA, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to full inclusion and reasonable accommodations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive