Communication Assistant- Classified

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Communication Assistant serves as the Colorado Department of Education’s receptionist and first point of contact for callers and members of the public contacting the agency by phone or through its main email address. The role interprets established department policies, processes, program guidelines, and reference materials to answer questions, provide information, resolve issues, and route inquiries to the appropriate CDE office, staff member, or external resource. It maintains accurate reference materials and call protocols, provides professional customer service, and helps create a welcoming and organized environment. The position also receives and distributes mail and maintains the mailroom at 201 E Colfax Ave.

The position provides program and administrative support for the division by coordinating recurring operational activities, including scheduling, purchasing, travel, meetings, events, and logistics. It monitors deadlines and details, resolves routine operational issues within established procedures, handles sensitive information according to department requirements, and supports divisional managers as time allows. The position is full-time, general-funded, and onsite in Colorado. Typical office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; extended evening or weekend hours may be required by business needs, and the employee must commute to the workplace daily. The role is open only to current Colorado residents.

Requirements

• Four years of relevant experience in customer service, receptionist or front-desk operations, administrative support, office coordination, or a closely related field; alternatively, a combination of related education and/or relevant experience totaling four years.
• An associate degree in Business Administration, Office Administration, Administrative Management, Communications, Public Administration, or a closely related field may substitute for two years of required experience, but not for the specific experience described in the posting.
• At least one year of professional experience in an occupational field related to the assigned work.
• Knowledge of common office or administrative tasks, including appointment scheduling, writing emails, and following purchasing and procurement requirements.
• Demonstrated customer-service experience in fast-paced environments.
• Cashiering, stocking, food preparation, or customer-service duties alone, without demonstrated administrative support or office coordination responsibilities, do not count as relevant experience.
• Must be a current Colorado resident and complete work for CDE within Colorado.
• Must be willing and able to complete the prescreening process and pass a background check.
• Must be able and willing to independently determine and obtain the means to complete required travel.
• Must work an extended schedule when required by business needs and report to the work location according to business needs.
• Must commute to the workplace daily.
• Applications using education to meet minimum qualifications must include qualifying transcripts; foreign transcripts must have a NACES evaluation showing U.S. equivalency.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving as a central receptionist or managing a shared customer-service phone line and inbox.
• Administrative or program-support experience in a government agency, school district, education organization, or other public-serving organization.
• Experience explaining established procedures and resolving inquiries involving multiple programs or departments.
• Experience coordinating staff meetings or events, preparing purchase orders, maintaining purchasing-card records, or arranging work travel.
• Experience using office productivity and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, shared calendars, and spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the department receptionist and respond to inquiries through the main phone line and email address.
• Determine the appropriate CDE office, program, staff member, or external resource for inquiries using established routing procedures.
• Explain department services, program responsibilities, office locations, staff contacts, and website resources.
• Provide contact information for other state or federal departments when inquiries fall outside CDE’s authority.
• Maintain and update CDE reference materials and incoming-call protocols.
• Train other administrative personnel to provide backup phone coverage and explain referral procedures.
• Review and respond to messages received through CDE’s main email address, answering questions or referring inquiries as needed.
• Receive and distribute mail delivered by IDS; maintain the mailroom at 201 E Colfax Ave and inform appropriate departments of changes.
• Coordinate schedules, meeting details, materials, timing, and logistics for large meetings and recurring division activities.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information in accordance with department policies and requirements.
• Coordinate department-wide all-staff meetings and large staff events, including theme and logistics planning, venue selection, room layout, food and beverage, internal communications, day-of coordination, setup, and breakdown.
• Monitor office supply and equipment needs, determine appropriate purchasing actions under established procedures, and maintain supporting records.
• Provide program and administrative support to other divisional managers as time allows.
• Prepare purchase orders for supplies and events, complete official-function and other forms, and maintain the office purchasing card and related documentation in accordance with fiscal rules and department procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief External Relations Officer.
• Complete required travel and work extended schedules as business needs require.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options, which may include flexible hours, working from home, working in the office, or a hybrid environment.
• Medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options with employer contributions.
• Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
• Up to 160 hours of paid family medical leave.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Vacation and sick leave accruals.
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).
• Employer-paid RTD Eco Pass, subject to certain restrictions.
• Paid professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree