Director of Transition and Special Projects (Term Limited)

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is currently hybrid. Part-Time working Monday through Friday 8am - 12pm Remote with up to two (2) days in the office per week. At the direction of the Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Strategy, the Special Project Manager will provide leadership in developing and executing the Department’s gubernatorial transition plan informed by the current CDHS Transition Team. The Special Project Manager collaborates across teams to support resources, policies, and strategic initiatives to achieve these goals. The Special Project Manager will also satisfy the need to ensure oversight of ongoing critical incident operational and change management needs, and ensure the training of end users of the Critical Incident management system. This temporary arrangement preserves senior-level expertise within the Department while maintaining fiscal responsibility through a part-time, hourly structure.

Requirements

Ten (10) years of relevant experience which includes a combination of the following experience: Government Operations & Interagency Collaboration; Organizational Change & Continuous Improvement; Executive Communications & Decision Support; Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance; Critical Incident & Crisis Management; Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement; Executive Leadership Support; Strategic Planning & Project Management; Executive Transition & Operations Management.
A combination of education and experience in a combination of Government Operations & Interagency Collaboration; Organizational Change & Continuous Improvement; Executive Communications & Decision Support; Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance; Critical Incident & Crisis Management; Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement; Executive Leadership Support; Strategic Planning & Project Management; Executive Transition & Operations Management, equal to ten (10) years.

Nice To Haves

Executive Operations & Transition Management – Demonstrated experience leading complex organizational initiatives, executive transitions, or large-scale operational projects while ensuring continuity of business operations.
Strategic Project & Program Management – Proven ability to develop, execute, and monitor project plans, manage competing priorities, meet critical deadlines, and deliver results in high-pressure environments.
Executive Leadership Support & Communication – Experience preparing executive briefings, strategic recommendations, reports, and presentations, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior executives and external stakeholders.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration – Ability to build collaborative relationships, facilitate communication across multiple divisions and agencies, and successfully coordinate diverse stakeholder groups.
Critical Incident, Emergency Management & Business Continuity – Experience directing emergency operations, critical incident response, continuity of operations (COOP), crisis management, or organizational resilience initiatives.
Risk Management & Sound Decision-Making – Demonstrated ability to identify operational risks, resolve complex problems, develop contingency plans, and make timely, well-informed decisions under changing conditions.
Regulatory Compliance & Government Operations – Knowledge of government operations, personnel systems, applicable laws, regulatory requirements, policy development, and administrative governance, including executive personnel processes such as SES or Amendment S (preferred).
Analytical & Organizational Skills – Strong ability to analyze complex information, monitor performance metrics, develop executive dashboards, prioritize work, and manage multiple high-profile initiatives simultaneously.
Organizational Change & Continuous Improvement – Experience leading process improvement, organizational change initiatives, policy development, and implementation of operational best practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Leadership & Adaptability – Demonstrated leadership, professionalism, accountability, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in fast-paced, politically sensitive, and rapidly changing environments while managing high-priority special projects.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary operational lead for the gubernatorial transition, managing day-to-day planning, project tracking, accountability structures, and timeline execution under the guidance of agency leadership.
Act as the central point of contact to coordinate workstreams, resolve issues, and ensure seamless communication and information flow among internal divisions, offices, and external stakeholders.
Coordinate critical deliverables, decision-making processes, and meetings, while preparing high-level briefings, status updates, and strategic recommendations for executive leadership.
Proactively identify operational barriers, gaps, and risks across transition activities, developing and implementing swift solutions to maintain momentum.
Foster a collaborative, responsive team environment that aligns incoming transition initiatives with ongoing, everyday agency business needs and priorities.
Take ownership of the established transition project plan, driving all scheduled workstreams, tracking milestones, and ensuring the successful, on-time completion of all defined operational goals.
Establish and oversee efficient workflows for the timely distribution of critical transition materials to internal and external parties; proactively follow up with stakeholders to ensure all key deadlines and prioritized plan events are met.
Support the onboarding process for incoming leadership by serving as an informational resource and providing subject-matter expertise on transition protocols, agency structures, and institutional knowledge.
Provide specialized guidance and technical expertise regarding the unique hiring, classification, and structural requirements associated with Amendment S and Senior Executive Service (SES) positions to ensure compliant, seamless leadership placement.
Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight to the Critical Incident and Emergency Management (CI/EM) team to ensure continuity of operations during the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) transition.
Preserve interim CLO capacity by directing critical incident and emergency management operations, allowing for continuity and stability during leadership transitions.
Orchestrate urgent and high-stakes responses to critical incidents with internal and external stakeholders, including the Executive Director’s Office, CDHS Communications, Office Directors, facilities, and the Governor’s Office.
Ensure timely, accurate, professional, and customer-focused communication related to critical incidents at all organizational levels and with external partners.
Govern all operational standards by ensuring comprehensive knowledge of regulatory requirements, federal notification mandates, emergency management protocols, and industry best practices related to critical incident response.
Oversee the creation, analysis, and dissemination of critical incident dashboards, reports, and status updates to support operational awareness, compliance, and executive decision-making.
Mitigate organizational risk by directing the identification, troubleshooting, and implementation of contingency plans related to critical incident reporting processes and technology platforms.
Champion and direct cross-divisional collaboration with facilities, divisions, and stakeholders to mandate consistency and improvement in utilization and effectiveness of critical incident reporting technology and processes.
Authorize and execute updates to Critical Incident policies and procedures based on operational trends, regulatory changes, stakeholder feedback, and best practices.
Establish cross-functional adherence by directing coordination with stakeholders before, during, and after critical incidents to ensure proper training, accurate reporting, timely follow-up, and adherence to established procedures.
Drive continuous improvement by mandating and overseeing the monitoring and evaluation of CI/EM operational processes, reporting trends, and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for increased organizational readiness.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program