Programming Administrator - Division of Youth Services

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the Programming Administrator for all Division of Youth Services (DYS) facilities statewide. It holds centralized authority over the development, implementation, and enforcement of all youth programming, behavioral management, youth wellness, and daily care operations standards. The role defines agency goals for youth programs and services, administers statewide programming operations including unit scheduling, daily program structure, behavioral management and level systems, youth center rules, and disciplinary practices. Additionally, it defines the Sanctuary Model trauma-informed framework, youth rights and grievance processes, volunteer and provider management, the youth handbook, bed and unit management, recreation, library services, faith programming, room time protocols, and Individual and Group Growth and Change plans. The position ensures programming alignment with the Sanctuary model, national best practices, and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. It exercises independent judgment with broad discretion on matters affecting the daily experience, well-being, and developmental outcomes of youth across the entire Division. The position supervises two programming specialists and the Restorative Community Justice (RCJ) and Victim Services Coordinator.

Requirements

Nine (9) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position OR A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to nine (9) years.
Be a minimum of 21 years of age.
No felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
Full background check and reference check required.
State of Colorado residency at the time of application and throughout employment.
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License.
Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
Must successfully pass The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience developing, implementing, or administering programming or daily care operations in a residential, juvenile justice, child welfare, or detention/correctional setting.
Experience designing or administering behavioral management systems, level systems, or evidence-based positive behavior support practices for youth.
Demonstrated supervisory or leadership experience, including assigning work, setting priorities, conducting performance evaluations, and coaching staff.
Working knowledge of relevant licensing body regulations, and state or federal regulations related to corrections operations, such as the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), American Correctional Association (ACA), and Juvenile Justice Reform Act.
Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Responsibilities

Develop, Implement, and Administer Statewide Youth Programming and Care Operations: Serve as the Division’s centralized authority for all youth programming, behavioral management, and daily care operations across every DYS youth center.
Define strategic goals related to youth wellness and programming and translate them into Division-wide policy and procedure.
Exercises ownership over all subject areas within DYS Policy, organized as follows: Youth programming and services, Behavioral management and daily operations, Youth rights and protections, Volunteers and providers, including screening, training, management, oversight, provider credentialing, approved visitor lists, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Serve as the Division’s lead administrator for the Sanctuary Model, the trauma-informed organizational framework adopted by DYS in 2014.
Ensures sustained fidelity to the Sanctuary Model’s Seven Commitments (Nonviolence, Emotional Intelligence, Social Learning, Open Communication, Democracy, Social Responsibility, and Growth and Change) across all youth centers.
Oversee the integration of Sanctuary principles into daily programming, behavioral management practices, and staff-youth interactions.
Conducts regular travel to all DYS facilities to assess programming operations and ensure compliance with Division standards.
Assists in preparation for external audits and assessments related to programming conducted by the CDHS Quality Assurance unit.
Directs corrective action plans arising from audit findings and operational assessments related to programming and youth care.
Develop and Administer Programming Training Curricula: Develop, implement, and continuously improve programming-related training curricula for the DYS Pre-Service Training Academy and ongoing in-service professional development for all youth center employees.
Serve as the authoritative subject matter expert on youth programming, behavioral management, Sanctuary Model implementation, and youth rights training content.
Collaborate with the Training Academy Director while retaining final authority over all programming and care-related training standards.
Review and update curricula in response to policy changes, critical incident trends, audit findings, and evolving best practices.
Oversee the ongoing implementation and sustainability of the Sanctuary Model across all facilities, including coordination with Sanctuary-certified trainers and facilitation of Sanctuary Integration Teams.
Directly supervises assigned programming and youth care operations staff, as well as the Division’s RCJ coordinator.
Provides leadership and performance oversight; creates schedules, assigns work, establishes priorities, conducts performance evaluations, and provides ongoing coaching.
Ensures assigned staff effectively coordinate with youth center leadership, CDHS Quality Assurance, and external stakeholders in carrying out their responsibilities.

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 eligibility for some positions