Salary: $12,304.82 - $12,811.92 Monthly
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Colorado Department of Higher Education
Opening Date: 06/23/2026
Closing Date: 6/25/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 1600 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: [email protected]
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Position Description
The Chief Program Officer establishes the operational structure and oversees comprehensive program operations at the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), including program development, implementation, compliance, monitoring, and ongoing oversight. Reporting directly to the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, this executive position is responsible for leading program staff to ensure strict implementation consistent with state and federal rules, regulations, and statutes. This position provides strong, consistent leadership across program execution, compliance framework management, and day-to-day administrative operations, balancing high impact execution with the strategic direction of the Department. As a member of the CDHE Senior Staff, the position will serve as a subject matter expert with members of the legislature and will lead with a focus on holistic support of the Department.
Supervision Exercised
This position supervises four (4) employees: (1)Senior Program Director (COSI), (1) Program Compliance & Oversight Manager, (1) Director of Outreach, and (1) GEAR UP Program Director.

Description of Job

Scope of Responsibilities
This is an executive position responsible for leadership, oversight, design, and direction of Department-wide program initiatives, compliance operations, and strategic alignment. Positions at this level are responsible for performing complex, specialized, and diverse work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibilities in a political and educational environment, which includes designing strategic program plans, policies, procedures, goals, objectives, and operational priorities. The position requires independent judgment and initiative in designing, validating, and implementing effective operations across multiple interconnected divisions.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Job Duties
The duties listed below reflect the different types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.

Program Operations & Strategic Oversight

• Establishes the operational structure and oversees daily program operations at the Department, managing development, implementation, compliance, monitoring, and oversight.
• Leads, motivates, and directs program staff to ensure execution is complexly consistent with state and federal rules, regulations, and legislative statutes.
• Provides strong, consistent leadership across all program implementations, establishing standardized compliance metrics and performance tracking mechanisms.
• Evaluates work structures across multiple divisions to ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, non-duplicative, and appropriately aligned on an ongoing basis.
• Analyzes divisional staffing levels relative to funding streams and program scope to actively identify opportunities for operational consolidation or resource reallocation for alternative Department needs.

Outreach & Federal Program Leadership

• Provides direct leadership, strategic direction, and supervision for all Department Outreach activities and associated personnel.
• Oversees and supervises GEAR UP activities and staff, ensuring complete compliance with federal grant requirements and operational parameters.
• Serves as the primary programmatic point of contact and manages ongoing strategic engagement with federal government entities regarding grant programs.

Departmental Collaboration & Senior Alignment

• Collaborates closely with the Executive Director to drive on-time, high-impact execution aligned with the Governor's and Department's Wildly Important Goals (WIGs).
• Partners with senior leadership analyze programmatic data, legal impacts, and organizational frameworks to recommend data-driven actions.
• Contributes actively to strategy conversations related to educational policy, budget requests, and legislative changes impacting Department programs.
• Fosters collaborative, effective working relationships across divisions and tams to elevate productivity and maintain strong internal morale.

Qualifications Education and Experience
Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:
Master's degree from an accredited university or college in education, public administration, leadership, management, or a related field.

Substitution: Bachelor's degree plus six (6) years of experience in executive management can replace the requirement of a master's degree.
Experience:

• Six (6) plus years of demonstrated professional and progressively responsible experience, up to and including executive management, in a complex, multi-level organization.
• Ten (10) plus years of experience in a college or university, state agency of education or higher education, school district, or related educational organization.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Colorado driver's license and compliance with all requirements for driving a state vehicle are required throughout the term of employment

Preferred Qualifications Education:
Doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in education, higher education, public policy, or public administration.
Knowledge of:

• Advanced office practices, procedures, software and equipment, including the use of personal computers, telephones, Zoom, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams)
• State statutes, rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Project management techniques, resource allocation models, and organizational evaluation approaches.
• Higher education policy, grant administration, and complex multi-program operations.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively, both in written and verbal formats, with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Establish and maintain collaborative, trusted relationships with all levels of staff, management, elected officials, and federal agency representatives.
• Direct the work of others effectively while leading, motivating, and supporting a diverse professional team.
• Work productively in an environment with a degree of ambiguity, making logical assumptions using facts and available information.
• Analyze programmatic, financial, budgetary administrative, and organizational data to differentiate between critical and minor details, recognize inconsistencies, and draw correct inferences.
• Employ deep attention to technical detail, legal compliance, and operational accuracy.
• Apply exceptional time management skills to prioritize work, manage multiple major initiatives simultaneously, and meet strict deadlines.
• Take the initiative to solve complex operational problems in an innovative and compliant manner.
• Manage sensitive issues and maintain strict confidentiality regarding personnel and programmatic evaluations.

Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)
The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time
• Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings
• Occasionally may push or pull an object
• Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard
• Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds
• Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects
• Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone.

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to [email protected]
Typical Working Conditions

• The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid, or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday- Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
• Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.
• The position may require periodic in-state and out-of-state travel requiring occasional overnight stays. The position requires the ability to travel independently through the state including overnight stays.

Supplemental Information

Notice
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.