Salary: $96,852.00 - $111,372.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Transportation
Division: Office of Transportation Safety
Opening Date: 09/21/2026
Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 2829 W. Howard Place Denver, CO 80204
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: [email protected]
Hiring Pay Rate: The 2026 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series.
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.

Department Information
This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

• New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.

Description of Job
About the Work Unit

This position is in the Highway Safety Office (HSO) within the Office of Transportation Safety (OTS). The OTS enhances the safety of the traveling public in Colorado through coordinated, integrated management of the Highway Safety Education and Enforcement Programs, Employee Occupational Safety and Risk Management Program. A key purpose of the HSO is to foster partnerships with the CDOT Regions, federal and state agencies, local governments and the private sector to ensure the overall safety and mobility of vulnerable road users and the driving public. The HSO develops goals, objectives and performance measures for the statewide highway safety program; develops the Triennial Safety Plan and the annual Problem Identification Report; provides policy guidance, interagency negotiations, project and grant management, and training. Technical expertise is provided in overall highway safety programs and initiatives.
About the Position

As the Highway Safety Office Manager, classified as Grants Specialist VI, you will supervise a team and manage all the state statutory requirements that are assigned to the Colorado Highway Safety Office (HSO) and will administer the flow and distribution of all federal funds received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on an annual basis. This includes responsibility for the execution of statewide safety performance that aligns CDOT traffic safety goals, NHTSA's national performance standards and recognized best industry practices.
Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following

• Oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of all planning documents, including the data-driven Annual Grant Application (AGA), and the Triannual Highway Safety Plan (3HSP) in accordance with the Federal requirement of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Sets strategies and goals to reduce behavioral-related traffic fatalities on Colorado roadways through the administration of federal and state grant funded education and traffic safety enforcement initiatives.
• Oversees the flow of federal and state grant funding to over 80+ grantee's statewide and ensures that all federal and state fiscal rules are followed.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with local, state, federal and national organizations and associations, and community groups to support Highway Traffic Safety program initiatives across the state.
• Develops and forecasts annual budgets exceeding $12 million dollars which will be allocated to several project areas including Occupant Protection Programs, Impaired Driving programs Public Relations campaigns, and Statewide Traffic fatal and serious crash Traffic Records programs.
• Manages eight direct reports and several full and part-time contractor employees who administer various programs within the HSO.
• Serves as the Senior Leader of the Highway Safety Office (HSO).
• Directly interacts with the Region 8, NHTSA Administrator, Executive Director, GHSA, and many other high-level positions outside of CDOT.
• Provides direction on subject matter expert testimony on traffic safety related bills that are brought forward by legislative sponsors.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Primarily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday with the opportunity for flexible work hours.
• You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.
• In-state travel required to meet with stakeholders, give presentations and attend events.
• Some out of state travel required to attend conferences and training.
• Occasional work after assigned hours and on weekends is required.
• Operate in a politically sensitive environment.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications

Experience Only:

• At least 9 years of full-time professional experience in public health, criminal justice, public administration, finance/accounting, or other work related to the major duties of this position, which included at least 5 years of experience with a primary focus on either of the following:
  • Project or program planning that included implementation, community engagement, partnership engagement, coalition building and technical assistance
  • Grants management

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least 9 years.
  • Education from an accredited college or university with coursework in public health, criminal justice, public administration, finance/accounting, or another field of study related to the duties of this position will be considered.
  • Full-time professional experience with a primary focus on either of the following will be considered:
    • Project or program planning that included implementation, community engagement, partnership engagement, coalition building and technical assistance
    • Grants management

Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or an official foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. The credential evaluation report must be an official report. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.

Preferred Qualifications

Theexceptional applicantwill possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section.
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position.
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity.
• Experience leading high-performance teams including, including experience with carrying out HR processes.
• Leadership and vision across multidisciplinary groups.
• Deep understanding of and commitment to traffic safety programs and issues.
• Knowledge about injury prevention strategies, traffic safety based countermeasures, and systems change strategies.
• Experience related to community engagement and inclusion.
• Knowledge of federal/state transportation legislation.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and supervising professional and support staff in order to accomplish organizational goals.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in grant oversight and administration.
• Knowledge and experience with the National Highway Safety Administration grants rules and regulations.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills that demonstrate and ability to work with community and advisory groups.
• Critical thinking skills and the ability to work on a systems level to solve problems and implement change.
• Ability and skill in developing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with others inside or outside the organization.
• Ability and willingness to address the needs of diverse stakeholders and understand and respond in a culturally responsive way.
• Understanding of traffic safety data, trends, and analysis.
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project), Gmail and Google Applications, SAP, Sales Force, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Supplemental Information
Applicant Checklist
Complete Applications must include the following documents:

1. A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)
2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
3. A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
4. A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
5. If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing completed coursework and credit hours, that your degree has been conferred (if applicable), your name, and the name of your school, or your official NACES credential evaluation report. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
6. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.