Salary: $96,852.00 - $154,968.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IKA 05693 08/31/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OCYF (Office of Children, Youth & Families)
Opening Date: 08/31/2026
Closing Date: 9/14/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 4255 South Knox Court Denver, CO 80236
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
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 open only to Colorado state residents.Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below.
Division of Youth Services - Central Administration
Description of Job
Summary of Work Unit:
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) Director's Office includes all Central Division administration activities and responsibilities related to the management and oversight of youth centers for both detained and committed youth. In addition, DYS administers a community-based system that includes case management and parole services and Colorado Youth Detention Curriculum (CYDC) detention based services. The Director's Office maintains responsibility for the following administrative functions: establishing and monitoring standards for service; developing policies and procedures and auditing programs and services for compliance; developing and allocating resources for programs and providing administrative systems to support programs, such as data, financial management, and contracting systems; developing and implementing short-term and long-term planning initiatives to address DYS's current and future program and resource needs. This unit has an instrumental role in the implementation of a healthy, trauma-responsive environment across all DYS programs.
Summary of the position:
This position serves as Security Operations Administrator for all Division of Youth Services facilities. The position assists in defining agency goals and objectives around safety and security, and administers facility operations for juvenile correctional facilities (e.g., safety, security, Critical Incident Management, youth transfers, security threat groups, use of force, key control,etc.). The position serves as the subject matter expert and owner of all safety and security practices statewide for DYS youth centers, ensuring best practices are used for youth and staff safety.
Job Duties:

Develop and Administer Youth Center Security Operations Statewide:Define agency goals and objectives around safety and security and develop, modify, revise, and implement Division policy for all subject areas related to safety and security. Revise existing policies and create more detailed protocols for security practices to ensure uniformity of application across the Division, outlining all expectations at the granular level. Areas of expertise include but are not limited to: perimeter security inspections, control center operations, youth supervision, physical responses by employees, screening of visitors are entry, use of protective devices, count policies, reporting critical incidents, searches of youth, employees, and youth center areas, secure transports, abuse reporting, video monitoring and surveillance, and body-worn cameras. Travel to DYS facilities and consult with staff in assigned security areas. Assist in preparing facilities for audits and assessments in assigned security areas. Assist staff in development of corrective action plans related to security.
Collaborate with the Training Academy to develop Curricula for Pre-Service and Ongoing Training
Collaborate with the training academy to develop and revise the training curriculum for pre-service and ongoing training for all DYS staff related to security within youth centers. Decide what topics and content must be covered in the training academy, and work with training academy staff to develop that content.

Post-Incident Analysis for Critical Incidents in Youth CentersReview high profile critical incidents across DYS youth centers and provide post-incident analysis of security procedures used and whether they were used appropriately. Evaluate whether employees complied with DYS security policy. If employees complied with policy and the incident outcome was not favorable, evaluate statewide security procedures to adjust as needed.

Other Duties as Required

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience Only:

• Nine (9) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

~Or~

Education and Experience:

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to nine (9) years

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience working in or overseeing security operations within a secure residential, prison, jail, juvenile justice, or detention facility.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, and implementing security policies or standard operating procedures across multiple facilities.
• Experience conducting post-incident reviews, root-cause analyses, or after-action investigations and translating findings into corrective action plans.
• Expert knowledge of security technologies used in secure facilities, such as control center operations, key control, video monitoring and surveillance systems, and body-worn cameras.
• 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.

Conditions of Employment:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Full background check and reference check required
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License
• Travel - Position is responsible for safety and security procedures at 12 youth centers across the state, including the Denver metro area, Brighton, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Grand Junctions. The expectation for this position is that they are present at DYS youth centers 4-5 days a week, including youth centers outside the Denver metro area. Travel outside Denver area is expected about 30-40% of the time.
• 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.
• The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. The results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the Division of Youth Services and may be used as part of the Division's decision on whether a candidate is selected.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  • Disclose that information on the application.
  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation:

• Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

• A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
• You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review

• After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

• Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
• If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

• Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Supplemental Information
How to apply to the State of Colorado
The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact