Salary : $72,264.00 - $93,948.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IHA 06940 07/20/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: DPSO (Division of Performance & Strategic Outcomes)
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/13/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: Colorado
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 TO CURRENT COLORADO RESIDENTS**

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Facility & Division Information:
Operations and Strategy (O&S) provides critical services and leadership to help the Department achieve its mission and strategic goals. This office brings together key administrative and strategic functions to make sure the agency operates efficiently, effectively, and with maximum impact. The Strategic Operations and Solutions (SOS) team leads efforts to build and maintain the department's performance management system, with business units focused on organizational performance management and project management. The Strategic Project Manager is a key member of the project management team, supporting the Executive Management Team (EMT) in achieving their goals through well-organized and strategically aligned projects.

Description of Job
Weekly Hybrid Working Arrangements

Minimum 2 days In Office and Maximum 3 days Remote Work @ 1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
Description of Job:
This position serves as the project leader and subject matter expert in project management, process improvement, and change management for strategic projects and departmental customers, such as health facilities programs including Civil and Forensic Mental Health (CFMH) hospitals, Division of Youth Services facilities, Regional Centers and Veterans Community Living Centers. The Strategic Project Manager (SPM) leads strategic, cross-departmental projects that improve how the department operates through the full project lifecycle, including planning, execution, and sustainment. The position uses project management, process improvement, and change management frameworks and best practices to ensure projects, such as the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility mandated by HB22-1283, are delivered on time, meet goals, and are successfully adopted by stakeholders.
Primary Job Duties Include:

• Strategic Project Management - Independently manage high-impact, moderately complex strategic projects that impact cross-departmental customers, such as health facilities programs including Civil and Forensic Mental Health (CFMH) hospitals, Division of Youth Services facilities, Regional Centers and Veterans Community Living Centers, through the full project lifecycle.

• Strategic Process Improvement - Independently manage high-impact, moderately complex process improvement efforts through the full project lifecycle for departmental customers such as health facilities programs including Civil and Forensic Mental Health (CFMH) hospitals, Division of Youth Services facilities, Regional Centers and Veterans Community Living Centers.

• Organizational Change Management - Develop and implement change management strategies for departmental customers, such as such as health facilities programs including Civil and Forensic Mental Health (CFMH) hospitals, Division of Youth Services facilities, Regional Centers and Veterans Community Living Centers.

• Other duties as assigned - Participate in professional development opportunities to build knowledge, skills, and abilities as determined by the individual performance plan. Maintain the required technical skills necessary to apply the appropriate technology to fulfill job duties listed above. Participate in workgroups within Strategic Operations and Solutions (SOS) that guide the program development. Carry out additional responsibilities aligned with the position's strategic scope and classification.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
Option 1: Experience Only:
Seven (7) years of relevant experience in project management and health facilities programs including experience managing complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through implementation, including planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
OR
Option 2: Education and Experience:
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in project management and health facilities programs, equal to seven (7) years:

• Three or more years of experience managing complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through implementation, including planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Relevant Degree Areas: public administration, social work, behavioral health, human services, public affairs, organizational development, education, public health, or related fields.

Substitutions

• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in a project management role in a health facilities setting, where judgment and decisions were routinely relied upon to guide strategic direction and resolve risks or challenges.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with project sponsors, executive leadership, subject matter experts, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience with process improvement or project management in health facilities or other human services programs.
• Project management software experience, e.g., Smartsheet, and/or certifications
• COWINS Partnership Agreement: Relevant years of State service, prorated for part-time, that contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior, or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.
• TRANSFERS ONLY : Relevant years of State service will be considered as a preferred qualification and given the weight of at least 15% of the overall score under the process.

Conditions of Employment:

• Standard background check and reference check required
• Travel: Employee must be able to travel throughout all parts of the State of Colorado and potentially nationally
• 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.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  
  1. Disclose that information on the application.
  2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
  3. 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.

Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS's hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process.
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.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
  
  • Relevant years of state service experience.

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).