Tobacco Policy Work Lead - Term-Limited

Salary: $72,264.00 - $93,948.00 Annually
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: FAA01600-10/16/26
Department: Department of Public Health & Environment
Division: Prevention Services Division
Opening Date: 10/16/2026
Closing Date: 10/26/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• TERM LIMIT: This position is term-limited and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 6/30/2031. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.
• The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.
• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor's discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

CDPHE Offers:

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.
• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan.
• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Potential flexible working arrangements
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.
• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee wellness programs.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Description of Job
The Work Unit:

The Prevention Services Division (PSD) is actively building a workforce reflective of the diverse communities we serve. The Division strives to understand the needs of Colorado's communities and encourages contributions of stakeholders in identifying and solving public health problems. We are committed to providing a respectful, supportive, and inclusive work environment that demonstrates our commitment to accepting and respecting individuals from all communities. The Division is also committed to the professional development, collaborative effort, and sustained wellness of its workforce.

The Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Branch in the Prevention Services Division (PSD) reviews, plans, designs, implements, and evaluates public health interventions for chronic diseases and related risk factors to and improve health-related quality of life for all Coloradans. Particular emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, data-driven and evidence-informed decision-making, capacity building, partnerships, and the integration of program efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The statewide chronic disease programs within the HPCDP Branch include Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Comprehensive Cancer Control, Colorectal Cancer Control, Diabetes Prevention and Management, Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, Healthy Eating and Active Living, the Cancer, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program, and the Tobacco Education, Prevention and Cessation Grants Program.

We are aware that many chronic diseases share the same systemic causes: tobacco use, lack of access to nutritious foods, built environments that support physical activity, social connectedness, and poverty and economic instability. These systemic injustices, along with additional risk and protective factors, are shared across many of the outcomes we address. Colorado For ALL means working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It means we support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.

What You Will Do:
These positions provide subject-matter expertise and are responsible for strategic direction, contract/grant monitoring, and operational work leadership of statewide interventions within STEPP. Depending on assignment to the Policy Pillar or Cessation Pillar, these roles lead either state and community policy initiatives or statewide treatment/cessation interventions. Both positions identify and implement strategies to advance the 2030 Tobacco Strategic Plan's equity goals, with a focus on improving the quality, accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and impact of public health initiatives for populations experiencing health disparities.

• Operational Work Leadership: Serve as the operational Work Lead for designated team members within the respective pillar (Policy or Cessation). Assign daily workflow tasks, sequence project timelines, monitor task execution, conduct preliminary administrative verification of staff timecards/leave, and track performance milestones in Cornerstone to support annual evaluation cycles. Conduct first-line technical reviews of grantee Scopes of Work (SOWs) and budgets.
• Contract & Grant Monitoring: Hold primary, dedicated day-to-day contract and grant monitoring responsibility for large vendor agreements, local health agency contracts, or grantee portfolios. Draft technical Statements of Work (SOWs), key performance indicators (KPIs), and fiscal budget parameters; conduct continuous fiscal/performance monitoring; and enforce procurement rules in strict compliance with the CDPHE Contract Monitoring User Guide.
• Strategic Partnerships & Systems Integration: Lead, design, and maintain strategic internal and external partnerships (e.g., local public health agencies, health systems, public payers, community organizations) to systematically embed evidence-based policy or cessation models into standard public health and care delivery systems.
• Project & Program Oversight: Lead the strategic development and execution of work plans for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Tobacco Control Program objectives, Proposition EE requirements, and state-funded mandates. Author technical grant components, build project management blueprints, interpret public health surveillance data, and draft comprehensive progress documentation for executive and legislative entities.
• Tobacco Control Content Expertise: Serve as the unit technical authority on evidence-based policy, environmental change strategies, or clinical cessation practices/digital health platforms. Translate evidence-based guidelines into statewide program parameters and author technical briefing packets and executive talking points.

Key Responsibilities:

• Policy Pillar Work Lead & Program Administration
• Partnership and Strategic Collaborations
• Project and Grant Management
• Contract Monitoring
• Tobacco Control Content Expertise

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Residency Requirement:
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description:

H1S4XX

Minimum Qualifications:
NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.Experience Only:
Seven (7) years of relevant experience in state or local public health program implementation, including informing policy or systems changes, providing technical assistance to grantees/partners, grant/contract monitoring, project workflow coordination, and building multi-sector partnerships.
Or

Education and Experience:
A combination of related education with a degree in public health, public policy, healthcare administration, public administration, behavioral health, urban planning, or a closely related field,and/or relevant experience in state or local public health program implementation, including informing policy or systems changes, providing technical assistance to grantees/partners, grant/contract monitoring, project workflow coordination, and building multi-sector partnerships equal to seven (7) years.

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process. "See resume" will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation. In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

**If using education to qualify for this position, a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your application.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:

1. Direct experience working within or closely alongside state-level commercial tobacco control programs (such as STEPP), including in-depth operational knowledge of Colorado's 2030 Commercial Tobacco Strategic Plan, Amendment 35, or Proposition EE funding frameworks.
2. Demonstrated experience in state-level contract and grant monitoring, specifically using CDPHE contracting guidelines, standard Contract Monitoring User Guides, reviewing grantee Scopes of Work (SOWs), and approving project budgets.
3. Experience performing work lead or project coordination responsibilities, such as assigning or leading project tasks, conducting preliminary reviews of peer/grantee work deliverables, checking timecards, or tracking performance goals in state platforms (e.g., Cornerstone).
4. Applied knowledge of commercial tobacco prevention/policy strategies (e.g., Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) Core frameworks, policy Training and Technical Assistance (TA), or clinical tobacco cessation models (e.g., Quitline operations, health system referral loops).
5. More than three years of experience managing complex public health project blueprints, federal/CDC or state grant work plans, and multi-year program reporting.
6. Demonstrated proficiency in building and maintaining active partnerships with internal CDPHE branches, Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs), public health advocacy organizations, health systems, and technical assistance providers.
7. Practical experience applying Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) principles to adapt state-funded program strategies for populations experiencing commercial tobacco and other nicotine product-related health disparities.
8. Strong analytical and decision-making skills, including utilizing state surveillance data and grantee evaluation reports to make program or budget adjustments.
9. Experience analyzing proposed public health policies, preparing legislative briefing packets, or contributing to an executive summary document.
10. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical program data to state leadership and external grantees.