• Job Description

  Req#: 4150543

  This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

  Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

  Work Unit:

  Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Policy and Legislative Affairs division develops the agency's legislative agenda and coordinates relationships with the state legislative branch, community stakeholders and Colorado's counties while also managing all internal and external communications, media, branding, and website administration.
  
  The CDHS Communications Division is an organizational work unit within the Policy and Legislative Affairs Division. This division creates and oversees communications for CDHS programmatic offices and executive staff. The Division provides communications support to CDHS programmatic offices: the Office of Economic Security, the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health, the Office of Children, Youth and Families and the Office of Adult Aging and Disability Services. The CDHS Communications Division works closely with office directors, managers, supervisors and senior leadership. This section further works closely with the Governor’s Office and other state agency communications staff.
  

  
  

  
  As the staff authority, the Language Accessibility Manager is responsible for creating infrastructure for language accessibility and readability at the department. This includes an accessibility plan and plain language guide. This position requires a unique level of expertise in language accessibility and plain language, and will develop standards for how the Department engages with internal and external partners. The Language Accessibility Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the culturally and linguistically appropriate services standards to fulfill the department’s language access commitments. Under the Deputy Director of Communications, with a dotted line to the Chief EDI Officer, the Language Accessibility Manager is responsible for implementing strategies for translation services, content readability and accessibility, and culturally responsive communications at CDHS.
  
  The Language Accessibility Manager will develop agency rules for translation and interpretation services and accessible content, and provide guidance and recommendations regarding appropriately communicating with Coloradans through translation services and plain language. This position will provide training and education to staff and external partners around language justice, plain language and a language justice framework approach.

  * Applicants are required to submit one professional writing sample as an attached document*

  
  

  Minimum Qualifications:

  
  

  Seven years of professional experience in a Communications or Marketing field, which must include efforts toward enhancing Equity, Diversity or Inclusion (EDI).

  
  

  OR

  
  

  Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the field of Communications, Journalism, Marketing and Public Relations, Public Administration or a related field AND

  three years of professional experience in a Communications or Marketing field, which must include effort towards enhancing Equity, Diversity or Inclusion (EDI).

  
  

  Substitutions:

  
  

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

  
  

  Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience leading EDI efforts

  • Experience in public speaking

  • Experience in training development and facilitation

  • Experience in reviewing policies

  • Experience with the Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.)

  • Experience working with and creating newsletters

  • Excellent communication skills, including superior writing skills

  • Experience writing overview documents and talking points

  • Experience writing and communications through multiple channels, including websites, social media, print communication, partner communication, eMarketing communication and more

  • Highly proficient in English and proficient in at least one other language

  • Experience in the public sector/government

  • Ability and willingness to work with executives and senior leaders

  • Highly motivated and organized

  • Ability to work independently and as a contributing member of a team

  • Ability to work with multiple, competing deadlines on a daily basis; ability to easily transition from one priority to another and manage constant interruptions, while remaining productive and meeting deadlines

  • Ability to focus on the future and plan it out

  • Outcome-driven, strong demonstration of successful performance in a data-focused environment

  
  

  Highly Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Exceptional attention to detail

  • Open-minded

  • Comfortable with ambiguity

  • Curious

  • Critical thinking and problem solving

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Experience collaborating with peer analysts

  • Analytical

  • Flexible

  • Creative

  • Emotionally intelligent

  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills

  
  

  Conditions of Employment

  • Occasional travel to community events, presentations and other in-person gatherings may be necessary.

  • Hybrid work arrangements subject to change based on business need

  • Ability to pass a standard background check

  • Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s 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.

  
  

  Appeal Rights:

  
  

  If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

  
  

  An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

  
  

  For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

  How to Apply

  
  

  The Assessment Process

  
  

  For additional recruiting questions, please contact melissa.critchfield @state.co.us

  
  
  

  About Us:

  If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

  • Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

  • Medical and dental health plans

  • Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

  • Paid life insurance

  • Short- and long-term disability coverage

  • 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

  • BenefitHub state employee discount program

  • Employee Wellness program

  • Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

  • Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

  
  

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

  information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

  
  

  Our Values:

  We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .

  Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

  We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

  Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

  We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

  Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

  
  

  We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

  
  

  ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

  ~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

  
  

  Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

  
  

• About the company

  Colorado is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains.

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