• Job Description

  Req#: 4984378

  Love Colorado? There is no better way to define your future and build your career than to work for the State of Colorado.

  
  

  Finding Your Purpose

  When you work for the State of Colorado, you're working to improve your community, impact the lives of those around you, and ensure that our shared natural resources will be available for generations to come.

  Finding Your Passion

  Each position makes a difference by helping people, enhancing our livelihood and making Colorado a better place to live. Learn more about the mission of each of our Departments and Institutions and the unique roles they serve!

  Colorado for All

  The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

  Colorado For All - Colorado Employee Reflections

  
  

  Department Information

  Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, making housing more affordable and available, improving public safety, and building an economy that works for everyone. The Office of the Governor's staff includes budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.

  
  Please note: We will begin the review of applications on July 9, 2025 and continue until a finalist is identified.
  
  Department: Governor’s Office of Policy and Research

  Position Title: Senior Policy Advisor for Wildlife, Agriculture, and Rural Economic Development

  Hiring range; $93,000-$103,000 annually, depending on qualifications

  Full Time, 40 hrs/week, Term-limited
  FLSA Status: Exempt
  

  
  

  Position Description: The Governor’s Office of Policy and Research is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to provide strategic policy and legislative analysis, project management, and press guidance for wildlife, habitat conservation, agriculture, and rural economic development issues and general support for the Governor's agenda. The Advisor will report to the Director of Policy and Research.

  
  

  Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Advisor will maintain policy expertise, track legislation and budget items, develop strategies, and be prepared to brief and advise the Governor and other administration officials concerning all the issue areas assigned. The Advisor will coordinate this work as needed with other policy advisors, other offices of the Governor (including communications, Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery, budget, legal, etc.), and appropriate state agencies. The Advisor will also work closely with the Governor’s legislative team to help advance the Governor’s agenda during legislative sessions and in the interim. They will develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant state agencies, key stakeholders and constituencies throughout the state to inform this work. This may entail travel within the State.

  Desired Skills and Competencies: The successful candidate should have the ability to multitask and function effectively in a complex professional environment to advance the Administration’s priorities. They should be a highly agile detail-oriented strategic thinker with well-developed decision-making, research and analytical skills. The Advisor should also have strong written and verbal communications skills, advanced interpersonal skills with strong networking capabilities, the ability to learn and assimilate information quickly, and the ability to influence and persuade to effect solutions to complex problems. A well-developed familiarity with Colorado issues and demographics would be an asset while maintaining a broader awareness of Federal law and policy and any associated implications for State programming.

  Additional competencies should include the ability to conduct policy research; the ability to assimilate and synthesize complex information into relevant, logical and organized formats for analysis and discussion; and the ability to identify and minimize potential conflicts in goals and objectives, missions and agendas.

  Education/Experience preferred:

  • 5 years work related experience, i.e. policy analysis, government relations, non-profit, etc.

  • Public policy analysis and development skills, as demonstrated by professional and/or academic experience.

  • Detail oriented and organized with the ability to work in a fast paced environment.

  • Effective written and oral communication skills.

  • Familiarity with governmental and legislative processes, i.e., familiarity with the lawmaking, ballot initiative process, and citizen petition process.

  • A high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.

  • Sound strategic thinker who is familiar with the public sector, preferably at the state level.

  • Familiarity with national issues and Colorado and understanding of issues unique to this state.

  
  

  Preferred Experience

  • Ability to form strong public-private partnerships, in line with strong networking capabilities, this position benefits from communicating regularly with non-governmental advocacy groups.

  
  

  Conditions of Employment

  Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed.

  To Apply:

  A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

  The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

  • Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)

  • Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)

  • 12 paid holidays per year

  • Medical and dental plans

  • State paid life insurance policy of a minimum of $50,000 or 1x annual salary

  • Choice of 2 retirement plans

  • 401K and 457 plans

  • State paid Short Term Disability coverage

  • Additional optional life and disability plans

  • Credit Union Membership

  • RTD pass

  • Training and professional development

  To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits .

  
  

  Inclusion and Belonging

  The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success , and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

  ADAAA Accommodations

  The Office of the Governor 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 ADAAA Staffing Coordinator (the Senior Human Resources Director) at gov_hr@state.co.us.

  
  Application Process
  

  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.

• 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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