Program Manager, Climate & Sustainability
Department Information
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.
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. Governor’s Office staff should demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) in the workplace to fulfill the promise of a Colorado For All. Staff are expected to participate in learning opportunities and training to increase their knowledge around EDIA, have a growth mindset, and embed new learnings and skills into daily business practices. Creating inaccessible digital content such as web pages, emails, presentations, or documents leaves the state open to fines up to $3,500 based on the language in House Bill 21-110. Staff should strive to make all digital content accessible using provided accessibility resources.
Description of Job
Starting Salary: $70,012.80 - $90,001.60 Annually
- This position is eligible for a hybrid and/or remote working arrangement. Hybrid positions are expected to be present at the office location for no less than one day per work week.
The ideal candidate for this position will bring a strong background in sustainability and a broad understanding of emissions reductions as it relates to the Accelerator’s four sectors: Buildings, Land Use, Transportation, and Waste). Since this position will manage a broad portfolio of grantees, this role requires robust project and grant management skills, paired with adaptability and strong communication capabilities. Specific knowledge and/or experience related to building decarbonization is highly preferred, while topic-specific experience in land use, transportation and renewable energy siting is desirable but not required. Given this is a federally funded program, experience navigating complex grant compliance and reporting as well as knowledge of federal grants requirements is a plus. Supporting skills include collaborating across diverse teams, facilitating group discussions, creating training materials, and tracking deadlines. Funding for the position is tied to the federal grant period of performance, which ends October 2029.
Responsibilities:
Supports contract negotiation and contracting with procurement teams.
Oversees active grants by setting monthly meetings, reviewing and approving invoices and project deliverables, tracking and reporting progress, ensuring successful adoption of policies/completion of projects, and managing project close-out.
- Provides topic specific support to teams and local governments on the four areas of the Accelerator (i.e. land use, waste, buildings, and transportation).
- Supports the Local Government team with proactive and creative problem-solving, strong collaboration, and identifying areas for process improvements.
- Works with section staff, other CEO teams and other state agencies, to coordinate program efforts, review documents, develop knowledge of other programs, and establish strong partner relationships.
- Helps ensure grants are managed properly and effectively and helps with team coordination by establishing training, tools and systems to support federal grant compliance and reporting requirements.
- Supports team compliance with federal grant terms and conditions, including Build America Buy America (BABA), Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as well as with EPA’s Quality Assurance (QA) program and other federal grant requirements.
- Complies with state grant requirements including and related to following Colorado Revised Statutes, CEO policies and procedures.
- Supports grant and invoice processing through CEO’s financial management system (Salesforce) and helps advance procurement processes in Salesforce and more broadly.
- Supports, as needed, outreach and education efforts for local governments including providing technical assistance, developing materials, traveling to presentations, facilitating meetings, making documents accessible and coordinating with CEO’s communications teams.
- Employees currently are expected to work in office one full day per week, typically on the assigned team day, or as directed by their supervisor.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
- Three years of professional experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related field (public administration, environmental science, sustainability, etc.) and 2 years of professional experience in a related field
- Experience leading grant management, tracking, compliance and reporting efforts.
- Experience developing support tools for tracking grant progress, monitoring compliance, etc., and training teams on the use of tools.
- Background in sustainability with a general understanding of greenhouse gas emissions reductions as it relates to building, waste, land use, transportation, and waste sectors.
- Experience with developing scopes of work and contracting.
- Commitment to collaboration, being flexible and jumping in where needed.
- Strong time management and organizational skills.
- Experience working across teams, agencies or similar groups to advance common goals, track progress, and establish process improvements.
- Strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
- Team player with excellent interpersonal, listening, and diplomacy skills to build positive relationships.
- Specific knowledge and/or experience related to building decarbonization.
- Strong understanding of land use, transportation and renewable energy siting.
- Experience working on and navigating complex federal grants, with EPA grants in particular, and/or significant grant management/administration experience at state or local levels which include tracking, monitoring and compliance.
- Experience working with federal, state and/or local governments on policy, planning and project development related to sustainability (e.g., climate adaptation and mitigation efforts).
- Experience planning, facilitating, organizing and leading complex group discussions in person and online.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information
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)
- 11 paid holidays per year
- Medical and dental plans
- State paid life insurance policy of $50,000
- 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
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
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 Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.