Deputy Chief Policy and Research Officer - CDHE Internal Employees Only
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Deputy Chief Policy and Research Officer - CDHE Internal Employees Only
Salary
$122,037.60 - $127,071.24 Annually
Location
Denver Metro, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
8252025448
Department
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Opening Date
08/26/2025
Closing Date
9/2/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address
1600 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
HR@dhe.state.co.us
Type of Announcement
This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
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.
Description
Benefits
Questions
Department Information
P osition D escription
The Deputy Chief Policy and Research Officer (Deput y CPRO) supports the development, implementation, and execution of the Colorado Department of Higher Education 's ( CDHE ) strategic initiatives and its Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) . Under the leadership of and in partnership with the Chief Policy and Research Officer (CPRO) , the Deputy CPRO provides policy and operational leadership and direction for the D ata, Research, and Policy (DRP) division , CDHE, and the state. This pivotal role is responsible for connecting data and research insights to policy and legislative action.
The Deputy CPRO takes ownership of facilitating performance within the Department aligning actions with goals / strategies , provid es communication channels to drive success , provides leadership in legislative affairs for the Department, and oversees the research and data governance teams .
Supervision Exercised
This position oversees a team of five full-time employees and directly supervises th e Director of Research and Data Governance Specialist.
Scope of Responsibilitie s
This is a senior management position responsible for planning, directing, and managing the staff, operations, and activities of the DRP division. In addition , the Deputy CPRO is a member of the CDHE leadership team. The Deputy CPRO supports and has authority to represent the CPRO.
Positions at this level are responsible for performing complex, specialized, and diverse work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibilities, which include the development of legislative proposals and engagement with policymakers as well as research projects and reports related to student access, success, and Return on Investment ( ROI ) in postsecondary education. The Deputy CPRO collaborates directly with the Governor's office and department staff and the development and execution of Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) as well as the department's SMART Act reporting responsibilities , and has responsibility for the implementation of policies, procedures, goals, objectives , and priorities for the division.
The duties of the work require the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines.
Description of Job
J ob D uties
The duties listed below reflect the different @types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.
Leadership
Partners with the CPRO in providing leadership for the DRP division.
Supports the CPRO with expertise in all areas of the division, including policy, legislation, research, data, and performance.
Assists in the strategic planning, implementation, and accountability process of the Division and measures performance and progress towards goals and priorities .
Serves on the CDHE leadership team .
Represents the Department on panels and boards (such as the Government Data Advisory Board and Statewide Longitudinal Data System Governance Board) to facilitate data sharing across Colorado state agencies in strategy-aligned and responsible ways.
Performance and Strategic Initiatives
Ensures that CDHE has appropriate key performance indicators in place, and reports on progress.
Harnesses connections between people, projects, programs, divisions, and organizations to ensure that CDHE is executing on the right things.
Examines performance, finds efficiencies and/or opportunities for connection, and creates a road map to fix any problems.
Convenes and confers directly with various stakeholders involved in higher education (including researchers and policymakers) to identify and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
Research
Leads in the development of a research agenda for the Department in coordination with the Director of Research .
Ensures adherence to a governance framework for data policies, standards and practices.
Leads the management of data sharing agreements and research data compliance processes.
Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders on data sharing to achieve consistency, quality and protection of data to meet overall business needs.
Develops stakeholder relationships and communicates with stakeholders to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
Legislative Affairs
Supports the legislative development process and the implementation of a legislative affairs strategy.
In coordination with the CPRO and the Director of Legislative Affairs, supports internal, external, and legislative stakeholder engagement on policy goals.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Q ualifications
Education and Experience
Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying . A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:
Master's degree from an accredited university or college in Higher Education, Education, Sociology, Public Administration, Public Policy, Policy Analysis, Research, Statistics or related field
Substitution: Six (6) years of experience in a related field can replace the education requirement of a master's degree
Experience:
At least 10 years of work experience in education and higher education policy and research .
At least two years of direct supervisory and management experience .
At least two years of work experience in legislative affairs .
Proven experience developing external stakeholder relationships and facilitating stakeholder engagemen t .
Formal experience leading projects related to higher education research, data, and policy.
Experience presenting or testifying to legislative bodies .
Prior experience e stablishing , monitoring, and reporting on key performance indicators .
License s and Certifications:
Valid Colorado driver's license and compliance with all requirements for driving a state vehicle are required throughout the term of employment
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in higher education, public policy, research, or a related field, with a demonstratable focus on higher education.
Experience:
At least five years of experience leading and managing a team .
At least two years of experience in senior management or a lea dership role within a state higher education agency .
Giving presentations on authored research and reports to large formal audiences, including giving testimony to public bodies.
Public service experience, especially in state government.
Prior service on cross-agency working groups .
Prior experience developing and monitoring performance metrics .
Knowledge of:
Standard office practices, procedures, software and equipment, including the use of personal computers, telephones, Zoom, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams) .
Colorado legislative practices and processes .
State data systems (especially longitudinal data systems) and data availability at institutions of higher education, within the state of Colorado, and nationally .
State statutes, rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines .
Data management principles and best practices for handling sensitive student-level data, including for reporting and evaluation , and best practices related to sharing student-level data .
In-depth knowledge of current higher education policy trends, research areas, and the challenges facing postsecondary students , including P-20 education to workforce policies .
Effective oral and written communication skills .
Ability to:
Work effectively in both independent and team situations
Communicate effectively, both written and verbally
Work in an environment with a degree of ambiguity
Manage sensitive issues and confidential information
Think critically and apply reasoning and analysis
Take the initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner
Employ attention to technical detail and accuracy
Apply time management skills to prioritize work
Establish and maintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders
Plan, organize, and complete assignments independently
Draft effective legislation
Read and interpret new and existing statutes to identify the impact of proposed legislation on the department
Supplemental Information
Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)
The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time
Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings
Occasionally may push or pull an object
Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard
Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds
Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects
Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone
If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to HR@dhe.state.co.us
T ypical W orking C onditions
The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid , or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday- Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.
The position may require periodic in-state and out-of-state travel requiring occasional overnight stays. The position requires the ability to travel independently through the state including overnight stays.
N otice
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.
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.
The Colorado Department of Higher Education 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 Human Resource Director at HR@dhe.state.co.us or call 720.264.8575.
Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
01
To move forward in this hiring process, you must upload a Cover Letter and Resume. Have you uploaded your Cover Letter and Resume?
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02
I understand the condition of employment requires me to be a resident of Colorado. Do you understand this condition of employment?
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State of Colorado
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