Senior Policy Advisor (Internal Candidate)
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Salary
$100,000.00 - $110,000.00 Annually
Location
Denver, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
EAASRPOLHEALTH_ESW05.27.26
Department
Office of the Governor
Opening Date
05/27/2026
Closing Date
5/30/2026 3:00 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address
1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
gov_hr@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
Department Information
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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAPo-IRsOZU&t=3s)
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.
Internal Opportunity
The announcement is for transparency purposes only and to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
This announcement is specific to individual(s) currently employed within the Office of Policy and Research, Office of the Governor.
Only applications from individual(s) employed within this unit will be accepted.
Description of Job
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 health policy 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's portfolio will include, but not be limited to, behavioral health care, public health, reproductive rights, and other health policy issues.
The Advisor will coordinate this work as needed with other policy advisors, other offices of the Governor (including communications, 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.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
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.
Conditions of Employment:
This announcement is specific to individual(s) currently employed within the Office of Policy and Research, Office of the Governor. Only applications from individual (s) employed within this unit will be accepted.
Supplemental Information
The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:
Medical, dental and vision plan coverage - including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*.
Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*.
Wellness programs - participation can reduce employee premiums*.
Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*.
Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/time-off-leave/family-medical-leave-act-fmla) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
11 Paid Holidays Annually (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/time-off-leave)
13.33 hours of Annual leave and 6.66 hours of sick leave accrued each month.
Welcome Aboard Program - July 1, 2023.pdf (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ecipGuhPFuTDU9lhtwnalqBZQQMqOP1-/view)
Retirement benefits** - including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans - https://www.copera.org/
Remote or hybrid work arrangements.
Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Discount Program .
Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global (https://csuglobal.edu/) (contact CSU Global for latest offerings).
Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support.
Free RTD EcoPass (https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/ecopass) to all eligible State Employees.
Credit Union of Colorado (https://www.cuofco.org/credit-union-colorado-membership-eligibility) Membership Eligibility.
**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates
*To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state's benefits portal: 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.
Employer
State of Colorado
Address
See the full announcement by clickingthe "Printer" icon located above the job titleLocation varies by announcement, Colorado, --
Website
https://careers.colorado.gov/
