Principal Policy Advisor - Non-Classified
Salary
$75,000.00 - $85,000.00 Annually
Location
Denver Metro, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
01005-PRNCNSLT-PPP-1026-RP
Department
Department of Education
Division
Office of the Commissioner
Opening Date
10/27/2026
Closing Date
10/30/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address
Downtown/Denver Metro/Eligible for a hybrid (office/remote) work environment.*
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
HR@cde.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.
Department Information
This position is not part of the classified personnel system; applications will be accepted from Residents and Non-Residents of Colorado.
Incumbent will be required to live in and complete work for CDE within Colorado.
Colorado Department of Education - What We Do
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the states 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the states approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.
As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.
CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.
CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.
Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:
A wide salary range is posted for this position, and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority relative to others performing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.
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.
Description of Job
Work Environment:
This position is full-time, state-funded (funding is contingent upon availability and may end at any time), and eligible for a hybrid work environment.
Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
Commuting to the CDE buildings is required.
A Remote (Home) office is required.
Required to report to the work location per business needs.
Essential Functions (ADAAA)
LIGHT/Office environment:
Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
DL Not Required: Required to independently obtain and determine means to complete travel requirements.
Position Summary:
Know Colorado education policy inside and out? We want to hear from you. CDE is looking for a Senior Policy Associate who can bring deep expertise in education policy to complex legislative and implementation work. You'll collaborate across the agency and with key partners to analyze legislation, develop policy solutions, coordinate fiscal notes, and help turn policy into effective action for Colorado's schools and students.
The senior policy associate applies knowledge of statutory, legislative, procedural, and programmatic content to support the policy implementation and development work of the Colorado Department of Education and the State Board of Education. The position works collaboratively with the other members of CDE's Policy Team-including the principal policy advisor and legislative liaison-to advance the department's legislative and policy priorities. The position supports the department and board during the legislative session by leading and coordinating the agency's fiscal note process, analyzing proposed legislation, and summarizing implementation considerations and policy feedback. The position also supports timely, accurate, and coordinated communication with agency leadership, the State Board Office, Legislative Council Staff, legislators, and internal and external stakeholders. Outside the legislative session, the position facilitates cross-unit collaboration among CDE staff to develop and implement education legislation and policies, including state board rulemaking. The position must understand the relationship among proposed legislation, state budget conditions, agency appropriations, program funding, staffing capacity, and implementation requirements.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Policy Development, Analysis, and Implementation
Works collaboratively with the principal policy advisor and legislative liaison to lead cross-departmental policy development and implementation efforts to support legislation, state board priorities, and agency initiatives.
Analyze federal and state laws, regulations, SBE rules, and emerging policy issues to inform agency decision-making and program implementation.
Research policies and practices in other states and develop recommendations for agency leadership.
Facilitate agency workgroups to identify implementation challenges, develop policy options, and recommend solutions.
Facilitate equity reviews of proposed and existing internal and external policies, guidance, and procedures in partnership with other stakeholder groups.
Draft policy guidance, implementation resources, and statutory language to advance agency and State Board of Education objectives.
Gather and assess agency policy and statutory implementation needs and provide recommendations regarding legislative, regulatory, or operational solutions.
Collaborate with the Office of the Attorney General to support accurate interpretation and implementation of statutes, regulations, state board rules, and legal guidance.
Legislative Affairs and Government Relations
Lead the agencys fiscal note process, including coordinating estimates, tracking submissions, and facilitating fiscal note meetings during legislative session, in coordination with CDE's budget and finance office.
Coordinate with program, budget, legal, and executive leadership staff to evaluate the fiscal, staffing, operational, and programmatic impacts of proposed legislation.
Identify when proposed legislation may create an unfunded mandate, require additional FTE, affect existing appropriations, redirect program resources, create new grant or distribution responsibilities, or require ongoing administrative support.
Distinguish and communicate one-time costs, ongoing costs, local impacts, state impacts, implementation timelines, and future-year obligations.
Serve as a liaison between program staff, the Policy Office, the CDE budget team, legislative council staff, the attorney general's office, and the agencys Legislative Liaison to support effective communication and coordination during legislative sessions and throughout the year.
Translate programmatic and operational issues into policy and legislative considerations for internal and external audiences.
Provide policy analysis, research, and technical assistance related to proposed legislation and legislative inquiries.
Coordinate agency responses to information requests from legislators, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
Develop and coordinate timely legislative updates, bill summaries, fiscal note information, implementation considerations, and policy communications for agency leadership, the State Board Office, CDE staff, districts, schools, and other stakeholders.
Support coordinated outreach and engagement with legislators, state board members, agency leadership, and stakeholders regarding legislative priorities, policy implementation, and emerging issues.
Reporting, Accountability, and Project Management
Lead agency coordination of the State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government (SMART) Act reporting requirements, including development of supporting materials for presentations to the Colorado General Assembly.
Serve as primary owner of online project management and tracking systems to support legislative implementation, fiscal notes, and other policy initiatives.
Facilitate cross-unit planning and coordination, including the development and monitoring of implementation plans for legislation in partnership with other Policy Team members.
Training and Stakeholder Support
Design and deliver training and technical assistance for agency staff and stakeholders on policy-related topics, including the legislative process, rulemaking, fiscal notes, and reporting requirements.
Promote understanding of policy, legislative, and regulatory processes across the agency to support effective implementation and compliance.
Develop tools, templates, and guidance to improve the quality and consistency of fiscal estimates, legislative analysis, rulemaking materials, implementation planning, and stakeholder communication.
Support program staff in communicating new statutory and regulatory requirements to districts, schools, grantees, and other affected stakeholders.
Other Duties
Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner of Talent and Policy.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
A bachelors degree from an accredited institution in public policy, education, political science, public administration, sociology, economics, organizational leadership, or a closely related field, plus at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience.
OR
Experience Only:
Nine (9) years of relevant professional experience.
Relevant Professional Experience:
Qualifying experience may include work in one or more of the following areas:
Experience may be obtained in government, education, nonprofit, higher education, or other professional environments where the duties demonstrate comparable responsibilities.
Substitutions:
Relevant education may substitute for professional experience on a year-for-year basis, consistent with the total seven-year requirement. Additional relevant professional experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
The following qualifications are preferred but not required:
Conditions of Employment (Required):
Supplemental Information
Complete Applications must include:
College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.
Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close may result in your application being removed from consideration.
Resumes and Cover Letters WILL NOT be reviewed for minimum qualification screening.
FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:
Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification's pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.
Email Address:
All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
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, a 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 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 performing 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 hr@cde.state.co.us.
Please note that each agencys 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
Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Resumes, Cover Letters, or other required Supplemental Documentation will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. Have you uploaded and attached your resume, cover letter, and other required documentation to this application?
02
Please indicate your understanding that failure to submit all items listed under "Complete Applications" at the time of application may remove your application from consideration. If have not uploaded the required items, you can go back now and upload those documents before submission of this application.
03
Are you using substitutions to meet the minimum qualifications for the position?
04
If you are using substitutions to meet the minimum qualifications for the position, select which option applies to you.
05
If you are a current or previous State of Colorado employee (including public Institutions of higher education), please provide your Employee Identification Number (EID) in order to verify your current or previous employment. If you indicated that you are a current State of Colorado employee, please list all State of Colorado Departments or institutions of Higher Education for which you have worked for and your Employee ID (if known): Your EID begins with 997 and is nine digits long. Please do not enter your Social Security Number. If not applicable, please state "N/A".
06
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position. If this does not apply to you, please put "N/A".
07
This position is eligible for a Hybrid flex work place; the incumbent is required to maintain a home office within Colorado and report to the office as needed to complete the job duties of this position. Please indicate your understanding and acceptance of this requirement.
08
The salary range listed is the departments good faith range expected to be offered. Are you willing to accept an offer in the range listed in this announcement?
09
If you responded Maybe to Question 8, (Salary offer within Posted Range), please list the preferred or special qualifications from the job posting that you meet.
10
Policy Implementation Experience: Describe a policy, legislative, or regulatory initiative that you helped develop or implement. What was your specific role, what challenges emerged during implementation, and what did you learn from the experience? (500-word maximum)
11
Executive Communication: This position regularly translates complex policy issues for executive leadership, legislators, and the State Board of Education. Describe a time when you had to communicate a complex issue to a non-technical audience. How did you tailor your message, and what was the outcome? (500-word maximum)
12
Collaboration and Influence: Describe a situation where you had to bring together multiple teams or stakeholders with differing perspectives to move a policy or project forward. What approach did you take, and what was the result? (500-word maximum)
13
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt upload (attach) it.
Required Question
Employer State of Colorado
Address See the full announcement by clicking
the "Printer" icon located above the job title
Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --
Website https://careers.colorado.gov/
| Location | Denver, CO |
| Salary | $75,000–$85,000 Per Year |
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