Program Manager, Climate & Sustainability
Salary
$70,012.80 - $90,001.60 Annually
Location
Denver Metro, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
EFA-PMLocalGovt-06.02.26
Department
Colorado Energy Office
Opening Date
06/02/2026
Closing Date
6/21/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address
1600 Broadway, Suite 1960, Denver, CO 80202
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.
Department Information
This mission of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency and zero emission vehicles to benefit all Coloradans. The Colorado Energy Office is a great place to work, with collaborative and talented employees who are passionate about our mission and a flexible hybrid (work from home/work from office) atmosphere. Employees report high satisfaction with their work, their colleagues and manager, and CEO leadership. Join us!
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
The Local Government Climate Solutions team (the team, hereafter) supports local action toward meeting Colorado's greenhouse gas reduction targets. The team's portfolio includes several programs, with a present focus on managing the Local Implementation, Mitigation, and Policy Action (Local IMPACT) Accelerator (Accelerator, hereafter) grant program. This program is funded through the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) and provides grants to local governments in Colorado to advance local policy adoption and project implementation in four sectors: Buildings, Land Use, Transportation, Waste. The CPRG program also funds CEO's work with other agencies to mitigate methane which requires providing general oversight and integration with cross-agency teams working on methane capture analysis, subgrants and programs.
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:
Under the general supervision of the Director the program manager:
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
Minimum Qualifications:
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
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
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.
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.
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
Did you attach the required resume and cover letter and do you understand that failure to attach either may lead to your application not being considered?
02
Do you have at least three years of professional experience developing, managing, and refining programs that work with local governments?
03
Do you have professional experience in sustainability, climate policy, or clean energy?
04
Have you ever managed grant recipients, including tracking compliance, reviewing regular reporting and processing invoices?
05
If you answered Yes to the question above, please describe your experience with one or two examples of grants you managed. If not, please answer N/A.
06
Have you ever supported a team or program by creating tracking tools, training materials, or systems to monitor project progress?
07
If you had to condense your cover letter into a three-sentence elevator pitch, what would you want us to know about why you are the ideal fit for this role?
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/