Utilization Management (UM) Contract Manager and Operations Unit Supervisor
Salary
$91,320.00 - $118,728.00 Annually
Location
Statewide, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
UHA 4467 - 6.2026
Department
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Division
Cost Control and Quality Improvement Office
Opening Date
06/04/2026
Closing Date
6/14/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Type of Announcement
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address
303 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203, USA
Department Contact Information
Sarah LaRue Talent Acquisition Specialist sarah.larue@state.co.us
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
STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENCY REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION
Note: This announcement may be used to fill multiple openings.
Envision Yourself Working at HCPF
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.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) oversees and operates Health First Colorado (Colorados Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and other state public health programs for qualified Coloradans. Our mission is to improve health care equity, access and outcomes for the people we serve while saving Coloradans money on health care and driving value for Colorado.
We are looking for a Utilization Management (UM) Contract Manager and Operations Unit Supervisor for the Clinical Operations Division of the Cost Control and Quality Improvement Office (CCQI)!
The Clinical Operations Division of CCQI works across various HCPF Offices to offer clinical expertise and consulting across the entirety of HCPF. The Clinical Operations Division has oversight of HCPF's third-party utilization management (UM) vendor for any selected outpatient fee-for-service prior authorizations, as well as the Physician Administered Drugs (PAD) program. This division is also responsible for the administration of the Nurse Advice Line (NAL) Program and the Inpatient Hospital Transitions (IHT) program. The UM program is continuously reviewing opportunities to reduce provider friction and burden, improve member experience, enhance quality, reduce costs, and increase efficiencies via strong partnerships across HCPF, stakeholders, vendors, and the Regional Accountability Entities (RAEs) which enhance care management opportunities.
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.
As part of the State of Colorado, HCPF offers a competitive benefits package:
PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage
Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage
Life and AD&D Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
Accrued Sick Leave for State of Colorado Temporary Employees
Flexplace and Flextime work arrangements
Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorados Work-Life Employment Discount Program
Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees
Reduced college tuition through CSU Global
Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs
We are onboarding new employees using a hybrid approach. The Department supports flexible work arrangements. Depending on the business need and description of the position, we have options that range from hybrid to full-time in the office. Specific discussions about the schedule will be discussed during the offer stage.
Please note - equipment provisioning and certain onboarding tasks will take place in person, in our downtown Denver office, on the first day of employment.
Description of Job
What You'll Be Doing as UM Contract Manager and Operations Unit Supervisor:
Provides management and oversight for all the Utilization Management (UM) related contracts and vendor agreements assigned to the UM section including tracking of all vendor scopes of work and approval of vendor deliverables.
Supervises the operations staff and responsible for the Clinical Operations contract management duties.
Ensures all aspects of the UM Program meet operational and programmatic goals and compliance with all federal and state requirements.
Direct oversight of the UM contract including new duties associated with external stakeholder and public relations including the Governor's Office, large provider groups, hospitals, lobbyists, and advocates.
Manages, tracks, and investigates all vendor performance complaints submitted by both internal staff and external stakeholders.
Uses knowledge not otherwise available at HCPF of UM activities, best practices, and HCPF goals to enhance, develop and implement guidelines around contracting and vendor management.
Reviews the contracts and programs to identify opportunities, potential risks, timelines, and deliverables to meet HCPF's directives, goals, deadlines, and budget objectives.
Completes data requests that are crucial to informing staff and senior management of trends, problems, and inform strategic planning initiatives in CCQI for HCPF.
Provides support to the Clinical team regarding administration and compliance of the NAL contract.
Responds to internal and external ad-hoc information requests, maintains formal contract administration files, and participates in appropriate committees and meetings.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Residency Requirement:
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
Class Code & Classification Description:
H1A2XXPROGRAM MANAGEMENT I
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
There are two ways to qualify for this position:
Option 1:
Experience Only:
Eight (8) total years of professional experience in contract management, healthcare operations supervision, stakeholder engagement, or a related field.
Option 2:
Education and Experience:
Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in Business administration, Legal studies, Public health, Health administration, or a related field
AND
Four (4) total years of professional experience in contract management, healthcare operations supervision, stakeholder engagement, or a related field.
Appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Relevant education will be calculated as the following:
An associates will count as two years of experience
A bachelors will count as four years of experience
A masters degree will count for six years of experience
A doctorate or juris doctorate degree will count for seven years of experience
Note: Per the Job Application Fairness Act, you may redact information that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution on your transcripts.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Previous relevant professional state experience
Masters degree in business, public health, law, or health administration
Professional experience in:
Program Management
Medicaid and/or Managed Healthcare Organization
Skills to Support Success
Positivity
Strong communication skills
Adaptability
Analytical nature
Activator
Strategic thinker
Deliberative
Focused on staff development
Definition of Professional Experience: Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelors or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.
Conditions of Employment
All positions at HCPF are security sensitive positions and require that the individuals undergo a criminal record background check as a condition of employment.
Employees who have been disciplinary terminated, resigned in lieu of disciplinary termination, or negotiated their termination from the State of Colorado must disclose this information on the application.
Appeal Rights:
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply (Please Read Carefully)
Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; if you submit a resume and cover letter, they will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.
Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process, which is described below.
Comparative Analysis Process
The comparative analysis process will consist primarily of a review of applications against the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Applications will be reviewed in comparison to all others in the applicant pool in order to identify a top group of candidates who may be invited for a final interview. Depending on the size of the applicant pool, additional selection processes may be utilized to identify a top group of candidates. Applicants will be notified of their status via email.
Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date will result in your application being rejected.
ADAAA Accommodations
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 Department of Health Care Policy & Financing 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 Coordinator, Anupreet Kaur, at anupreet.kaur@state.co.us.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.
The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits
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
All HCPF positions are security sensitive positions and require potential employees to undergo a criminal record background check. As a condition of employment, you will be required to submit to pre-employment screening if offered the position. Are you willing to meet this requirement?
02
Do you have any relatives or significant others working at the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing? If so, please list their names here. Otherwise, please list N/A.
03
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. Please verify that this information is included in your application in the supplemental questions.
04
Are you willing to accept an offer in the posted salary range?
05
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. Otherwise, please list N/A.
06
Please describe any recent professional experience in contract management, program management, and/or healthcare operations supervision.
07
Please describe any recent professional experience working with a Medicaid agency and/or Managed Healthcare Organization.
08
List any additional relevant experience you would like us to consider in determining if you meet the qualifications of this position. Please, include the months and years relevant to the experience you describe.
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/