Department Information

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Description of Job

Human Dimensions (HD) research, outreach and support helps CPW to understand and forecast how people’s perceptions, concerns, and preferences about natural resource management help inform agency decision making and policy processes. Additionally, HD efforts ensure that the agency is conducting robust and equitable stakeholder engagement efforts and using the most appropriate data collection techniques and research practices when soliciting input from our constituents.
This position has the lead role responsible for developing, planning, coordinating, implementing, communicating and evaluating the Division’s social science research and assessment program, functions often referred to as HD or Conservation Social Science. This position exists to incorporate human dimensions information into parks and wildlife management decisions, resulting in better understanding and communication between Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and its internal (employees) and external publics and improved resource management. This position leads the integration of biological and social information needed for policy and management decision-making, an important role for achieving successful, comprehensive parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation management. Program goals, objectives, plans, guidelines, procedures, schedules, priorities, performance measures and program evaluations must be established and executed. Other duties may be assigned in support of the Policy and Planning branch’s function to provide public policy planning and analysis to support CPW and the Parks and Wildlife Commission.
This position guides the current HD Scientist/Researcher III position and will collaborate with that individual to proactively identify applied social science needs within the agency and developing robust social science approaches to carry them out. They will also provide support for agency staff when social science expertise is required. The HD Researcher IV must manage multiple projects concurrently while ensuring deadlines are met and quality deliverables are provided. Specific tasks include:
Coordinate and Conduct Social Science Projects
Coordinate and conduct conservation social science assessment through primarily quantitative but also qualitative methodology, including surveys and other appropriate social science methodologies designed to provide scientifically valid social information to decision makers. Quantitative analytic duties range from descriptive to more complicated inferential statistics using Qualtrics, SPSS, STATA or R.
Lead research projects from start to finish, including but not limited to:

• Identifying gaps in the literature and aligning them with agency needs
• Applying appropriate theoretical frameworks to design research studies
• Developing research objectives, questions or hypotheses
• Determining the appropriate methodology (quantitative or qualitative data collection) to address research questions/hypotheses
• Analyzing data in a timely manner using appropriate techniques/procedures/tools to do so
• Publish findings in peer reviewed manuscripts, technical reports or white papers.
• Develop timelines and budgets to carry out scientific studies.
• When applicable, build and lead research teams comprised of internal (CPW) or external partners (e.g., staff from federal organizations)

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications
Seven (7) years of relevant experience in human dimensions research or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
OR
A combination of related education in human dimensions, conservation social science or another field of study related to the work assignment and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years
Substitutions

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position
• Current or former Colorado Parks & Wildlife work or volunteer experience
• Ph.D. in human dimensions or conservation social science
• Research design, survey development and implementation expertise.
• Proficiency with quantitative and qualitative software programs. Experience with Qualtrics, NVivo and SPSS is a plus.
• Knowledge of statistical procedures/analysis and experience coding qualitative data
• Knowledge of parks and wildlife issues and awareness of stakeholder interests and preferences.
• Robust awareness of theoretical frameworks typically used in human dimensions of parks and wildlife research.
Significant experience conducting needs assessments or program evaluation Conditions of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license if operating a State vehicle.
• Must be able to travel to support public and/or Commission meetings, research projects and other CPW events around the state as needed, approximately 5-7 times/year.
• Schedule is hybrid (2-3 days/week at work address and the remainder working from home).
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
APPEAL RIGHTS:

It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, 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 Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

• All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
• Cover letter Requested - uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
• Resume or CV Required - uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
• CVs/Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
• Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
• This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.