Colorado Department of Education – What We Do 
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 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 state's 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:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

Are you an experienced district operations and school finance professional ready to leverage that expertise statewide? If so, CDE is hiring for a new Chief District Operations Officer (CDOO). As a member of the Commissioner’s Leadership Team, the CDOO will provide strategic leadership to the Colorado Department of Education’s District Operations Unit. The division includes the Capital Construction, Grants Program Administration, School Finance, School Fiscal Supports, School Nutrition, and Transportation. In addition, this role will serve, support, and provide guidance to the finance and operations teams across Colorado’s 178 school districts and BOCES to help them meet the needs of our state’s 883,000 students. The CDOO leads the implementation and rulemaking of all policy and statutes related to school finance and district operations and supports the Commissioner of Education to establish and lead vision and strategic direction for the District Operation Unit’s work with the field.
 
Critical responsibilities in this role include (but are not limited to):

• Providing strategic leadership and oversight of the District Operations Division. 
• Managing the planning, implementation and monitoring of all division strategies and initiatives 
• Leading the development and implementation of relevant policy, rules, and statutes 
• Serving as the department’s lead on initiatives and requests related to the District Operations division 
• Ensuring consistent, high-quality internal and external customer service division-wide
• Represents the Department internally and externally on matters related to the work of the District Operations division. 
• Provides leadership to the state legislature (in conjunction with CDE’s policy team), federal legislators, U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture, internal and external stakeholders in the development and implementation of future educational policy concerning areas pertinent to the District Operations division.
• Serves as both a sounding board and incubator for innovative ideas to accelerate priorities and service excellence, and champions those ideas for the good of the organization.
• Provides guidance and support to the District Operations division, ensuring high-quality performance, accountability, and professional growth.

 
Skill/Qualifications

• Models integrity, trust, service, accountability and equity in behavior, leadership, decision-making and work ethics.
• Demonstrated deep experience and understanding of school finance including the administration and implementing best practices around funding through the Colorado School Finance Act, competitive and formula grants, and federal funds.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience leading school district business and financial practices and procedures at an senior or executive level. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the operational functions of schools districts including capital construction, school nutrition programs, and school transportation programs. 
• Demonstrated experience in organizational and leadership development.
• Demonstrated outreach and technical support experiences with schools, districts or state education agencies.
• Experience collaborating, managing, and/or coaching other adults within an outcome-oriented environment. Demonstrated experience of leading a diverse team to achieve shared outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, listening, and conflict resolution skills with multiple stakeholders (i.e., CDE personnel, school district leaders, legislators, education advocates, board members), both verbal and written (i.e., technical/policy writing).
• Successful administrative and management experience leading a change effort, including proven planning and execution skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to prioritize work and balance the urgent with the important (self management skills).
• Understanding of and experience in interpreting and implementing state education policy.
• Knowledge of and experience in using data to inform decisions, create work plans, and evaluate return on investment.
• Experience working with and presenting for a large variety of audiences, including superintendents, educators, a board and/or other elected policy makers.
• Bachelor’s degree or above in education, education policy, finance, economics or related field or equivalent experience. (Master’s or doctorate preferred.)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience or the equivalent in the P-12 education arena.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in senior/executive leadership and supervision in education and/or government setting.

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.
• Cover Letter: Required 
• Resume: Required 

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.