Deputy Ombudsman

The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman

Position: Deputy Ombudsman

Agency: Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman

Status: Full-Time

FLSA: Exempt
Location: Denver, Colorado, Hybrid
Reports to: Child Protection Ombudsman (Chief Executive Officer)

Salary: $155,000 - $170,000 annually

• Salary placement within the range will be based on qualifications and experience.

Are you an experienced public service leader who values accountability, thoughtful leadership, and meaningful systems work? If so, this role offers the unique opportunity to help lead an independent agency focused on improving Colorado’s child protection system.

The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) is seeking its next Deputy Ombudsman. In this role, you will help oversee agency operations, support organizational strategy, guide fiscal and operational decision-making, and help ensure the office remains responsive, effective, and aligned with its statutory responsibilities.

You will work closely with the Ombudsman to support the long-term health and sustainability of the agency while helping lead work that impacts children, youth, families, and stakeholders across Colorado. The role requires executive-level operational leadership, sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues with integrity and discretion.

The Agency: The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman

The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman is an independent state office established in statute to provide oversight of Colorado’s child protection system. The office does not operate programs, make placement decisions, or advocate for agencies. Its work focuses on how child protection systems function in practice, where concerns or gaps exist, and how systems may be strengthened through credible review and analysis.

The office’s effectiveness depends heavily on independence, professionalism, collaboration, and public trust.

Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman Agency Website

Position Overview

The Deputy Ombudsman serves as a senior executive leader within the agency and reports directly to the Child Protection Ombudsman. In this role, you will support the Ombudsman in maintaining the overall health, effectiveness, and sustainability of the agency while overseeing many aspects of day-to-day operations.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Organizational leadership and administration
• Budget and fiscal strategy support
• Human resources support and compliance
• Contracting and procurement oversight
• Policy and operational development
• Staff supervision and organizational alignment
• Interagency coordination
• Public communication and stakeholder engagement

The Deputy Ombudsman may also act on behalf of the Ombudsman when designated.

Deputy Ombudsman - Official Job Description

What Success Looks Like

Successful performance in this role requires the ability to balance operational leadership with collaboration, sound judgment, and accountability.

Over time, you will successfully:

• Maintain effective and sustainable agency operations across multiple functional areas
• Provide reliable operational, fiscal, and strategic guidance to the Ombudsman
• Support staff and agency leaders in a manner that promotes communication, accountability, and alignment with agency priorities
• Navigate sensitive issues with professionalism, discretion, and consistency
• Maintain productive relationships with agency partners, stakeholders, and service providers
• Support organizational systems and practices that strengthen long-term agency health and sustainability

What We Are Looking For

The strongest candidates for this role are leaders who:

• Lead with integrity, professionalism, and accountability
• Balance strategic leadership with operational execution
• Communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences
• Manage complex systems and competing priorities effectively
• Support staff thoughtfully while maintaining accountability
• Demonstrate sound judgment in high-pressure or sensitive situations
• Value collaboration and relationship-building
• Are motivated by meaningful public service work

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must clearly demonstrate the following qualifications in their application materials:

• An undergraduate degree and a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in public administration, business administration, government finance and contracting, HR policies and procedures, budgeting, data analysis, information technology, or related operational leadership areas

OR

• Twenty years of directly relevant professional experience in lieu of an undergraduate degree
• In addition, applicants must demonstrate:
  • At least five years of executive-level leadership experience with direct accountability for organizational strategy, operations, workforce leadership, and budgeting
  • At least three years of managing organizational budgets exceeding $1 million
  • At least three years of managing procurement and contracting functions, including requests for proposals, proposal evaluation, and contract execution
  • Experience in establishing organizational goals and objectives and supporting teams in achieving those objectives
  • Experience in directly supervising employees
  • Demonstrated understanding of Colorado General Assembly budget processes, including fiscal year requests and allocations, fiscal note responses, and employee salary and benefit funding
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and sound judgment
  • Ability to appropriately manage confidential and sensitive information
  • Demonstrated commitment to equity, fairness, and public accountability
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse agencies, partners, and individuals

Preferred Qualifications

You will stand out if you possess:

• A graduate degree in public administration, business administration, nonprofit leadership, finance, data analytics, or a related field
• Experience in oversight, ombudsman, investigations, compliance, or accountability work
• Understanding of child-serving systems such as child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and their intersection with law and courts
• Experience analyzing legislation or public policy
• Experience presenting operational, budget, or program information to diverse audiences
• Advanced data analytics experience
• Experience working in high-visibility public sector environments

Work Environment

This is a hybrid leadership position based in Denver, Colorado. Periodic statewide travel is required.

The role requires resilience, professionalism, and the ability to respond thoughtfully to urgent or sensitive matters while maintaining focus on long-term organizational effectiveness and agency priorities.

Agency Values

The CPO’s work is guided by the following principles:

• Integrity – Transparent, impartial, and consistent
• Collaboration – Change through shared knowledge and partnership
• Equity – Systems responsive to diverse experiences and needs
• Curiosity – Continuous learning and reform
• Independence – Autonomy from the agencies reviewed

Benefits and Equal Opportunity

The position includes a comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid leave and holidays, retirement through Colorado PERA, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Click here for more information regarding employee benefits: State of Colorado Employee Benefits

The Office of the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to full inclusion and reasonable accommodations.

Conditions of Employment:

• This is a national recruitment open to applicants residing in the United States.
  • The selected candidate must reside in Colorado within 30 days of employment. Relocation assistance or reimbursement is not provided for this position.

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal and personal background check.
• Employment is also contingent upon successful completion of the Colorado TRAILS background check process.

Application Deadline: June 5, 2026, at 11:59 pm