Child Care Assistance Program Director

Full job description Department Information STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENCY REQUIRED NOTE: This announcement may be used to fill multiple openings.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, and building an economy that works for everyone.

Committed to Diversity - 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. If you're looking for a place where you can be your authentic self at work and celebrate the uniqueness of those around you, then we want to talk to you! State of Colorado employees were asked to reflect on their experience with equity, diversity, and inclusion. Click here to learn more about their experiences Colorado For All - Colorado Employees Reflect on Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion.

We offer a generous benefits package including:
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave Medical, dental, and vision plans State paid life insurance policy Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined benefit or defined contribution) Optional 401(k) and 457 plans State paid short-term disability coverage Additional optional life and disability plans Credit Union membership Training and professional development
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit:

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program . For more information, go to This position will have the opportunity for a hybrid schedule (a combination of in-office and remote workplace). **Please note - equipment provisioning and certain onboarding tasks will take place in person, in our downtown Denver office, on the first day of employment.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) ensures the delivery of a comprehensive, community-informed, data-driven, high-quality, and equitable early childhood system that supports the care, education and well-being of all Colorado's young children, their families, and early childhood professionals in all settings. CDEC provides access to collaborative, coordinated, quality early childhood programs and support to children, families, and early care professionals in an effort to best prepare Coloradans for future success. CDEC works with many partners, including parents, schools, child care providers, Early Childhood Councils, counties, Community Centered Boards, early intervention service providers, family resources centers, county human services, county public health, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to provide high-quality early childhood and family support programs.


The purpose of the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is to provide eligible households with access to high-quality, affordable child care that supports healthy child development and school readiness while promoting household self-sufficiency and informed child care choices. CCCAP provides child care assistance to low-income families who are working, searching for employment, are in training or secondary-education programs, or are participating in the Colorado Works Program or families that have an open child welfare case. Funding through CCCAP is intended to support low-income families who are working, searching for work or in school while providing high-quality early learning opportunities for children 0-13 years of age in a variety of early childhood settings such as licensed child care centers, preschools, child care homes, and before and after school programs. Description of Job What you'll be doing: This position is a high-level professional management position, which functions as the Authority in the area of Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) that funds CCCAP. The position reports directly to the Chief Program Officer. The position provides oversight on all aspects of CCCAP, including interpretation of federal regulations and state statute, development of program policy and implementation, contract management, compliance evaluation, and corrective actions. The position also oversees the implementation of the CCCAP in each of the 64 Colorado counties by local departments of human/social services. It also provides policy direction and leadership in promoting CCCAP and providing access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education experiences to enhance the development of children and make available the necessary support to families in work and parenting roles.


The position interprets, advises, directs, and leads in the area of maximizing federal Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant funding to assure all relevant federal requirements are met so that the State is not penalized. The position requires skills based on analysis, expertise in strategic planning, goal setting, reporting, fiscal management, and knowledge of federal, state, and county programs. The position requires deep content knowledge of CCCAP and CCDF. The position also coordinates the Division's fiscal management of the CCCAP in a wide variety of areas, including federal, state and county revenues.


Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Minimum Qualifications
Ten (10) years of full-time professional work experience in a field related to the major job duties of the position, which must have included three (3) years of professional program management experience; and at least three (3) years of supervisory/leadership experience to include all aspects of formal supervision of staff.
OR
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, psychology, social work, political science, early childhood, human services, public administration, or in a closely related field
AND six (6) years of full-time professional work experience in a field related to the major job duties of the position, which must have included three (3) years of professional program management experience; and at least three (3) years of supervisory/leadership experience to include all aspects of formal supervision of staff
OR
A master's degree degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, psychology, social work, political science, early childhood, human services, public administration, or in a closely related field
AND four (4) years of full-time professional work experience in a field related to the major job duties of the position, which must have included three (3) years of professional program management experience; and at least three (3) years of supervisory/leadership experience to include all aspects of formal supervision of staff

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application and in the supplemental questions. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section and supplemental questions of your application will be reviewed to determine this. "See Resume" statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated. Substitutions: Additional related experience may substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis. Additional appropriate education in a related field may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.



Preferred Qualifications: State experience relevant to this position CCCAP program experience Experience with strategic planning Experience with contract and budget management Experience working in early childhood, behavioral health and/or early relational health. Supervisory/leadership experience Ability to build consensus and collaborate with a verity of stakeholders Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed, while possessing the ability to work in a team environment Knowledge of early childhood sector Highly Desired: Ability to create change management tools such as communication plans, sponsor roadmaps, coaching/training plans, etc., to effectively manage change Ability to work well with project stakeholders regardless of position or authority, including executive sponsors, team members, department heads, customers, vendors, and staff. Excellent negotiation and consensus-building skills. Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations. Able to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively
DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and 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 bachelor's 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: Applicants must pass a background check prior to 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. Travel - Occasional travel throughout the state. Occasional out of state travel may be required. Incumbent must be able to travel and have reliable transportation.
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 (), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed ) 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 ; 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 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.
Complete Applications must include the following documents:
A complete CDEC Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement) A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.) If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. 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.

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:
CDEC 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 the HR Director, Naomi Gonzales at

Technical Assistance:
If you experience difficulty in uploading or attaching documents to your online application, or for any other technical difficulties, call NEOGOV technical support at anytime between 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).
The Department does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.