Public information officer serp_jobs.h1.location_city

Salary : $95,107.08 - $115,000.08 Annually

Location : Denver Metro, CO

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : QAA 70025 08.15.2025

Department : Department of Early Childhood

Opening Date : 08 / 15 / 2025

Closing Date : 8 / 31 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Mountain

FLSA : Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address : 710 S. Ash StreetDenver, CO 80243

FLSA Status : Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information : Daulton Daies; daulton.daies@state.co.us

Type of Announcement : This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

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

NOTE : while this position is non-classified and we will be accepting applications from residents and non-residents of Colorado, the incumbent is required to establish residency within the State by the first day of employment.

ln accordance with State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, the eligible list derived from this announcement may be used to fill another highly similar vacancy without announcing the new vacancy.

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.

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.

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 :

This position will have the opportunity for a hybrid schedule (combination of in-office and remote workplace).

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 Communications Unit supports all internal and external CDEC communications, including managing email marketing, social media, media requests, strategic communications plans, digital communications, marketing, websites, and intranet, and manages multiple contracts related to office marketing and communications. It is also responsible for ensuring the department provides equitable and inclusive communication that reaches all early childhood stakeholders, regardless of location, situation, or language.

Description of Job

What You'll be Doing :

The position exists to create a positive public image for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). This position reports directly to the CDEC Communications Unit Manager and assists with establishing and maintaining lines of communication, acceptance, and cooperation between CDEC and its various stakeholders and constituencies, including state, local, and national media. It ensures proactive press relations, executive / speech writing communications, financial communications, diversity public relations, and PR support for key departmental and Governor's Office initiatives. This position develops and implements the Department's marketing and communications plans, policies, and procedures. This includes overseeing the management of the department's programs and divisions' marketing and communications-related special projects and managing the Department's various communications contracts. The position participates in numerous early childhood stakeholder groups to provide communications expertise, engage stakeholders in discussions about information relevant to the Dept. of Early Childhood (CDEC), and represent the Department. Examples of stakeholder meetings include the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), the Infant Safe Sleep Partnership (ISSP), the Home Visiting Task Force, and other ongoing and ad hoc groups as needed. This position oversees designing the Department's internal communication strategy and implementing department-wide internal communications activities. The position is responsible for designing the Department's external communications strategy and overseeing the implementation of all external department-wide communications activities, to include Social Media and Website Content, Media Relations, and more. This position also supervises the communications team supervisor who has several direct reports. Additional duties include but are not limited to the following :

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience :

Five (5) years of professional experience working in the field of marketing and communications, press and media relations; to include at least one (1) year of supervisory / leadership experience to include all aspect of formal supervision of staff

Examples could include : Public, Non-Profit or Private Sector Management / Administration executing communications to a variety of audiences from policymakers to general public; Designing, writing overseeing communications to achieve program goals and objectives

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Public Administration or related field

Substitutions :

Additional professional related work experience which provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, may substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis. Additional education in a related field may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.

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.

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.

Preferred Qualifications :

Highly Desired :

Conditions of Employment :

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 (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 ; 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 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 :

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. We anticipate interviews for this position will be done via Google Meet / Hangouts or Zoom. 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 is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do. 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 ADA Coordinator : CDEC_Benefits@state.co.us.

The Department does not offer sponsored visas for employment purposes.

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 855-524-5627 anytime between 6 : 00 a.m.-6 : 00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Please note that each agency's 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.

All positions at the Department require that potential employees undergo a thorough background check. As a condition of employment, you are required to submit to pre-employment screening if offered the position. Are you willing to meet this requirement?

As a condition of employment, this position requires occasional statewide travel and weekly local travel to the state workplace. Please confirm you have reliable transportation and can meet this requirement.

Are you willing to accept an offer within the posted salary range?

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.

This position has been designated as hybrid. The Hiring Manager will discuss the expectations and details of the schedule with you during the interview process. A hybrid position can work a portion of the time from home and a portion of the time in the state workplace location. A workspace is provided for the employee when they come into the office, which could include a cubicle, office, or hoteling station. When required to come into the assigned state workplace, the employee is required to bear the expense of commuting. Do you understand this expectation and are you willing to meet this requirement? (Please write "YES" in the space below in order to continue in the selection process.)

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.

Describe your experience and approach in a Public Information Officer role. Include an example of how you developed messaging and coordinated with internal and external stakeholders during a high-profile or sensitive issue. What was the outcome?

Share an example of a proactive media strategy or campaign that you developed and pitched. What was your objective, how did you frame the story, and what results did you achieve?

Tell us about your experience writing speeches, talking points, and presentations for executive leaders or public audiences. How did you ensure the messaging aligned with organizational priorities, tone, and brand?

How do you ensure communications are accessible and inclusive across diverse audiences? Please include any experience working with multilingual, rural, or historically underserved communities.

Optional) What is your familiarity with early childhood issues, services, or public programs? How would you approach communicating these topics to both technical stakeholders and the general public in a clear, engaging way?

Required Question