Department Information

The Division of Regional Centers (DRC) is responsible for the planning, coordination, monitoring, and execution of a multi-million dollar, federal and state funded service delivery system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). DRC accomplishes this through policy management, regulatory compliance, and legislative initiatives. The program area duties include: analyzing and developing policy related to the responsibilities of the Regional Centers, managing and establishing policies and procedures for a state service delivery system according to state and federal requirements; analyzing state and national trends for policy issues which may impact current program design; coordinating at the senior management level the development of the Division strategic plan for the Department; analyzing legislation and providing technical assistance for potential impact to the Regional Center system; coordinating and developing protocols with other systems regarding cross system issues and policies; and managing services that support approximately 240 adults and their families within a budget of approximately $60 million.

Description of Job

About the Position:

The purpose of this position is to develop relationships that promote opportunities for community integration and supported employment activities for all residents; develop and implement smart home technology within the group homes; and expand the identity of the organization regionally and nationally. This position possesses a unique level of knowledge and expertise in the areas of community integration and supported employment, possesses strategic partnerships within the IDD community, and integration of smart home technology that is critical to the operations of the Division and residents served. This position maintains staff authority and is part of the DRC senior leadership team providing strategic direction, policy, and public representation in these content areas. There is no other position with the Division or State that specifically addresses these areas for individuals with IDD that reside at the Regional Centers. Through state-wide partnerships with state agencies such as the Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Health Care Policy and Finance, and county agencies, Regional Center residents are able to engage in meaningful and sustainable employment programs to increase their self-sufficiency and independence within the communities of their choice. This position develops a strategic plan that implements program oversight including budget, resources, and staffing levels include job coaches, training programs, and integrated community activities available throughout the state for Regional Center residents to utilize.
Duties in this position include:

Communication Integration & Partnerships:

This position is responsible for the development and implementation of community integration opportunities that include worksites for residents, collaboration with existing businesses to employ residents, and through other strategic partnerships with state agencies, businesses, and community organizations that are used across the Division of Regional Centers for residents. As part of these strategic initiatives and partnerships, this position provides sustainable employment activities and work sites to residents to engage in which are expanded and diverse. Additionally, this position engages in relationships that enhance the identity of the Division of Regional Centers regionally and nationally. Furthermore, this position serves as the staff authority and provides the strategic direction for these activities on the Division senior leadership team.

Supported Employment:
As the staff authority on supported employment, this position brings expertise, skills, and abilities to be able to develop this program across the Division of Regional Centers. This position produces significant program development necessary to implement a standardized supported employment program for the entire Division. This position builds relationships with other State programs and community partners to leverage resources for each Regional Center to build a supported employment program.

Smart Homes:
.This position identifies requirements, partners, and stakeholders in order to develop a smart home conversion, implementation, and maintenance plan to be sustained for each home. This includes at least annual visits to assess compliance with the smart home program and assessment of technology needs in partnership with the Office of Information Technology and CDHS’ Division of Business, Information, and Technology Services. It is necessary to work with other State agencies, such as the Office of Information Technology, to integrate smart technology into the DRC group homes to support and increase communication and independence of residents with the homes.

Other Duties as Assigned:
Other duties as assigned to this position as well as other functions that are pertinent to the advancement of DRC’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment.

And

Five (5) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitution:

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.

Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment criminal background check-CBI, FBI, Trails, HHS OIG. Must be compliant upon pre-employment and continuously throughout employment.
• Travel- will travel to Regional Centers, group homes, and community partner locations periodically
• 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 the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• On or after October 31, 2021, each facility shall ensure all newly hired employees or support staff members are fully vaccinated at the time of hire or receive their first dose of a two-dose protocol, or a single-dose vaccination, prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services for the facility and/or its clients. Upon hire, new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of first dose prior to providing care. Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
• Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance. If you would like to request a medical or religious exemption, please contact CDHS_HumanResources@state.co.us

Appeal Rights:

Supplemental Information

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• 
  Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

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.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS 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 our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~