Communications Branch Director

Department Information

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

A n eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values - Unity, Honor, Service

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 dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace.

Careers With a Purpose

If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification And Salary

MANAGEMENT

Anticipated Hiring Range: $8,898 - $12,522/month; $106,776 - $150,264/year

Full Salary Range: $8,898 - $14,238/month; $106,776 - $170,856/year

Benefits

We provide a wide range of benefits to our employees.

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
• Eligible employees receive Basic Life and AD&D insurance equal to their annual earnings subject to a minimum benefit of $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Basic Life and AD&D are provided by the State of Colorado at no cost to employees.
• The State of Colorado's Wellness Program, State of Health, is a no-cost, year-long program that supports an employee’s health and wellness goals. This program offers personalized health coaching, skill groups and more. Participants can earn a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.
• Through BenefitHub, State of Colorado employees have access to discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment venues throughout Colorado and across the country.
• State contribution into a Health Savings Account when enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan.
• Eligible employees have access to medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) .
• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.
• We offer excellent retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA for details.
• We provide generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four annual wellness days.
• The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
• Tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
• We offer Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits .

Description Of Job

About the Work Unit

The mission of the Colorado State Patrol is to ensure a safe and secure environment for all persons by utilizing the strengths of its members and providing professional law enforcement services that reflect honor, duty, and respect. Through high visibility, strict enforcement, maximum resource deployment, and community education, the CSP promotes safety, protects lives, and preserves state highways.

The CSP Communications Branch provides 24/7/365 emergency public safety communications to designated federal, state, and local agencies within Colorado. The Branch provides and manages the resources to accomplish this task.

Work Environment

• 100% In-person position
• Primarily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday
• Approximately 75% spent in the office, 25% spent traveling in the field
• Occasional overnight travel throughout Colorado
• Required to operate CDPS vehicles at times

About The Job

The Communications Branch Director leads, oversees, and supervises a professional public safety communications capability for the Colorado State Patrol, interoperability between Colorado State Patrol and other agencies, and public safety communications service to designated agencies, the public, and fee-for-service customers. This position supervises the performance of the branch headquarters staff, five regional communication centers, and all associated FTE, which support and provide information to the uniformed members of the State Patrol and other agencies, as well as 911 service to associated jurisdictions. This position supervises FTE who use privileged, confidential, and classified information with police, fire, and emergency service personnel. The position leads, supervises, and manages all aspects of the Branch and the communications portfolio, including the Branch’s five lines of effort (personnel, equipment, training, facilities, budget). Develops and establishes policies and procedures, strategic planning, and budget justification. Identifies, procures, and oversees technical needs regarding public safety communications and ancillary systems within the Colorado State Patrol.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management

• Plan the strategy, execution, and evaluation of functions and five lines of effort (personnel, finance, equipment, training, facilities) within the Branch. Creates appropriate procedures, processes, and systems for optimal public safety communication center functions.
• Monitor ongoing progression of program development and implementation, federal and legislative programs, to ensure activities follow applicable policy and federal and state laws.
• Approve internal policies for communication center operations and personnel activities, tracking and managing multiple program budgets (Comm Budget, Radio Budget, FFS revenue), purchasing activities, and coordinating Branch enduring programs and temporary projects.
• Determine, approve, and oversee technical public safety communications needs, including radio system, computer-aided dispatch, wireless, voice recording, server, bandwidth, and telephone (land line, IP, and cell) systems for the department.
• Invoice and receive monies from designated agencies for their fees associated with contracted dispatch.
• Ensure OIT compliance with public safety communications matters.

Leadership and Supervision

• Directly supervise professional staff and Regional Managers who manage the five main public safety communication centers.
• Monitor and evaluate performance, approve hiring of communication personnel, and administer disciplinary actions.
• Oversee the investigation of complaints against communication personnel and/or violations of Colorado State Patrol policy.
• Utilize concepts of management theory and principles of interpersonal relations and adapts them to achieve maximum personnel motivation in an environment of continuously changing needs and situations.
• Ensure an environment for subordinates to perform at their optimal level.
• Administer agency-level communication and programs to carry out agency objectives by directly supervising and evaluating subordinate members; executes directives and assignments issued by the executive command staff; monitors field public information officer initiatives; communicates with command staff and middle managers on items or events of interest; initiates and reviews correspondence; and disseminates information to subordinate members.
• Investigate and administer corrective actions or make a recommendation for disciplinary actions.

Internal and External Outreach

• Serve as the representative and spokesperson for the Colorado State Patrol on communications issues with federal, state, and local government agencies and relevant/designated Boards and Committees.
• Collaborate with departmental staff to answer requests for information from government officials, establish new agency programs and priorities, and fielding of new capabilities.
• Testify before legislative committees as required.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• Ten (10) years of relevant experience in leadership and creating, managing and executing strategies, two (2) of which must have included experience with public or business administration, establishing goals and objectives, as well as developing and managing a budget to achieve program goals and objectives.
• Please Note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.

OR Education And Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in leadership and creating, managing and executing strategies equal to ten (10) years, two (2) of which must have included experience with public or business administration, establishing goals and objectives, as well as developing and managing a budget to achieve program goals and objectives
• Please Note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous police communications experience

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a Colorado resident at the time of application
• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking, driving history, drug test and medical exam.

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at . A standard appeal form is available at: . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: View phone number on jobradars.com. Phone: View phone number on jobradars.com. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

Disability Accommodation

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure equitable opportunity applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at: View email address on jobradars.com .

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.

Colorado Department of Public Safety 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.

Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices

• Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.
• Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
• Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them. Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.
• Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
• Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points. Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form.
• Application Tips : For an overview of State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video .
• Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).
• Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application. Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from " state.co.us " and " ***email_hidden*** " addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.
• e-Verify: CDPS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.
• Comparative Analysis Steps may include :
• Structured application review by a panel of SMEs
• Panel Interview