Nutrition Data and Finance Analyst

Full Job Description

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

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.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

Requirements

Work Environment:

This position is full-time and is hybrid.

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs
• Up to 15% Travel required within the state of Colorado for Meetings/Training
• Occasional travel out of state, including some overnights
• A Remote (Home) office is required
• Required to report to the work location per business needs

Essential Functions (ADAAA)Light/Office environment- Exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Physical demands exceed those of Sedentary work. Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree (while traveling or providing technical assistance)

• Driver's License (DL) Required: State of Colorado DL required to complete travel requirement

Join our team as a data and finance analyst!

In this role, you will provide expertise and oversee statewide meal counting and claiming processes for Child Nutrition Programs, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant reimbursement claims.

This role provides technical assistance to sponsors and staff, supports financial and resource management and prepares reports and analyses to inform program decisions and strengthen child nutrition programs across the state.

The ideal candidate has knowledge of child nutrition programs, strong data analysis and project management skills, experience with financial data analysis and reporting and a passion for supporting sponsors who help feed kids and strengthen school nutrition programs statewide.

Why join us?

• Impactful Work: Make a difference in the health and well-being of children by supporting implementation of nutrition programs in Colorado.

• Collaborative and Flexible Work Environment: Work with a dedicated team of professionals and engage with sponsors and stakeholders across the state. We offer flexible work schedules to support healthy work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Take advantage of opportunities for growth and development in a dynamic and supportive environment.

If you are passionate about child nutrition and have experience analyzing data or working with state or federal child nutrition programs, we encourage you to apply for this impactful role.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee Meal Counting and Claiming: Serve as the unit’s primary authority for statewide meal counting and claiming processes, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant claims for all school and summer nutrition programs

• Manage Claiming Processes: Collaborate with teams to maintain system controls, perform validation checks, execute claim module functions, and troubleshoot system issues to ensure the integrity and accuracy of claim data

• Provide Technical Assistance and Training: Deliver guidance, training, and on-site support to program sponsors and internal staff on meal counting, claiming, reimbursement requirements, and regulatory updates

• Support Financial and Resource Management: Analyze sponsor-level financial data, assist with resource management reviews, and support budget analysis, forecasting, and financial planning to inform strategic decision-making

• Support Data Reporting and Analysis: Collect, validate, and analyze data; maintain program trackers and reporting tools; prepare federal and state reports, including USDA submissions; and provide actionable insights to support program monitoring, compliance, and stakeholder decision-making

Occasional in-state travel is required to provide technical assistance, training, and attend meetings. Occasional out-of-state travel is required to attend conferences.

Qualifications

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:

Seven (7) years of professional relevant experience in finance, accounting, economics, business, statistics, data analytics or information systems or a related field.

Specific professional experience managing complex data systems, including analyzing, validating, and reporting program or fiscal data, will be given preference.

OR

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in finance, accounting, economics, business, statistics, data analytics, or information systems, or a related field, AND three (3) years of professional experience in an occupation related to the work assigned as described in "Experience Only."

Qualifications for Success in the Position:

• Experience interpreting and applying federal/state regulations within a data or compliance-driven environment

• Demonstrated expertise with database systems and advanced skills in Excel and Google Sheets

• Excellent interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills

• Strong problem-solving and project management capabilities

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, with emphasis on Excel

• Ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the department and meet deadlines

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with child nutrition programs or other federally funded education/nutrition programs

• Experience in government data management, fiscal accountability systems or compliance oversight

• Experience with SQL, Python, R, Power BI or equivalent analytics tools

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check
• Work extended schedule per business needs
• Report to work location per business needs
• Sign the acknowledgment form that this position is funded through federal funds and subject to availability
• Valid Driver's License Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicle to complete travel requirements (percentage 15%)

Additional Information

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS
• College Transcripts: Required if using education to meet minimum requirements

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

**Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close will result in your application being removed from consideration.**

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:

Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.

Email Address:
All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.

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 www.colorado.gov/spb.

A standard appeal form is available at: https://spb.colorado.gov/ . 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: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
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, a 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.

The Colorado Department of Education 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 performing 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 hr@cde.state.co.us.