Rural Health Transformation Program Director – Term Limited through September 30, 2030

Full Job Description

STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENCY REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION

NOTE: This announcement may be used to fill multiple openings.

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.

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) oversees and operates Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and other state public health programs for qualified Coloradans.

Our mission is to improve health care equity, access and outcomes for the people we serve while saving Coloradans money on health care and driving value for Colorado.

As part of the State of Colorado, HCPF offers a competitive benefits package:

• PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage

• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage

• Life and AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave

• Accrued Sick Leave for State of Colorado Temporary Employees

• Flexplace and Flextime work arrangements

• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

• Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees

• Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility

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

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Division is responsible for the full lifecycle management of the State’s RHTP initiative. Its work focuses on strengthening rural health system capacity through grant administration of an unprecedented opportunity to leverage $200 million in annual federal grant funding totalling $1 billion over 5 years. The Rural Health Transformation Program Director will coordinate all aspects of this historic opportunity to maximize results that transform Colorado’s rural health care landscape. This includes overseeing the governance committees who will oversee aspects of the $1 billion opportunity; compliance with federal requirements; external and internal communications; grant application design and award decision facilitation; technical assistance oversight and more. Ultimately, this position will ensure that the goals of the RHTP are achieved to transform rural health care to the betterment of rural Coloradans and the providers who serve them by improving quality outcomes, rural health care affordability, care access, the health of rural Coloradans and more.

The division also manages partnerships with subrecipients, contractors, and federal agencies to ensure that investments support sustainable access to high-quality care in rural communities. The RHTP Division is organized into multiple professional teams, each led by a program manager. These teams collectively handle administrative operations, fiscal management, provider engagement, data and performance analytics, and compliance and reporting. This position reports to the Deputy Medicaid Director with responsibilities in briefing the HCPF Executive Director, Senior Executive and Executive Leadership teams, and the Governor’s Office.



We are onboarding new employees using a hybrid approach. The Department supports flexible work arrangements. Depending on the business need and description of the position, we have options that range from hybrid to full-time in the office. Specific discussions about the schedule will be discussed during the offer stage.

Requirements

The Department welcomes your interest in the Rural Health Transformation Program Director position.

This position reports to the Deputy Medicaid Director and provides executive leadership for the State’s comprehensive implementation of the federally funded RHTP initiative, authorized under Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21.

As the senior manager responsible for translating strategic objectives into operational results, the Director determines annual business plans, develops policies and procedures, and establishes staffing and budget structures necessary to achieve the program’s mission.

This position leads multiple work units that administer grants, support provider transformation, and manage compliance and performance functions, ensuring alignment with both state health policy goals and federal requirements.

This is a term-limited position, funded through September 30, 2030, limited to the duration of the federal award and close-out activities.

This position will require regular travel up to 20% of time in state, with some travel required for federal grants participation.Responsibilities in this position include:

• Manages subordinate professional program supervisors who oversee specialized RHTP components such as financial administration, provider engagement, and data and evaluation
• Determines tactical plans, allocates resources, and establishes systems and guidelines that will be applied statewide, often in novel or evolving policy environments for a $200M annual grant program, totaling $1 billion over 5 years
• Exercises discretion in developing and interpreting guidance to address complex implementation challenges and is accountable for decisions affecting multiple units’ operations, staffing, and fiscal performance
• Ensures all program activities are executed efficiently and in compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations
• Strategic analysis, conceptual judgment, and innovation in program design and delivery
• Formulates and refines policies and standards to maintain the program’s mission of improving rural health system sustainability and access to care
• Acts as the State’s principal authority on RHTP, the Director represents the program in interagency coordination, federal communications, and policy discussions, providing leadership that shapes long-term systems transformation
• Ensures that the RHTP’s investments produce measurable, lasting impacts in rural health outcomes while upholding the highest standards of accountability and stewardship

Qualifications

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification Description:

H1A4XX

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT III

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
There are two ways to qualify for this position:
Option 1:
Experience Only: Ten (10) years of experience supporting programs, projects, or initiatives, preferably in public sector, healthcare, or human services environments with demonstrated experience with project coordination or program support, including tracking tasks, timelines, or deliverables and preparing official reports. This experience should include:

• 4 years experience administering, monitoring, and reporting grant-funded programs
• 4 years in management or supervision
• 2 years working with health care providers (hospitals, outpatient physical or behavioral health care or emergency services)
• 2 years experience working with rural health initiatives, rural populations, or other services in rural locations

OR

Option 2:
Education and Experience:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in public administration, public policy, health care administration, business administration, social sciences, or a related field
AND
Six (6) years of experience supporting programs, projects, or initiatives, preferably in public sector, healthcare, or human services environments with demonstrated experience with project coordination or program support, including tracking tasks, timelines, or deliverables and preparing official reports. This experience should include:

• 4 years experience administering, monitoring, and reporting grant-funded programs
• 4 years in management or supervision
• 2 years working with health care providers (hospitals, outpatient physical or behavioral health care or emergency services)
• 2 years experience working with rural health initiatives, rural populations, or other services in rural locations

Appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Relevant education will be calculated as the following:

• An associate will count as two years of experience

• A bachelors will count as four years of experience

• A masters degree will count for six years of experience

• A doctorate or juris doctorate degree will count for seven years of experience

Preferred Qualifications & Special Qualifications:

• Prior state experience related to the duties of this position
• Experience related to health care policy development and implementation.
• Direct experience in supporting rural health initiatives within the State of Colorado
• Experience with public speaking, presenting in executive spaces, media interviews
• Experience related to administering grant programs with different public fund sources, such as state and federal funds. Preferably as the Program Director or Key Staff
• Experience related to developing and enforcing state regulations
• Experience related to Colorado’s legislative process such as determining fiscal notes and testifying to legislative committees
• Experience related to developing, monitoring, and defending budget and legislative proposals, preferably in projects over $5M
• Experience as a second or third level supervisor over multiple work units
• Experience developing and executing strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, including managing communication and coordinating activities
• Experience working in term-limited, grant-funded, or federally funded positions, including understanding of funding timelines and close-out requirements
• Knowledge of federal grant management, reporting, or compliance requirements (e.g., CMS, HHS, or other federal agencies)
• Demonstrated ability to manage long-term projects with defined end dates and deliverables
• Experience supporting programs through grant close-out activities, including documentation, reporting, and coordination with stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track deadlines, milestones, and funding requirements over multi-year projects
• Ability to adapt to changing federal or programmatic requirements while maintaining continuity of operations
• Experience working in state government, public health, or healthcare policy environments
• Experience in collaborative and complex multi-stakeholder negotiations and formal partnerships
• Proven ability to work independently while collaborating across cross-functional and interdisciplinary teams

DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Professional experience is defined as experience that may include: independent judgment and discretion in performing work duties, a level of specialized knowledge, in-depth work requirements such as data gathering, analysis and interpretation, customer service across a broad range of individuals including key personnel, and/or individual accountability for results.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• All positions at HCPF are security sensitive positions and require that the individuals undergo a criminal record background check as a condition of 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
• Term limited position funded through September 30, 2030
• Position will require regular travel up to 20% of time in state, with some travel required for federal grants participation

Appeal Rights:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative.

This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can 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/board-rules.

Additional 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.

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.

ADAAA Accommodations: 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.

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing 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, Minnie Kaur, at anupreet.kaur@state.co.us.