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Posted: February 27, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Senior Human Resources Manager

State of Colorado

Colorado Department of Human Services

Fresh

Location

Salary

$8,810 - $14,097

per month

Closes

March 7, 2026

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading and overseeing various human resources teams within the Colorado Department of Human Services, focusing on strategic planning, employee management from hiring to retirement, and ensuring the workplace runs smoothly and complies with rules.

It requires supervising managers, developing budgets and policies, and providing guidance to department leaders on HR matters.

A good fit would be an experienced HR professional with strong leadership skills, a knack for aligning staff needs with business goals, and a commitment to creating a positive work environment.

Key Requirements

  • Supervise and direct multiple HR business units and professional managers
  • Provide strategic HR leadership and support to senior executives and teams
  • Develop and implement annual business plans, budgets, policies, and staffing aligned with department goals
  • Interpret and guide application of HR policies, state personnel rules, and federal employment laws
  • Lead critical HR projects, analyze trends and metrics, and ensure compliance and risk mitigation
  • Foster organizational development, employee retention, and performance management
  • Commit to hybrid work: minimum 2 days in office (Denver, Grand Junction, or Pueblo) and maximum 3 days remote

Full Job Description

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Residency Requirement

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.


Human Resources

CDHS Human Resources (HR) exists to provide centralized human resources direction, consultation, and services to the general public, applicants, appointing authorities, leaders, and employees who work for the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).

This unit drives and provides consultative services for organizational success by strategically aligning workforce capabilities with business goals, fostering a positive and productive workplace culture, and managing the entire employee lifecycle – from recruitment to retirement – to maximize performance and retention.

It mitigates risks through compliance, manages labor cost calculations and compression considerations, and empowers talent development.

Consultation services include benefit administration; compensation; employee and labor relations; exam development; HR policy development; job analysis; job evaluation and classification; organizational development; New Employee Orientation; performance management; interpretation of CDHS HR policy, state personnel rules, state and federal employment laws; risk mitigation and compliance; progressive discipline; records management; recruitment; responding to grievances, appeals, charges of discrimination; organizational design; employee retention; selection and selection appeals; employee settlements; strategic planning and overall HR guidance to CDHS senior leadership, executive leadership, appointing authorities, managers, supervisors and employees.

This unit also serves as the primary liaison for CDHS with the Department of Personnel and Administration and Colorado WINS.



Requirements

Weekly Hybrid Working Arrangements

Minimum 2 days In Office and Maximum 3 days Remote Work

The reporting location for this role is flexible among the following sites:
(Denver, Grand Junction, or Pueblo)

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.



What you will be doing:

The purpose of this position is to plan, direct and supervise multiple business lanes within Human Resources and provide strategic and senior-level leadership support to unit managers.

This position serves on the HR senior leadership team while providing supervision to HR executive management team-level managers.

This position supports HR strategy, ensures accountability across teams, and ensures effective HR services and operations.

This position manages the daily operation of multiple work units through subordinate professional HR managers.

Position determines the annual business plans that integrate with the department’s mission and goals, determines the implementation of policies and guidelines, develops the budgets, establishes staffing, and directly controls the work of others as a second-level supervisor.

Work involves directing and providing guidance on the interpretation of rules and guidelines.

The Senior HR Manager regularly leads/supports projects of critical importance to the Department and HR and ensures consistent application of policy and procedure across the HR function.

The Senior HR Manager supports staff in aligning HR strategies with organizational objectives.

Establishes goals, standards, and expectations around each of the HR functions, and monitors progress accordingly.

Analyzes trends and metrics to develop solutions and to inform business decisions, programs, and policies.

Additionally, this position acts as a subject matter expert (SME) in the State of Colorado Personnel Board Rules and Technical Guidance and acts on behalf of the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) in that person’s absence, including supervision, meeting coverage, and decision-making.

The Senior HR Manager provides HR consultation and coaching to business leaders and appointing authorities of the Department.

Provides crisis mitigation and management for Human Resources and crisis support for the department senior executive team, including the Executive Director.

When the business requires it, the Senior HR Manager covers subordinate supervisors and performs other duties as assigned.


Collaborates with Workforce Strategy, Human Resources Business Partners, and Employee Experience and Development to integrate overarching programs to reduce allegations of violations of Civil Rights, Rules, and Federal/State Laws.

Supports the Deputy CHRO who oversees programs designed to ensure non-discrimination in CDHS employment and state/county programmatic activities.

Collaborates with the workers’ compensation and benefits programs that are responsible for group benefit programs, including group health, dental, short-term and long-term disability, donated leave, workers’ compensation, overall leave management, life insurance, employee assistance program, and flexible spending accounts.

Investigates, drafts reports, and resolves complaints. Develops and facilitates training to educate appointing authorities, new managers, and all employees.

Duties
  • Leadership and Performance Management
  • Business Consultation
  • Strategic Planning and Operational Management
  • Other Duties As Assigned

Qualifications


Experience Only:

Ten (10) years of relevant experience in Human Resources or a combination of experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to leaders, such as leadership and performance management, business consultation, strategic planning, and operational management.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or experience in Human Resources or an occupation related to the work assigned to leaders, such as leadership and performance management, business consultation, strategic planning, and operational management, equal to ten (10) years.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution of higher education
  • 5+ years of experience as a leader (supervisor, manager, director, or chief) in Human Resources, or a similar level management position (with direct supervision of 3+ FTE) in an occupation related to the work assigned to leaders in Human Resources.
  • 3+ years of dedicated Colorado State experience.
  • 10+ years of paid professional-level work experience.
  • COWINS Partnership Agreement: Relevant years of State service should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process. Part-time relevant years of State service will be prorated.

  • TRANSFERS ONLY: Relevant years of State service will be considered as a preferred qualification and given the weight of at least 15% of the overall score under the process.

  • Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior, or other posted competency

Conditions of Employment:
  • Full Background: CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons):CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services),Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
  • Travel: This position must travel, sometimes over multiple days, to perform job duties.
  • This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.

  • Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

  1. Disclose that information on the application.

  2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

  3. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.


CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications.

Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

  • Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

    • Relevant years of state service experience.


Minimum Qualification Screening Process

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position.

You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process.

You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."


You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from a Standardized Testing

Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

  • You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

  • You can find the official appeal form here.

  • You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

    • By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or

    • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, 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.


Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

  • At (303) 866-3300, or

  • Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Additional Information



About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).

Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado.

Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:


Our Values

We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve.

We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

  • 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.


  • ADA Accommodations
    CDHS is committed to a Colorado for 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.


    This includes 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 cdhs_ada@state.co.us.


    EEO Statement

    The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

    We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services.

    Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.

    The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives 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.


    Additional Support For Your Application

    Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

    If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g.

    uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).

    Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

    Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

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    Posted on NEOGOV: 2/27/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/28/2026

    Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-colorado-5253461