Communication Specialist, Colorado Mental Health Hospital.

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado State residents ONLY.

Hybrid: In CMHHIP office 3 days a week, Remote 2 days a week

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Work Unit

Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Executive Director’s Office is responsible for the strategic direction and effective internal operations of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), working with the Governor’s Office, legislature, other government agencies, CDHS staff, counties, and a variety of stakeholders. CDHS’s vision is to empower Coloradans to thrive through bold and innovative health and human services. The Strategy Office team ensures the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Executive Director’s Office by crafting and executing the Department's Better Together strategic plan and provides oversight of related work stream priorities to achieve goals. The Strategy Office team comprises policy; Strategic Operations and Solutions; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Communications.

The CDHS Communications Division is an organizational work unit within the Strategy Office. The Office is responsible for the strategic direction and effective internal operations of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), working with the Governor’s Office, legislature, other government agencies, CDHS staff, counties, and a variety of stakeholders. CDHS’s vision is to empower Coloradans to thrive through bold and innovative health and human services. The Strategy Office team ensures the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Executive Director’s Office by crafting and executing the Department's Better Together strategic plan and provides oversight of related work stream priorities to achieve goals. The Strategy Office team comprises policy; Strategic Operations and Solutions; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Communications.

Description Of Job

This position is responsible for assisting the Chief Executive Team of Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) to communicate effectively and consistently with internal communications to approximately 1,200 CMHHIP staff members, patients, family members, the general community, media and department leadership.

This position is responsible for CMHHIP internal communications, including the development of newsletters, staff emails andensuring timely communication of approved messaging. This role includes scheduling and mediating town halls , drafting talking points, presentations and staff text alerts. This position storyboards and records audio/video for holiday messages, collaborating with the Marketing Team to create proper branding of recruitment marketing and graphic design. This position also assists with gathering information for and preparing media responses and managing internal Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) inquiries.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Applicants are required to attach three professional work samples to their application (portfolio, graphic, video, banner, web content, multimedia content, etc..)*
  
  

Experience And Education

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in Communications or Government/Medical/Mental Health Environment

OR

Education And Experience

A combination of related education in

Communications, Journalism. Medical/Mental Health or Criminal Justice , and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years

Substitutions

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional writing skills, including (but not limited to) the ability to: use plain language to explain difficult topics; explain the “why” and the need for transparency; tailor messages based on the audience; and copy-edit.
• Maintain flexibility and prioritize projects based on urgent needs, which may include managing several different projects with varying deadlines.
• Follow confidentiality rules.
• Ability to remain impartial during high stress situations.
  
  

Highly Desirable Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Exceptional attention to detail
• Comfortable working in a team environment
• Self-started
• Ability to quickly comprehend complex issues
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Flexible
• Creative
• Emotionally intelligent
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
  
  

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional travel to community events, presentations and other in-person gatherings may be necessary.
• Must pass a standard background check.
• Hybrid work arrangement subject to change based on business need.
  
  

Conditions of Employment

• Must pass a standard background check.
• Occasional travel to community events, presentations and other in-person gatherings may be necessary.
• Hybrid work arrangement subject to change based on business need.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s 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.
  
  

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail 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.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or 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 under Rules.

Supplemental Information

How To Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact victoria.crocket @state.co.us

About Us

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining 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. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• 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
  
  

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

Our Values

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 ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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