Overview
The mission of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency, and zero emission vehicles (ZEV) to benefit all Coloradans. We do this by developing and implementing highly impactful policies and programs, establishing Colorado as a leading state for climate action.
As the CEO grows and scales, the need for meaningful and coordinated communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement is crucial to meeting our mission and goals. This includes communications through traditional media, social media, email campaigns, and our website, as well as community engagement with a broad array of stakeholders. Targeted engagement and fostering transformational relationships with disproportionately impacted communities and community members is critical to our work.
CEO currently has an opening for a Communications & Engagement Specialist to join the Communications and Engagement (C&E) team. This position will support C&E, with a focus on the Building Decarbonization (BD) and Strategic Initiatives & Financing (SIFI) programs. This role will include developing subject matter expertise on the work of the BD and SIFI teams to identify, plan, and implement strategic communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement. In collaboration with C&E, this position will use a variety of traditional media and digital media tools, including owned, paid, and earned media. In addition, outreach and engagement efforts may include in-person and virtual meetings, presentations and events, collateral development, and more.
The ideal candidate will be solution-oriented, collaborative, have deep expertise and passion for communications and engagement, and be excited to engage in the work of CEOs program teams.
About Building Decarbonization: The Building Decarbonization team is focused on building decarbonization, including through, developing stronger statewide minimum energy codes, building performance standards, coordination with other state agencies and launching comprehensive market transformation strategies and initiatives through rebates and other measures to stimulate and bring down the costs of building electrification and other building improvements to reduce emissions. The built environment is a top source of greenhouse gas emissions, and with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, we are significantly expanding this effort to meet Colorados clean energy goals.
About Strategic Initiatives and Finance: The Strategic Initiatives team is primarily responsible for the development and deployment of new clean energy markets and technologies. SIFI has created a robust suite of offerings by identifying critical market gaps, developing key private and public sector partnerships, and designing targeted programmatic and policy solutions. Our team focuses on providing the technical and financing resources to achieve market transformation, and uses data driven decision making to maximize and track program efficiency and impact.
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.
Starting Salary Range: $68,000.14 – $84,000.02 Annually
- This position is eligible for a hybrid working arrangement with an obligation to appear in the office on a weekly basis as determined by your department’s director.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Team Support and Resources
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Work with BD and SIFI program managers to identify, develop, and implement proactive communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement plans.
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Develop subject matter expertise on BD and SIFI programs, and coordinate with other program managers within CEO and the State of Colorado to find common themes and opportunities.
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Coordinate responses to inquiries from the public, stakeholders, and the media related to BD and SIFI subject matter.
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Collaborate internally with program managers, and externally with state agencies, to align strategies, activities, and key messaging.
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Support procurement of communications and engagement services including standalone and as part of program contracts by helping prepare scopes of work, evaluating proposals, and managing vendors.
Direct Outreach and Engagement
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Identify and track key audiences, stakeholders, and activities related to BD and SIFI programs.
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Create collateral materials and other content related to BD, SIFI, and other programs or topics.
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Lead development of new engagement activities and initiatives and support existing activities to advance programs statewide.
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Represent the Colorado Energy Office through public-facing events and identify opportunities to partner with new community members, groups, and the private sector, and explore ways to strengthen these partnerships over time.
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Facilitate and track community and stakeholder input, work with teams to evaluate and respond, as needed, and use to inform program development and refinement.
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Develop relationships with existing stakeholders and lead efforts to engage new stakeholders.
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Maintain expertise in and facilitate best practices for community engagement in serving Disproportionately Impacted Communities and ensure best practices are in use.
Communications and Marketing
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Work with Director of Communications & Engagement and teams to identify strategic, proactive messaging and communication strategies to grow awareness of and participation in BD and SIFI programs.
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Serve as BD and SIFI lead on Communications & Engagement team to plan and implement communications and engagement activities. Collaborate regularly with C&E team on all communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement efforts, to include owned, earned, and paid media.
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Develop and track messaging and storytelling opportunities related to BD and SIFI work.
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Coordinate with CEO Public Information Officer to ensure digital accessibility needs are met, including SIFI/BD program webpages, emails, presentations, and documents follow accessibility best practices; oversee review and updates of team website content.
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Coordinate with Bilingual Communications Specialist and others to draft and post social media content and campaigns.
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Collaborate with other State of Colorado communications, marketing, outreach, and engagement staff members to align activities and messaging.
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Lead design, production, and delivery of materials and collateral.
General
Required Qualifications:
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Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public administration or related field
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Minimum three years professional experience with a combination of communications, marketing, outreach and stakeholder engagement OR seven years professional experience without a degree
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Possess strong computer skills, including Google Suite or Microsoft Office (email, spreadsheets, documents, presentations, etc.) and Video conferencing applications (i.e. Google Meet, Zoom, MS Teams)
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Experience in energy, buildings, or climate is strongly preferred
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Proven track record of building and managing positive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
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Comfortable working with a combination of reporting lines, teams, divisions, and content areas
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Ability to independently start and finish projects with minimal supervision and passionate about working collaboratively as part of a team
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Strong time management, attention to detail, and organization skills
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Valid driver’s license
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Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
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Flexibility to work periodic weekends, evenings, and overnight travel, as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
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Bilingual in English and Spanish: writing, reading, and oral
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Relevant professional experience in the state of Colorado
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Experience working on climate and energy issues
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Experience with marketing, digital media campaigns, and graphic design
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Experience with Salesforce
To Apply:
A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.
The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:
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Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month (4 weeks a year)
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Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month (10 days a year)
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12 paid holidays per year
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Medical and dental plans
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State paid life insurance policy of $50,000
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Choice of 2 retirement plans
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401K and 457 plans
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State paid Short Term Disability coverage
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Additional optional life and disability plans
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Credit Union Membership
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RTD pass
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Training and professional development
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
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.
ADAAA Accommodations
The Office of the Governor 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 Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at [email protected].
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.