Job Description

This position is Non-Classified and therefore this announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. THE POSITION IS TERM LIMITED AND FUNDING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED BEYOND 18 MONTHS. THE INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO RESIGN AFTER 18 MONTHS OR WHEN FUNDS RUN OUT, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

Be BOLD and make a real difference ...

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

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.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Our tobacco-free campus offers free parking and is conveniently located near RTD bus lines, Glendale City Set, and the Cherry Creek bike path. In addition to a great location and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Employee wellness programs and facilities
• Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Bike to work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks
• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Strong, yet flexibleretirement benefitsincluding a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off
• Mentoring program with opportunities for mentors and mentees
• Tuition assistance for college level courses including Master’s degree programs
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, and a variety of employee resource groups

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:

What you will be doing

The Chief Operational Improvement Officer is an executive leader within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), appointed by the department’s Executive Director and reporting directly to the Senior Director of State Air Quality Programs. The primary purpose of this position is to lead an operational transformation and modernization of the state’s air permitting programs, in order to meet statutory requirements, increase customer service, and accomplish goals and targets set by the department’s Executive Director and Colorado’s Governor. Efficient air permitting improves air quality and helps the department achieve its mission of advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places where we live, learn, work, and play. The position leads other operational efficiency initiatives within the division as well, such as the 2026 performance audit required by Senate Bill 25-306.

The position coordinates with the department’s senior leadership, performance office, and governor’s office, and manages third-party contractors where appropriate. The position will oversee a process of setting and then achieving a set of ambitious targets with respect to permit timeliness by leading the development of work plans; overseeing the assessment and improvement of business processes and workflows; identifying new, innovative and emerging strategies and best practices; integrating program innovations with the design of a new digital permitting system and the digital transformation from a paper permitting process. The position will also lead on change management to bring division staff along in the transformation process.

Job Duties:

Air Permitting Process Transformation
The position leads the air permit transformation and modernization initiative to optimize work streams and use innovative strategies that will eliminate permit backlogs and meet statutory and programmatic targets. The process is expected to maximize the efficiency of staff time and increase predictability for applicants, plus decrease turnaround times across the board. The position will manage third party consultants as necessary and work collaboratively with division and program leadership, permitting staff, technology teams, quality assessment and quality control (QA/QC) teams and stakeholders to identify inefficiencies and recommend and implement best practices using structured problem-solving techniques and data-driven analysis

• Data Analysis and Performance Metrics: Leads a team to set targets that meet statutory requirements and eliminate backlogs. Analyzes historical permitting data and performance metrics (e.g., permit processing timelines, backlog trends, and patterns); Develops and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate baseline performance and monitor progress.

• Executive Leadership:

  • Provides vision for the modernization and transformation of the Air Quality permitting system.

  • Serves on the senior leadership team of the Air Pollution Control Division.

  • Leads discussions regarding division performance and ideas for innovation or improvement with division leadership, the department’s senior executive team, and the governor’s office, briefing the department’s Executive Director and Governor as requested.

  • Fosters a culture of performance and accountability within the division

• Process Assessment and Mapping:

  • Oversees comprehensive process mapping of current air quality permitting workflows, including application QA/QC and completeness reviews, permit drafting processes, intermediate steps, draft permit reviews, public comment processes, and permit issuance.

  • Facilitates the identification of bottlenecks, redundancies, and non-value-added steps using established process improvement tools such as value stream mapping, SIPOC diagrams, and root cause analysis, consulting with key stakeholders to identify challenges and areas for improvement.

  • Ensures the integration of process improvement efforts with technology system upgrades, including the digital transformation of the air permitting system.

• Innovative and Cutting-Edge Strategies: Researches and evaluates potential innovative and cutting-edge strategies to significantly change the division’s current approach and drive significant improvements in programmatic, service delivery and regulatory oversight. The analyses to determine feasibility of big picture ideas will ensure the division is closely examining and considering unique and creative solutions.

  • Conducts a landscape analysis of innovations in permitting processes, technology systems, and operational management strategies in order to identify potential options for Colorado

  • Evaluates and/or pilots use of artificial intelligence tools to simplify and expedite permit intake and review.

  • Designs and proposes actionable process improvement strategies aligned with process improvement principles (e.g. reducing permit issuance timelines, eliminating time awaiting follow-up information from applicants, standardizing work, implementing automated or simplified permit templates, incorporation by reference).

  • Considers broad solutions such as but not limited to as outsourcing certain permit types.

  • Assesses regulatory changes – e.g. revising emission thresholds or developing additional general permits.

  • Implements new or revised strategies that will improve operational efficiencies and aligns with statutory, federal and operational needs.

  • Recommends technology or workflow changes to support digital transformation and process automation where feasible.

• Implementation Support/Staff Engagement

  • Facilitates cross-functional improvement initiatives and events involving permitting staff, management, and external stakeholders,

  • Coordinates and partners closely with permitting teams to enhance buy-in, implementing change management strategies along the way, and communicating regularly and effectively with staff.

  • Prepares clear documentation, process guides, and recommendations for sustainability of new processes.

  • Identifies gaps in staff training and knowledge, and makes recommendations to address. If applicable, provides training on new processes, tools, and expectations

  • Supports Stationary Source Quarterly stakeholder meetings.

  • In collaboration with assigned staff, develops pilot testing and phased implementation of process improvements.

  • Provides coaching and technical support during implementation phases.

• Reporting and Documentation

  • Provides standard project reports on progress, successes, challenges and obstacles.

  • Engages with assigned staff to document revised procedures and workflows as a long-term reference gui]]>

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