Principal Policy Advisor - Non-Classified

Senior Policy Associate

Know Colorado education policy inside and out? We want to hear from you. CDE is looking for a Senior Policy Associate who can bring deep expertise in education policy to complex legislative and implementation work. You'll collaborate across the agency and with key partners to analyze legislation, develop policy solutions, coordinate fiscal notes, and help turn policy into effective action for Colorado's schools and students.

The senior policy associate applies knowledge of statutory, legislative, procedural, and programmatic content to support the policy implementation and development work of the Colorado Department of Education and the State Board of Education. The position works collaboratively with the other members of CDE's Policy Team–including the principal policy advisor and legislative liaison–to advance the department's legislative and policy priorities. The position supports the department and board during the legislative session by leading and coordinating the agency's fiscal note process, analyzing proposed legislation, and summarizing implementation considerations and policy feedback.

The position also supports timely, accurate, and coordinated communication with agency leadership, the State Board Office, Legislative Council Staff, legislators, and internal and external stakeholders. Outside the legislative session, the position facilitates cross-unit collaboration among CDE staff to develop and implement education legislation and policies, including state board rule making. The position must understand the relationship among proposed legislation, state budget conditions, agency appropriations, program funding, staffing capacity, and implementation requirements.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Policy Development, Analysis, and Implementation
• Legislative Affairs and Government Relations
• Reporting, Accountability, and Project Management
• Training and Stakeholder Support
• Other Duties

Minimum education and experience requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, education, economics, political science, or a closely related field, plus at least five (5) years of professional experience developing and/or implementing Colorado education policy.
• OR at least nine (9) years of relevant professional experience, including at least five (5) years developing and/or implementing Colorado education policy.

Qualifications and conditions include:

• Five (5) years of professional experience in developing and/or implementing Colorado education policy.
• Legislative Knowledge:
  Familiarity with legislative processes, including bill tracking, stakeholder engagement, general policy development, and the fiscal note process.
• Statutory Knowledge:
  Knowledgeable about Colorado's education statutes, especially as they pertain to the Colorado Department of Education and our work with schools and districts across Colorado.
• Budget Knowledge and
  
  Experience:
  
  Experience working on the state budget in Colorado, developing fiscal notes in response to bill drafts, and a solid understanding of the state budget process as a whole.
• Communication:
  Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to provide clear updates and adapt style for different audiences, translating from technical policy and budget language to accessible, everyday language, and vice versa.
• Relationship-Building:
  Ability to work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders, supporting positive relationships with legislators, board members, and education advocacy organizations, and across multiple teams within the Colorado Department of Education.
• Time Management:
  Organized and able to manage multiple tasks effectively, ensuring timely communication, tracking, and completion of assignments, with hourly shifting priorities.
• Supportive Project Coordination:
  Skilled in coordinating tasks, gathering data, organizing reports, following up with staff members, and ensuring all requirements are met, across teams with no formal oversight.
• Adaptability:
  Flexibility to respond to evolving legislative priorities and department needs, while managing responsibilities efficiently.
• Judgment and Discretion:
  Ability…