Design and Evidence Analyst

Overview

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note:

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. CDHSCareers. Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! See the Supplemental Information section below for details! This position has hybrid work arrangements; employees are expected to report to the office at least 2 days a week. These arrangements are subject to change.

About The Executive Directors Office:
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 wide variety of stakeholders. The CDHS vision is to empower Coloradans to thrive through bold and innovative health and human services. The Organizational Performance Management (OPM) team, within Strategic Operations and Solutions (SOS), advises and assists agency leaders by using data and research to inform strategic planning, driving strategy to improve human services outcomes in Colorado.

OPM supports and implements other strategic planning and performance improvement efforts across the Department.

The Design and Evidence Analyst supports program, practice, and policy improvements across the Department through Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) and Human-Centered Design (HCD). This position plays a dual role: leading HCD activities to reimagine services, practices, and policies, and supporting the development and use of evidence to inform strategic decision-making. Through collaborative research, facilitation, analysis, and synthesis, the Design and Evidence Analyst ensures that programs are grounded in evidence and responsive to the people they serve.

This role works closely with another Design and Evidence Analyst whose focus is guiding EBDM efforts, and with the Organizational Performance Management Supervisor who provides direction, review, and approval for all EBDM and HCD efforts across the Department.

Summary of Facilitating Innovation and Improvements Using Human-Centered Design
The Design and Evidence Analyst leads HCD facilitation, design, analysis, and other processes to co-create solutions that improve programs, practices, and policies. It applies mainly qualitative research methods, prototyping, and iterative testing to uncover user insights and generate actionable, impactful solutions.

• Plan and conduct user research (e.g., interviews, focus groups) to understand user needs, behaviors, and motivations.
• Map service experiences to understand end-to-end experiences, and develop and test new approaches in collaboration with internal teams and community partners.
• Plan and facilitate design sprints and ideation workshops to define problems, prototype solutions, and test with users.
• Create and iterate on prototypes; conduct usability testing with users and stakeholders.
• Promote inclusive, accessible design and advocate for equity-centered practices.
• Collaborate with program teams to define and track key success indicators and use findings to improve and scale solutions.
• Ensure stakeholder voice, including clients and community members, is embedded in decision-making processes.
• Seeks direction, review, and approval from the Organizational Performance Management Supervisor for all HCD efforts.

Development & Maintenance Duties
:
The Design and Evidence Analyst supports the development and application of evidence-based tools, analysis, and practices to support EBDM and strategic planning. By co-developing and facilitating the maintenance of program inventories, evidence portfolios, and theories of change, this position ensures alignment between the Department’s investments and strategic goals. It guides research and evaluation strategies to improve program, practice, and policy quality and resource allocation.

• Co-develop and facilitate maintenance of program inventories, evidence portfolios, and theories of change to assess program quality, maturity, and alignment with strategic…