The Work Unit

The Prevention Services Division (PSD) works with public and private partners across Colorado to improve the health of all Coloradans. Division professionals develop, review, implement and evaluate public health interventions proven to promote healthy living, prevent chronic disease, protect against injury and ensure access to health care and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. The Division is committed to the professional development, collaborative effort and sustained wellness of its workforce. We believe that all people – no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability or geographic location – should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.

The Office of Suicide Prevention exists to serve as the statewide lead entity for suicide prevention, intervention support, and postvention efforts in Colorado, which it does by collaborating with communities statewide to reduce the number of suicide deaths and attempts. The Office of Suicide Prevention houses the Suicide Prevention Community Grant Program, the Suicide Prevention Commission, the Zero Suicide Initiative, Mental Health First Aid, the Colorado National Collaborative (CNC) initiative, the SAMHSA GLS Youth Suicide Prevention grant, the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention grant, the Crisis and Suicide Prevention Training Grant Program, and additional community grant programs and initiatives.

The Position
The purpose of this position is to provide leadership, oversight, coordination, and management of suicide prevention and activities under the Suicide Prevention Commission. Activities include the coordination and alignment of collaborative statewide partnerships and strategic processes.

• This position is responsible for facilitating Commission meetings and workgroups in alignment with SB14-088 and Commission bylaws.

• Providing oversight to the Commission co-chairs and Commission members to set Commission priorities and oversee all Commission initiatives and activities.

• Supporting the Commission co-chairs and OSP team with developing and leading communication strategies and tools for disseminating Commission priorities and activities to stakeholders statewide.

• Developing and coordinating the identification, recruitment, and orientation of Commission members.

• Providing ongoing development, communication, and leadership for all Commission activities, including orienting members, leading strategy planning and implementation efforts, establishing a shared Commission agenda, and providing oversight and support all Commission subgroup leads and members.

• Writing and providing reports on statewide data to ensure that the regions of the state and groups associated with high suicide rates and suicide attempts are represented.

• Serving as a lead writer of any implementation plans to be developed based on the Commission recommendations.

• Supporting the OSP team in the development, execution, and implementation of suicide prevention strategic priorities and implementation plans identified by the Commission.

• Representing the Commission, where appropriate, at statewide meetings to coordinate suicide prevention efforts across agencies.

• Providing data reports and technical assistance to suicide prevention agencies or coalitions on the development of suicide prevention priorities, contract monitoring and supporting grantees with contracts that align with Commission priorities and recommendations.

• Supporting Commission activities through OSP activities, including developing and maintaining inclusive and accessible resources and meeting spaces, responding to partner requests (including by way of the general OSP email account).

• Processing partner sponsorship requests and mini-grants; and identifying opportunities and strategies to align the OSP program with Commission priorities.

Must meet one of the following or any combination of experience/education to meet the qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university in public health, psychology, sociology, social work, public policy, public administration, or other related fields.

• Two (2) years of professional experience in prevention and/or education program planning or evaluation, including providing technical assistance*, facilitation, or guidance to a commission or similar governing body.

• Technical assistance includes providing training, coaching, resource development, and quality assurance checks to partners. This is not a clinical or direct-service position.

• 
  A master's or doctorate degree in public health, psychology, sociology, social work, public policy, public administration, or a closely-related field may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

The preferred experience, competencies, and abilities are highly desirable for this position and will be considered in selecting the successful candidate:

• Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE
• Able to independently travel approximately 5% of the time to fulfill the duties of this position.
• A current and valid Colorado driver's license.

A complete application packet must include:

• A completed State of Colorado application.
• A resume
• Unofficial transcripts

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

• Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, of up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.