State Pace Ombudsman Jobs

Department Information
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services
The Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services (OAADS) provides policy, programs, and services for Colorado's most vulnerable adults, older adults, those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and our nation’s veterans living in our Veteran Community Living facilities.
State PACE Ombudsman Program
The State PACE Ombudsman Program exists to provide critical and independent advocacy to help people navigate the complex service delivery system within the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and ensure quality care. The State PACE Ombudsman Program consists of the State PACE Ombudsman who oversees the program and provides direct advocacy to all PACE participants outside of the Denver metro area as well as two local ombudsman who serve the Denver metro area and work for a local PACE ombudsman program within one of the Area Agencies on Aging.
The State PACE Ombudsman Program is a critical program for individuals served by the PACE program because PACE participants have certain rights and protections and the role of the State and local PACE Ombudsmen is to ensure PACE organizations support those rights.
Description of Job
About The Position
Hybrid Work Arrangements
Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.
The State PACE Ombudsman leads and directs the State PACE Ombudsman Program and serves as a consumer advocate for people who are enrolled in the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). As the Director of the program, the State PACE Ombudsman establishes policies and procedures for state and local PACE Ombudsman programs and provides information to the public about PACE participants’ rights and issues involving the PACE program. The State PACE Ombudsman also receives, responds to and resolves complaints made by or on behalf of PACE participants and refers them to local PACE Ombudsman programs as appropriate. And, the State PACE Ombudsman monitors legislation and regulations impacting applicants and participants of PACE programs and makes appropriate recommendations for policy change. Since this is a relatively new program, developed in response to the requirements added by Senate Bill 16-199 in 2016, the program is still developing. As such, currently there are two local PACE Ombudsmen in addition to the State PACE Ombudsman who conduct this work. The State PACE Ombudsman Program oversees the program, provides direct advocacy to all PACE participants outside of the Denver metro area and develops and manages the training, certification, support and monitoring the local PACE ombudsmen who serve the Denver metro area. The local PACE ombudsmen work for a local PACE ombudsman program within one of the Area Agencies on Aging and are directly supervised within that organization. The State Ombudsman oversees the Local PACE Ombudsman programs and develops and managers the training, certifications, support and monitoring of the local PACE ombudsman.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Experience

• Five years of professional experience in long-term services and supports or other services for older persons or individuals with disabilities, consumer-oriented public policy advocacy, leadership and program management, negotiation and problem resolution work.

AND
Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration or closely related field.

Substitutions:
Additional appropriate experience in long-term services and supports or other services for older persons or individuals with disabilities, consumer-oriented public policy advocacy, leadership and program management skills, negotiation and problem resolution skills will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Additional appropriate education in Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration or closely related field will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing and coordinating programs, including managing multiple deadlines routinely and under pressure
• Experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization
• Knowledge, demonstrated experience, and comprehensive understanding of complaint investigation, resolution skills, and data analysis.
• Master’s Degree
• Ability to work successfully and independently in a remote or hybrid work environment, as well as on a team and with general supervision
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite products and other technology, such as Google, Zoom, printers, scanners, file-sharing platforms, databases, timekeeping software, and other applications required to perform the essential functions of the job
• Commitment to providing services and leadership with an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens
• Ability to work nonstandard hours and travel for work meetings, as needed
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders from government leaders to participants in government funded programs
• Bilingual or multilingual
• Experience providing training to members of the public and professional groups
• Ability to effectively communicate with executives and senior leaders
• Demonstrated expertise with public-speaking and producing trainings, informational materials, and other resources in ways that are accessible and accurate for residents, stakeholders, and professional groups
• Experience and competency in implementing advocacy strategies related to the rights of older adults and adults with disabilities in Colorado
• Ability to represent the program positively with external stakeholders, grantors, public officials, contractors, and others
• Experience working with or knowledge of regulations and operations of community-based long-term services, including those provided by the Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
• Familiarity with the PACE Program, its services, dynamics, policies, and legislation, or a willingness and ability to quickly learn this content area.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong ability to analyze and develop policies and procedures for human services programs
• Highly motivated to effectively implement a statewide program through program oversight, consistent messaging, and leadership skills
• Experience and competency in community-based long-term services and issues for people enrolled in the PACE programs consultation and negotiation
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills

Conditions of Employment

• As a condition of employment, effective September 20, 2021, employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to test at regular intervals if there is a State of Colorado employee mandate to serial testing in the future.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• Full Background Check - CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
• Travel – This position will require travel to PACE programs across Colorado to be the direct advocate for residents. This position will be required to use State Fleet vehicles when possible for this travel therefore will be required to have a valid Colorado Driver’s license.

Upon hire, new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of vaccination. The offer is, therefore, contingent upon you attesting to your vaccination status with proof of vaccination within three (3) business days of the first day of work. Be advised that “fully vaccinated” means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance. If you would like to request a medical or religious exemption, please contact [email protected].
Appeal Rights
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
The following must be submitted at time of application for this position. Failure to attach the following documents will result in your application being rejected.

• Current resume

Please note that ONLY your State of Colorado job application will be reviewed during the initial screening; your resume will be reviewed in later stages of the selection process. Therefore, it is paramount that you clearly describe all of your relevant experience in the work experience section on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" or "SEE ATTACHED" will not be considered.
Your application will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications for the position. If your application demonstrates that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to the comparative analysis process.
Supplemental Information
How To Apply
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contact [email protected] .
About Us
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Medical and dental health plans
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .
Our Values
We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
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.
ADAA Accommodations: CDHS 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 Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
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