Special Advisor on Cannabis and Natural Medicine

Department Information

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is committed to building a Colorado For All, a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live the Colorado way of life. Governor Polis is focused on lowering health care costs for hardworking Coloradans, transitioning the state to renewable energy sources, ensuring every Colorado child gets a quality education, and building an economy that works for everyone, as well as empower state agencies to build a culture of operational excellence and bold innovation driven by continuous performance improvement. The Governor's staff includes offices for budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, recovery officers, and scheduling.

Description of Job

Position Description: Policy Advisors report to the Director of Policy and provide strategic policy and legislative analysis and recommendations, project management, press guidance and general policy support for the Governor's agenda. Each advisor’s portfolio is assigned by the Director of Policy based on the needs of the office and the specific advisor’s experience and expertise.

Special Advisor on Cannabis and Natural Medicine, whose portfolio includes: a deep understanding of how the cannabis (marijuana and hemp) and natural medicine industries operate, working closely in conjunction with all state agencies that touch the industries to focus on state-oriented industry and public safety goals, contribute to rulemaking processes, develop, assess and create agency priority and policy recommendations. In addition, this position requires a deep familiarity with the work necessary to implement Proposition 122 and SB23-290, including but not limited to helping to lead interagency communications and interagency policy cohesion, reviewing and drafting legislation and engaging with external stakeholders in Natural Medicine.

Duties and Responsibilities: Each advisor maintains policy expertise, develops strategies, and is prepared to brief and advise the Governor and other administration officials concerning all the issue areas in their portfolio. They coordinate this work as needed with other policy advisors, other offices of the Governor (communications, budget, legal, etc.), and appropriate state agencies. Advisors work closely with the Governor’s legislative team to help advance the Governor’s agenda during legislative sessions. Advisors must have the ability to identify and assess the role of specific policy initiatives and goals in the context of a broad agenda. They develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders and constituencies throughout the state to inform this work. This varies from time-to-time and may entail travel within the State.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Skills and Competencies: Successful advisors have the ability to multitask and function effectively in a complex professional environment. They are detail-oriented strategic thinkers with well-developed decision-making, research, analytical and project management skills. They also have strong written and verbal communication skills, advanced interpersonal skills, the ability to learn and assimilate information quickly, and the ability to influence and persuade to affect solutions to complex problems. A well-developed familiarity with Colorado policy issues and demographics is an asset.

Additional competencies should include the ability to assimilate and synthesize complex information and research into concise, relevant, logical and organized formats for analysis and discussion as well as the ability to identify and resolve or minimize potential conflicts in goals and objectives, missions and agendas. The ability to work effectively in teams, a good sense of humor and a positive attitude all are important.

Requirements:

• Public policy analysis and development skills, as demonstrated by professional and/or academic experience.
• Experience working on policy areas in the relevant portfolio, or related issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Familiarity with governmental and legislative processes.
• A high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.

• Ability to identify and assess the role of specific policy initiatives and goals in the context of a broad agenda

Education/Experience: Advisors will have distinguished themselves by demonstrating consistently high quality work and dependable judgment in policy and issue work. Have extensive experience in public policy work and/or extensive expertise in one or more of the issues in their portfolio, usually defined by a minimum of five years of successful work in public policy or a minimum of seven years working on a specific issue. May also have advanced academic degree in a field or fields related to their work.

Conditions of Employment

Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

Supplemental Information

A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision plan coverage - including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*.
• Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*.
• Wellness programs - participation can reduce employee premiums*.
• Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*.
• Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*.
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
• Welcome Aboard Program - July 1, 2023.pdf
• Retirement benefits** - including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans - https://www.copera.org/
• Hybrid work arrangements.
• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Discount Program.
• Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global ( contact CSU Global for latest offerings).
• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support.
• Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees.
• Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility.

• To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state’s benefits portal: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor 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 Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.