IT Manager

Department Information

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired and compassionate.

We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

The posted salary reflects a range for the job classification in the OSPD’s step and grade compensation structure. Candidate will be placed in the grade based on qualifications and may include credit for job relevant years of experience

Please e-mail your résumé and cover letter outlining your interest in this position and how you meet the qualifications to Andrea Landaverry at Andrea.Landaverry@coloradodefenders.us 

The deadline for applying is 11:59 p.m. on August 5, 2024.

Resumes must include dates of employment but, you may redact or remove any information that will identify your age, date of birth or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR OSPD:

• 6 Health Plans- Cigna & Kaiser options
• Basic Vision Insurance - included with medical plans
• Dental Insurance
• State Paid Life Insurance
• State Paid Short-Term Disability 
• FSA – Healthcare and Dependent Care
• HSA Plan with Employer Contribution 
• Generous Paid Time Off
• 11 paid holidays
• Access to Mental Health and Well-Being Resources 
• Colorado PERA
• 401(k) and 457 Supplemental Retirement Plans

For more information on benefits please visit https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits. For additional information on PERA visit www.copera.org.

Additional information about the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender can be found at: http://www.coloradodefenders.us/

  Description of Job

This is a management position in the Information Technology series responsible for the planning, managing, and oversight of several IT functions and staff to maintain the agency’s information systems and software applications, development, and technical training. Under strategic direction of the Chief Information Officer, works in conjunction with the IT leadership team to design, develop, implement and monitor a comprehensive suite of applications, mostly web based, including internal and external development, procurement, contract review, and access for all appropriate staff. Position requires a unique level of knowledge and expertise to develop policies and standards; analyze problems; and, create solutions to complex issues related to the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical information and software systems. As a first-line supervisor, directs the work of professional IT staff on projects, problem resolution and daily assignments.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

(Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.)

• The Application Development Manager plans, organizes, and manages the complete development lifecycle of the agency software systems; including gathering requirements, project management, procurement, database management, software development, testing, implementation, user follow up, and support.
• Provides technology decisions that impact software development and ensures that development projects meet business requirements and goals, fulfill end-user requirements, and identify and resolve systems issues. 
• Manages the integrity, and changes to the application development servers, databases, and SAAS solutions including implementation of change control processes and identification and resolution of program errors. 
• Oversees the collaboration of analysts, designers, and system owners in the testing of new software programs and applications. Manages and enforces functional policies, procedures, and quality assurance best practices.
• Provides technical leadership to programmers working on development project teams. Oversees the review and analyses of existing applications’ effectiveness and efficiency, and develops strategies for improving or leveraging these systems. 
• Oversees the technical training development, implementation, and content review for end user training. 
• Provides ad-hoc reporting and decision support required for management decision processes, strong resources and capacity planning experiences.
• Responsibility for maintaining a comprehensive documentation repository for all information systems and software applications. Overseeing the creation and maintenance of standard operating procedure (SOP) documentation relative to the scope of work for which the development team is responsible.
• Supervises a team of IT development and training staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring employees are trained; ensuring compliance with policies and procedures; and, making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Provides research and makes recommendations on software products and services in support of procurement and development efforts. Oversee contract negotiations and implementation with IT vendors, contractors, and service providers. Ensure contracted products and services meet enterprise quality, performance, and security expectations.
• Ensure customer usability and Americans with Disability Act accessibility, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Colorado House Bill HB21-1110 and the State Technology Accessibility Rules.
• Occasionally travels to regional offices throughout the State of Colorado.
• Performs other related duties as needed related to application development, implementation, and training.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science or directly related field. High level professional experience which provided the same kind, amount, and level of knowledge acquired in the required education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required degree. 
• Six years of progressive professional experience in application development, web based design, procurement, and support. 
• Three years’ experience leading, coordinating or supervising IT staff in application development, web based design, procurement, and support.  

Job Requirements: 

Knowledge: 

• Broad knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware platforms, networks, and software applications;
• Extensive knowledge of standard software applications such as, Microsoft Office, web-based applications, internet browsers, e-mail and Adobe Acrobat.
• Change management procedures;
• Knowledge of organizational behavior and conflict resolution. 
• Knowledge of project management, time management and problem solving. 
• Knowledge of system and software quality assurance best practices and methodologies. 
• Knowledge of core software applications, including SAAS, Microsoft office and application development tools. 
• Knowledge of programming languages, including Python, SQL, JavaScript, JQuery, CSS, and other Web Technologies, 
• Knowledge of database design and file management techniques. 
• Knowledge of network and operating systems including Windows Server, Linux and Windows desktop OS. 
• Knowledge of SDLC methodologies such as Waterfall, Lean, and Scrum etc.

Skills: 

• Ability to interpret and apply IT operational policies and procedures;
• Accuracy in documenting and reporting information;
• Customer service skills to assist users with computer software or hardware issues in a prompt, courteous and professional manner;
• Effective listening skills to understand and document technical problems;
• Communicating technical information to a non-technical audience;
• Reading and interpreting technical manuals;
• Working independently;
• Time management to manage one’s own time and the time of others;
• Developing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with staff, co-workers, peers and vendors; 
• Effective communication, verbal and written, sufficient to exchange or convey information; includes giving/receiving work direction. 
• Strong coaching, supervisory and leadership skills;
• Advanced skills in maintaining and monitoring information security networks, systems, software and devices;
• Ability to analyze problems, research solutions and resolve complex issues;
• Attention to detail to detect minor changes in system performance;
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, policies and procedures;
• Organizing and prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people and a broad range of constituencies; 
• Effective communication, verbal and written, sufficient to understand and document technical problems and convey technical information to a non-technical audience. 

Supplemental Information

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, marital status or other protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Consistent with this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including the application and selection process. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact Katey Tarkington at Katey.Tarkington@coloradodefenders.us