Legislator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $72,264.00 - $115,632.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: PMA 32041 08/26
Department: Department of Natural Resources
Division: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 12:27 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Hiring Pay Rate: Employees new to State Government will be paid on a bi-weekly basis.
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: patrick.warnes@state.co.us
Primary Physical Work Address: 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216, USA with days worked at Colorado State Capitol 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Information
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It's our mission to manage and conserve Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today - and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.
We invite you to explore our website at to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today - and tomorrow.
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.
In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the

Our Mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources.
The Policy and Planning Branch serves CPW, the Parks and Wildlife Commission, and members of the public by providing legislative and policy development and analysis, informing management decisions through public involvement and social science research and providing expertise for agency resource and park planning efforts. The work products of this branch are critical elements in the development and revision of parks and wildlife-related regulations, policies, programs, natural and cultural resource conservation planning, property and strategic planning activities. By effectively involving both internal and external stakeholders in policy and planning activities, this branch assures that the best information is available for CPW and Commission decision-making and that this information is reflective of the needs, concerns, and preferences of the constituents CPW serves.
Description of Job
The position exists to focus exclusively on CPW-related legislative and policy issues. Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Policy and Planning, this position will develop and manage Colorado Parks and Wildlife's legislative program, which, in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources, helps ensure CPW and DNR meet their legislative and programmatic goals. This position functions as a senior authority charged with influencing statutory changes that affect the State's management of parks and wildlife resources. It does so by identifying, developing, and coordinating CPW's legislative priorities. The position communicates agency recommendations to, and receives and communicates direction and strategic guidance from, DNR's Director of Legislative Affairs in maintaining synchronization with the Administration. Additionally, this is responsible for responding to legislator inquiries, drafting position requests, testimony, and relevant talking points for bills that impact the agency and coordinates key CPW staff and teams needed to respond to legislative tasks in a timely, accurate, and effective manner.
The individual in this position helps identify and directly engage with external stakeholders throughout the legislative process. This position also consults with and responds to CPW's Director and Executive Management Team. Per statute, each Principal Department has one person overseeing lobbying for the entire Department (DNR's Director of Legislative Affairs). This position will be supervised by CPW, but it will coordinate closely with and function - in terms of lobbying support- under the oversight of DNR's Director of Legislative Affairs to ensure Department compliance with statute and consistency in legislative engagement.
Lastly, this position manages CPW's portion of the SMART Act hearings, coordinates the Division's response to (and preparation for) the Joint Budget Committee meeting, and provides support for newly selected (or re-appointed) Parks and Wildlife Commissioners during confirmation hearings.
Managing CPW's Legislative Program
Position functions as the staff authority for influencing and advising on statutory changes that affect Parks and Wildlife management. The position develops and executes CPW's legislative program. Provides direction to others in furtherance of legislative program goals; analyzes legislation for impacts on CPW; develops talking points for staff testimony and memos as needed; coordinates internal staff - including subject matter experts - to ascertain perspectives and develop agency response, preferences, and solutions to legislation; identifies external stakeholders and approach(es) needed to engage them in ways that will advance CPWs legislative portfolio; develops and defends division legislative testimony. The position functions as a liaison between CPW staff ranging from the Executive Management Team and Director's office to CPW program managers, and others engaged in legislation including the Fiscal Note team (within the Financial Services Branch). Collaborates directly with, and keeps apprised, DNR's Director of Legislative Affairs to ensure a wholistic approach to CPW-DNR legislative activities including lobbying efforts with State Legislators. During legislative session, is in-person at the State Capitol.
Lobbying efforts in support of CPW
As a staff authority, this position provides expertise on and has foundational knowledge about how, when, and in what ways to effectively lobby State Legislators on behalf of CPW. In a lobbying support capacity this position makes critical and strategic decisions about agency-wide policy and legislative processes, designs systems, guidelines and rules which it uses to represent the agency when engaging with Legislators and external stakeholders. The expert opinions provided by this position have full agency support and set the stage for future internal staff coordination on relevant bills/proposals that impact the agency. This position also represents the agency's perspectives when engaging stakeholders outside the agency, assigns staff to serve in these efforts as subject matter experts, and sets corresponding timelines for doing so. This position also collaborates with the DNR Director for Legislative Affairs to ensure CPW and DNR legislative priorities and goals are aligned.
Internal and external outreach to stakeholders
This position develops and possesses the knowledge, experience and familiarity with critical external stakeholders involved through the policy and legislative process. They plan, assign, implement, and maintain record of stakeholder engagement inquiries for CPW-priority bills and other proposals/policies that may impact the agency. This position is responsible for managing the stakeholder engagement process, which includes but is not limited to, regularly contacting and following up with partner organizations, stakeholder groups, and individuals ensuring their needs, concerns, and perspectives are addressed and incorporated into CPW's legislative efforts. This position also coordinates internal (i.e., CPW) engagement on legislative matters including external engagement and it regularly interacts with the DNRs Director of Legislative Affairs on tasks spanning stakeholder engagement and lobbying.
Special Projects as Assigned
Manages special projects with an emphasis on the analysis of legislative and state, regional and national policy affecting CPW and on internal process improvement opportunities. Researches, writes and presents reports, briefings and studies on policy issues for both internal and external distribution. Prepares policy statements, white papers, and background documents for CPW, the Parks and Wildlife Commission and the General Assembly. Occasionally assist DNR's Director of Legislative Affairs as needed related to implementing DNR's broader legislative agenda during General Assembly sessions.
This position will have multiple work locations, one at 6060 Broadway in Denver to provide proximity to the CPW Director's Office and hoteling at the State Capitol during the legislative session. The position is also expected to travel to events with legislators, staff and other stakeholders throughout the year.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience Only:
Seven (7) years of relevant experience of professional experience in the analysis of public policy, private sector policy, or legislation this includes: defining, researching, analyzing and presenting recommendations to internal and external stakeholders regarding public policy; writing talking points; writing and presenting briefing papers; lobbying, and/or writing communications.
OR
Education and Experience:
A combination of related education from an accredited institution in Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, Psychology, Social Science, Public Administration, Education, Natural Resources, Biology, Ecology, Outdoor Recreation, and relevant experience of professional experience in the analysis of public policy, private sector policy, or legislation this includes: defining, researching, analyzing and presenting recommendations to internal and external stakeholders regarding public policy; writing talking points; writing and presenting briefing papers; and/or writing communications equal to seven (7) years.
Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. "See Resume" statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
Substitutions:
Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Class Code: LIAISON IV (H1Q4XX)
Preferred Qualifications:

• Current or former State of Colorado experience relevant to this position.
• Previous experience in Natural Resources, Parks, Wildlife, Policy, or Outdoor Recreation related positions.
• Experience leading or coordinating teams.
• Experience developing, tracking and analyzing proposed legislation, presenting findings and providing recommendations regarding the status and impact of legislation.
• Experience presenting verbal and written information to internal teams, stakeholders, legislators, and others in a clear and concise manner.
• Familiarity with the fiscal note and budgetary processes associated with legislative efforts.
• Project management experience, including determination of deadlines and how deadlines will be met.
• Prior experience managing calendars, coordinating tasks, and communicating (and following up on) action items.

Required Competencies:

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent level of written and oral communication skills.
• Strong multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Suite.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative by using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify solutions for program or process challenges.
• Experience managing calls, email requests and/or responding to difficult conversations with tact, diplomacy and in a timely manner.
• Experience working according to detailed policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Lobbying experience.
• Experience coordinating or leading teams with different levels of experience and subject matter expertise.
• Knowledge and familiarity with policy analysis and legislative processes.
• Experience gathering internal and external stakeholder input and soliciting feedback on potential or proposed legislation from stakeholders.

Conditions of Employment:

• State of Colorado residency is required at the time