Manager of Policy and Strategic Projects

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills, and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. Our starting hiring range is $86,634.00 - $104,000.00/year, based on experience and education.

We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to: 

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 

• 457B Retirement Plan 

• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year 

• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

In this position you can expect to work on site at least three days a week at the Wellington E. Webb Building- 201 W. Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80202.

This position will require attending off-site community, City Council, and external stakeholder meetings after hours, and some weekends, on a weekly basis.  

Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) serves to support Denver’s businesses, employers, and workforce, creating shared prosperity and sustained economic growth. DEDO has sharpened its focus and enhanced alignment across divisions, ensuring its work is centered on the premise that quality jobs are the most powerful tool to create better outcomes for Denverites. DEDO accomplishes this by making Denver a place that is easy to do business with, fostering job creation, and building an economy that works for everyone. DEDO helps residents gain the skills, training, and credentials needed to secure quality jobs while also supporting, growing, and recruiting local employers.

DEDO’s work aligns with city priorities including the Vibrant Denver and Family-Friendly initiatives:

• Growing, strengthening, and supporting Denver’s small businesses
• Revitalizing and investing in Denver’s downtown economy
• Ensuring Denver residents have access to high-quality jobs as well as training and development opportunities
• Making it easier to do business with and in the City and County of Denver
• Supporting economic growth while implementing anti-displacement strategies
• Fostering and supporting a dynamic innovation and entrepreneurial sector
• Recruiting employers from outside markets

DEDO’s Executive Office is dedicated to advancing operational effectiveness and customer service, advancing its programs and initiatives, and creating an economy the works for everyone. Key activities include supporting DEDO’s three operating divisions in achieving their missions, establishing DEDO’s goals, objectives, and performance/forecasting metrics; establishing, monitoring, and enforcing allocated budget; policy development and direction; and communications, including community outreach.

We are seeking an experienced and government-relationship-building professional to serve as Manager of Policy and Strategic Projects. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Manager of Policy and Strategic Projects will play an instrumental role at DEDO and represent the City and County of Denver, working closely with City Council and Denver’s neighborhood districts.

As the Manager of Policy and Strategic Projects you will be responsible for representing DEDO, and oftentimes its executive leadership, regarding legislative affairs and community engagement. A successful candidate will be able to quickly and seamlessly engage with and create positive relationships across City Council, agencies, and with key stakeholders ensuring that messaging and communications aligns with DEDO priorities and overall communication strategies. This role navigates complex subject matter to achieve DEDO’s priorities ensuring the agency is following all requirements and protocols, including federal and state regulations, Denver Revised Municipal Code and fiscal rules, and Departmental policies and procedures.

Specifically, as Manager of Policy and Strategic Projects, duties include:

• Support executive management and DEDO staff with City Council activity, including briefings, correspondence, training, and coaching.
• Attend weekly City Council committee and regular meetings for which DEDO has any agenda items, and coordinates with other DEDO staff who need to be present. Take notes and coordinates any necessary follow up. 
• Present on behalf of DEDO about our legislative requests and priorities, including to community groups, other governmental entities, business organizations, and as part of DEDO’s annual strategic planning and budgeting processes. 
• Track DEDO’s policies and convene internal stakeholders to discuss policy changes and recommendations. Track and provide feedback on local, state, and federal policy and legislation that is relevant to DEDO’s work. Anticipate challenges/obstacles our business community and agency could face as policy landscape evolves.
• Coordinate the department’s resolution and ordinance requests through City Council, in close coordination with DEDO executive leadership, legislative staff from the Mayor’s Office, and City Council central office. This includes working with DEDO staff to track upcoming requests, training program staff in the drafting of legislative requests and reviewing them, scheduling committee and other meeting dates, drafting presentations with program staff, preparing staff for presentations, and fulfilling related requests from Council for information.
• Project manage high profile initiatives, both short and long-term by creating and leading detailed workplans. Serve as the lead project manager for the Executive Office, supporting various initiatives or policy analysis work to prioritize programming and support the Agency’s direction.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment between business priorities and policy goals. Help develop strategies to share information internally and with external partners about ongoing and potential activities with DEDO.
• Help manage and coordinate external affairs and strategic projects in concert with business objectives. Tracks DEDO’s community engagement efforts and coordinating across divisions to integrate the voice of the community into the work of the Department and supports ongoing projects as needed in alignment with DEDO priorities.

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• At least 5 years of progressive experience working in legislative affairs, communications, and community engagement.
• Passion for building community and a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Ability to manage multiple processes simultaneously, with thorough attention to detail.
• Ability to navigate and synthesize complex subject matter and execute associated written and verbal communications. Adept at creating relationships across departments and organizations with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong working knowledge of local government and regional collaborative efforts.
• Experience with assisting in resolving conflicts and answering questions related to legislative matters.
• Developed regular and timely communications to key Department leadership and stakeholders on legislative issues
• Demonstrated ability to develop proactive messaging in coordination with the communications team on significant or sensitive legislative issues
• Experience with data coordination from subject matter experts and develop messaging to address City Council requests for information

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
• Experience Requirement: Five (5) years’ experience performing full performance professional level duties within a specialized, functional area. (This does not include clerical experience.)
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the multiple attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume.
• Cover Letter about your professional-level government experience with legislative affairs, community engagement, and communications.

This position is expected to stay open until Monday, August 24, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible, and no later than August 24th at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.

Job Profile

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Position Salary Range

Target Pay

Agency

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.