Be a part of a first-of-its-kind program that’s transforming lives and systems at the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice.

About Us

We proudly believe in equitable access to employment at Bridges. If you are interested in becoming employed with us but feel you may not meet the qualifications, please see our substitutions below.

Bridges of Colorado, established in 2018, places Court Liaisons across Colorado's 22 judicial districts to serve defendants (referred to as participants) in the criminal justice system who have significant mental health needs.  Due to the high success of the program, Bridges was legislatively established as an independent state office within the Judicial Branch in April of 2023. See legislation here: Bridges of Colorado Act 2023

Bridges Court Liaisons are appointed by the court and facilitate collaboration between the criminal justice and mental health systems by partnering with providers, courts, and often families to provide wraparound care for participants. Liaisons provide person-centered care, working with participants to identify needs and address barriers, such as mental health, disabilities, housing, or transportation.

Because liaisons work with participants both in and out of custody, they are integral to outpatient planning when a participant is in custody and support engagement into identified services once a participant is released. Advocating for the best behavioral health interests of the participant, Court Liaisons keep judges and attorneys informed of participant needs and barriers, available services, and progress with engagement into services through regular reports to the court and attendance at hearings.

Individuals with high acuity mental health needs are ten times more likely to be jailed and nationally there are three times more individuals with serious mental illness in jails or prisons than in hospitals. Bridges of Colorado has been identified nationwide as a promising practice that focuses on the whole person. It is intentionally designed to address disparities often experienced by this population in the criminal justice system. Court Liaisons advocate for each participant’s inherent worth and dignity by centering their lived experiences and voice to ensure their behavioral health best interests. At its very core, Bridges is person-centered advocacy rooted in solution-focused, collaborative practices intended to promote positive outcomes for participants.

The Need

The majority of Coloradans with severe mental illness do not receive services, with many receiving services only through entering the justice system. Individuals with serious mental illness are twice as likely to be arrested again within a year of leaving prison.

The Vision

All individuals within the criminal justice system are treated fairly and humanely, regardless of their behavioral health history or mental state.

The Mission

To promote positive outcomes for Coloradans living with mental health conditions who encounter criminal justice involvement by fostering collaboration between both systems.

Our Values

We approach our work grounded in the following values:

●      Person-Centered

●      Solution-Focused

●      Collaborative

How We Live Our Vision, Mission, and Values

We connect to resources. We amplify voices. We shed light on situations.

We inform decision-making. We offer our support. We speak up.

We provide education. We embrace equity.

Our JEDI Vision

We are devoted to advancing equity of all intersectional identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, mental or physical ability, economic, marital, or family status, justice system involvement, and geographic location. This is our commitment to our participants, partners and collaborators, each other, and all Colorado residents. It is who we are at our core.

Position Purpose

As an integral member of the leadership team and the organization’s administrative and financial systems expert, the administrative director maintains and progresses Bridges’ operations as a national leader of programs at the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice. They directly supervise and support a team encompassing the administration of financial systems, human resources, information technology, office space and equipment, and compliance reporting.

Position Location and Travel Requirements

All Bridges employees work in a hybrid, work-from-home base blended with state or regional travel depending on the employee’s position requirements. Reliable transportation is required.

Essential Functions

Person-Centered

●      Support Bridges team in providing effective and meaningful services for participants through person-centered, solution-focused, and collaborative practices within the administrative and financial functions of the Office.

●      Supervise administrative program manager and other administrative positions as the Office grows. Responsibilities include training, planning, assigning, and directing work; quality control and priority management; and delivery of supervision and support to the administrative team. Leads or provides input into and participates in discipline, dismissal, and hiring processes.

●      Lead the administrative team with a focus on innovation and support of methods and processes for meaningful resources and experiences for all Bridges employees.

●      Identify areas for professional development of the administrative team’s employees for optimal personal performance and sustained engagement and retention. Manage direct reports and support their professional development with a whole-person approach.

●      Support the leadership and liaison teams in innovatively centering the voices and experiences of participants and employees via administrative development and sustaining equitable and ethical operations.

●      Engage in all aspects of work with team members and community partners according to the values, models, standards, and best practices of Bridges of Colorado.

●      Support Bridges team culture and values.

Solution-Focused

●      Support Bridges team by providing long- and short-term strategic and operational leadership of the Office's administrative functions and needs, including fiscal, human resources, information technology, and office space. 

●      Create and direct innovative solutions and continuous improvement strategies to enhance administrative support services.

●      Develop and implement fiscal rules, procedures, and internal controls to ensure consistent and efficient administrative services within broader regulatory, statutory, and constitutional requirements.

●      Review and analyze financial reports, trends, and variances to inform operational decision-making with the executive director, ensuring that all recommendations and decisions comply with Judicial fiscal rules and state law.

●      Provide oversight of the review and approval of all bills and expenses incurred by the Office and submission to Judicial Accounting for processing of timely payment. Ensure that all payments comply with state law and that Judicial fiscal rules are followed.

●      Prepare, analyze, and provide monthly budget monitoring updates and budget management strategies to the executive director.

●      Meet all budget-related deadlines whether established in statute or by the Judicial budget office. Prepare the Office’s annual budget submission, budget requests, supplemental requests, figure-setting, budget-related legislative issues, and legislative responses to requests for fiscal analyses.

●      Direct the policies and processes for any solicitations and contracts for purchases by the Office, ensuring that all purchases comply with Judicial fiscal rules and state law.

●      Development and oversight of a procurement management policy, process, and system for the Office, ensuring that they all comply with Judicial fiscal rules and state law, including maintaining appropriate documentation.

●      Develop and provide oversight of the Office’s applicant and personnel systems and records, in accordance with the Office’s personnel rules, state law, and federal regulations.

●      Maintain and secure confidential personnel records of employees, including job descriptions, employment letters, I-9 documentation and other onboarding materials, benefits enrollment and terminations, workspace agreements, personnel actions, and employee IDs, position numbers, and necessary personal information according to state and federal laws and regulations.

●      Oversee the processing of payroll with funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the Office, or in the cash fund created pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-95-108 resulting from gifts, grants, or donations that may be received by the Office. Confirm and approve – or submit to the executive director for approval – all payroll changes and data input. Maintain documentation as required by personnel rules and state and federal law.

●      Stay current with personnel rules, policies, laws, and other rules and regulations regarding Office and state benefits. Provide oversight and develop processes to ensure employees are sufficiently informed of benefits available to them and are assisted with benefits enrollment, application, notification, and enrollment and termination. Maintain and secure all related employee information per state and federal law.

●      Provide oversight of the Office’s leave-tracking requests, processes, and system. Provide education and training to Office employees and supervisors on best practices and use of the system and associated legal requirements.

●      Supervise the Office’s criminal history background check (CHC) process, including document retention. Provide education and training to Office employees and supervisors on policies and procedures for conducting CHC’s.

●      Provide oversight and guidance on Office personnel matters related to workers’ rights including, but not limited to, workers’ compensation, short- and long-term disability, Family Medical Leave Act matters, Family and Medical Leave Insurance matters, and Americans with Disabilities Act matters. Provide education and training to Office employees and supervisors on policies and procedures for related employee requests.

●      Stay current and provide oversight and guidance for all wage and hour law compliance and overtime calculations.

●      Oversee the Office’s information technology systems and IT contracts supporting those systems and make recommendations for best solutions and innovations to support the needs of the Office, including website maintenance, IT systems, equipment, servers, network, software, and cyber security. Ensure that Office employees receive sufficient education and tools to support their technology needs and successful engagement with the Office’s IT technology, systems, and equipment.

●      Oversee the appropriate use of Judicial’s Colorado State Courts Data Access System (CSCDA), including gathering and maintaining the appropriate paperwork from employees and providing guidance on appropriate use of access and compliance with Judicial’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Collaborative

●      Strategize and collaborate with the executive director, leadership team, and legislative and other external partners to provide ethical, financially sound systems and operational best practices for stability, growth, and innovation within the Office.

●      Provide operational knowledge and guidance of the public sector with a comprehensive understanding of independent agency operations working within compliance systems that include internal controls and legal requirements.

●      With the executive director, manage a budget of at least $14 million to drive Office operations and initiatives. Oversee financial processes, internal controls, and budget development, justification, and presentations to relevant decision-making bodies.

●      Develop and maintain professional relationships for close collaboration with partner entities, stakeholders, and the Colorado Legislature.

●      Create or assist with developing and implementing rules, policies, procedures, and programs to ensure efficient operations and provide financial, human resources, and IT support to the Leadership team and all employees.

●      Oversight of administrative human resources: develop and implement rules, policies, procedures, and programs to ensure efficient operations and provide administrative, and transactional human resources support to the organization and its employees.

●      Develop and issue regular communication and updates to internal Office staff with administrative, financial, and human resources processes.

●      Prepare annual budget schedules for the Office’s annual budget submissions.  Prepare strategic plan documents, Colorado SMART Act documents, long-range financial plan documents, budget summary narratives, and other supporting documents for inclusion in the annual budget submission.

●      Prepare budget schedules and supporting information for the executive director’s communication with the General Assembly’s JBC, its staff, staff of the General Assembly, and staff of the Office of State Planning and Budget.

●      Prepare or assist in preparing responses for the executive director to Joint Budget Committee (JBC) briefing/hearing questions, footnotes, and requests for information to JBC staff and coordinate with JBC staff concerning scheduling the Office’s hearing before the JBC.

●      Engage with Judicial and ASIA to provide the Office with accounting support, including processing payments in the State Accounting System (CORE), vendor management in CORE, initiating accounting transactions directed by the Office, issuance and management of Office and employee PCARDS, maintaining account coding structure, and providing accounting related support.

●      Engage with Judicial and ASIA to provide the Office with procurement advisement and support.

●      Develop, maintain, and oversee guidelines for the secure submission of reports to the court and collaborate with Judicial on the eventual development of e-filing.

●      Work with the executive director, members of the leadership team, and regional managers to identify and create solutions for office space needs of Bridges, both centrally in Denver and in regions as needs are identified.

●      Comply and assist with auditing requests, as directed by the executive director or Bridges Commission.

●      Provide leadership for, development of, or participation in onboarding, education, communities of practice, team meetings, and professional development opportunities as recommended or required by Bridges leadership.

●      Provide staff support to the Bridges Commission, as needed.

●      Develop and engage in specific projects and assignments to support Bridges executive director and leadership team.

Will provide direct supervision of administrative employees.

Other Responsibilities

This is a dynamic and new position where the scope of responsibilities and duties will evolve, and the incumbent should anticipate fulfilling other duties as assigned that are reasonable and necessary to fulfill the Bridges mission. The ideal candidate for this role will not only possess the ability to fulfill the outlined duties but will also be a proactive, adaptable, and capable contributor to the development of the role's scope and responsibilities, aligning them with the evolving needs of the Office.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The ideal candidate is passionate about working to improve the systems of care for those caught in the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system.

●      Person-centered, solution-focused, collaborative, and deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

●      Client-driven and values-driven.

●      Aligned with Bridges’ culture and passionate about supporting it throughout the organization.

●      Capable of, and enjoys, thriving in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment with thoughtful decision-making skills.

●      Creative, self-motivated, and able to work in a decentralized environment without close supervision.

●      The ability to communicate and collaborate with varying levels of positions of power and manage conflict proactively and responsively with confidentiality.

●      Emotional intelligence; able to create and sustain helpful, professional work relationships thoughtfully and responsively with empathy, respect, and collaboration.

●      Expert-level knowledge and skill in government-related budgeting, purchasing, and accounting practices and systems, and ethics.

●      Exceptional ability to translate financial and accounting acumen to financial and non-financial audiences.

●      General knowledge of human resources-related issues, practices, and systems in order to oversee HR transactional responsibilities, projects, and tasks.

●      Familiarity with information technology needs and project management with the ability to supervise IT initiatives, projects, and related contracts and contractors.

●      Strategic insight into identifying emerging opportunities, effectively navigating challenges, and adapting with agility and foresight.

●      Knowledge of human resources process management, including pertinent federal and state laws and regulations relating to employment and protections; staff recruitment; employee management and retention; leadership; and staff learning and development.

Minimum Qualifications

●      Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in the liberal arts and sciences, judicial administration, public administration, business administration, human resources development, or related fields.

●      At least seven (7+) years of experience in business administrative leadership, encompassing human resources, information technology, finance, and ethics.

●      At least three (3+) years of direct employment supervision with staff oversight of human resources processes, practices, and compliance.

●      Highly developed financial acumen and demonstrated continuing education in general and governmental accounting practices, fiscal rules, and compliance oversight of systems, processes, and practices.

●      Experience with developing fiscal rules, implementing internal financial controls, and compelling consistent procedures for ethical and legally compliant financial processes.

●      Direct complex budget development, management, and reporting experience.

●      Experience with contract management of information technology services and contractors.

●      Proficient communication skills for building professional relationships, advocating for the Office, and collaborating with internal and external partners.

●      Demonstrated understanding and passion for the populations Bridges serves in order to be innovative in the delivery of participants’ needs.

OR

●      At least two (2+) years as an employee or contractor with Bridges may substitute for the minimum qualifications above, with additional specialized training that may be required upon hire.

●      Years of relevant work experience may substitute for the educational requirement with the exception of any required licenses, certifications, or accreditations.

Preferred Qualifications

●      Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in a related field.

●      At least ten (10+) years of experience in business administrative leadership, encompassing human resources, information technology, finance, and ethics.

●      At least five (5+) years of direct employment supervision.

●      Strong collaborative relationships with governmental payroll, personnel, and related systems.

●      Resource or budgetary advocacy and reporting experience with state governments.

●      Leadership skills in building a unit/department from the ground up while inspiring employees to achieve exceptional results.

Work Environment

Outside the home workspace, the noise level in the work environment is variable. This position is subject to varying and unpredictable situations; may handle emergency or crisis situations; is subject to many interruptions; may handle multiple calls, emails, and verbal inquiries simultaneously.

Accommodations

The Bridges Office 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 Jori Dovey, People & Culture Manager, jori.dovey@bridgesofcolorado.gov.

Compensation

We are proud of our equity-conscious pay scale for all positions, providing livable wages, robust benefits, and meaningful time-off policies.

This position's initial hiring pay range is $129,913 to $149,400. For equity, the pay for this position (and all Bridges positions) is based upon the cost of living adjustment for the Denver metro area. Actual compensation offered will be determined based on prior experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the position. As a person grows in this role, the full pay range is currently $129,913 to $175,383.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage for spouses, families, and domestic partners; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance and short and long-term disability insurance; Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) benefits; family and parental leave benefits; generous paid time off. Click here for further information about State of Colorado employee benefits.

We also offer professional and career development opportunities, including clinical supervision toward relevant licensure. A cell phone will be provided, along with a hybrid work arrangement when feasible for your position’s responsibilities. Each employee will receive a laptop for their home office or travel for work. All employees will also receive exclusive parking at a discounted rate in the Ralph Carr Judicial building for easy access to the in-person meetings in Denver.

How to Apply

You will be required to provide the following documents:

●      Resume

●      Cover letter

●      Three references with contact information (2 of 3 must be professional)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications will not be accepted unless you are instructed to do so. Please direct any additional inquiries or questions to jori.dovey@bridgesofcolorado.gov.

To be considered, you must apply by the closing date of 5/26/24.

If you are offered employment, the following are the conditions of employment:

●      Be a current resident of the State of Colorado or become a resident of the State of Colorado within 30 days of the hire date;

●      Have reliable transportation to meet your position’s travel requirements;

●      Ability to work remotely, in an office setting, and travel throughout Colorado or region, depending on the position’s responsibilities;

●      Be willing to submit to a routine background investigation, including a criminal history check;

●      If hired, the Immigration Reform and Control Act requires you to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the United States within three (3) workdays of your start date.

Bridges of Colorado is an equal-opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion of all voices in the workplace. We consider applicants equally and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, social class, national origin, marital or parental status, pregnancy, disability status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or political affiliation. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and an environment of representation of diversity. We highly encourage individuals of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences to apply.