Rail and Utility Contracting Officer

Salary: $94,008.00 - $108,096.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: HAA-50004626 -04/25
Department: Department of Transportation
Division: Chief Engineer's Office
Opening Date: 04/08/2025
Closing Date: 4/17/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver, CO 80204
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: Priya.kumar@state.co.us
Hiring Pay Rate: The 2024 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series
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 position is only open to Colorado state residents.
New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.
About CDOT

Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans' lives? Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you will have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Please visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future! Also, check out our excellent benefits package!
CDOT for All

CDOT's strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/pslf/
The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for a period of up to 6 months.
Description of Job
About the Work Unit
The Local Agency, Railroad and Utilities unit (LARU) provides strategic planning and contact support for local agency highway, bridge and maintenance professional and construction services in addition to working with railroad, utility companies, and ditch owners for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). LARU coordinates closely in our strategic planning work with other CDOT Divisions, industry partners, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the Transportation Commission, FHWA, FTA and other federal and state agencies

About the PositionAs a Contract Administrator VI, you will serve as a Staff Authority on the Local Agency, Railroad and Utility Agreements (LARU) team and provides subject matter expertise for the Chief Engineer's leadership team team and engineering project teams in the development and implementation of a rail and utility contracts program. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing contract policy and procedures for DTR to use when planning for the creation of a new rail line. This position will also facilitate industry coordination meetings, incorporate new parties into existing contracts, secure State Controller's Office Fiscal Rule Waivers to align with unique property rights/needs, investigate novel funding mechanisms to expedite reimbursements for railroad, utility and ditch company payments, and team with the Attorney General's office when proposing solutions for novel legal challenges presented. This position is responsible for identifying prospective operational risks and propose risk mitigation alternatives for railroad and utility contracting, including standardizing the operations for railroad and utility payments.

Your duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide subject matter expertise for CDOT in developing and implementing a contract program for professional services and construction as they apply to projects that deal with utilities, railroads, transit, rail, EVs, and other stakeholders.
• Identify prospective operational risks, propose risk mitigation alternatives, and establish processes to standardize the delivery of contract documents for railroad and utility scopes of work.
• Provide contracting best practices related to establishing new power sources for planned construction.
• Design contracting processes for operations to ensure effective, timely coordination in these time-sensitive, mission-critical activities.
• Research and analyze project and division requirements and apply these to ensure CDOT's operations comply with the Colorado Public Utility Commission.
• Investigate and implement novel funding mechanisms to expedite reimbursements for railroad, utility and ditch company payments.
• Create contracts, modification orders, etc. to effectively address project needs while complying with laws, rules, and regulations.
• Generate and maintain trackers for work assignments, policy documents, a position manual, training documents and administrative documents in compliance with ECS contract process requirements.

Provide Training

• Develop and provide training to CDOT project managers in the budgeting, federal authorization, and contract processes to ensure the contracts are completed as timely and accurately as possible.
• Present innovative approaches to teams in the program to adjust to ever changing conditions with recommendations on best practices in this highly dynamic business field.
• Communicate to Local Agency, vendor and consultant project managers changes in contract templates and procedures that may affect their submissions and/or review processes.

Other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Your schedule will primarily be 8:00 am - 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday, but we are flexible to meet your work/life balance needs while ensuring CDOT business needs are met.
• You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work after completion of a training period.
• Some travel to meet with CDOT customers and attend trainings, including occasional overnight travel 1-3 times per year.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications

Experience Only:

• At least Nine (9) years of experience with a primary focus in writing new contracts and modification documents, and processing a high volume of contract documents through an established process.

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least nine (9) years.
  
  • Education from an accredited college or university with coursework in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, law, or another field of study closely related to the duties of this position will be considered.
  • Experience with a primary focus in writing new contracts and modification documents as well as processing a high volume of contract documents through an established process will be considered.

Please Note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. "See Resume" statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show your name, the name of the school, all coursework and degree(s) conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Credential evaluation reports must be official. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Condition of Employment
Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.

Preferred Candidate QualificationsThe preferred applicant will be an experienced Contract Administrator with proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• State service experience related to the duties of this position;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience drafting contract provisions, contract modification documents, and executing contracts;
• Demonstrated experience with contract law including railroad and utility regulations;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience reviewing and monitoring contracts for legal compliance;
• Experience with contracting issues including but not limited to intellectual property, liability, indemnification, scope of work, insurance, term, multi-party agreements, negotiations, assignments, breach of contract and other potential grounds for modification or termination;
• Planning and organizational skills and experience; proven ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and projects in a demanding environment;
• Excellent customer service skills;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner;
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made, and commitments;
• Ability to negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and build consensus through give and take;
• Effective interpersonal and relationship building skills;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral including facilitation and presentation skills and experience;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Ability to work effectively in both independent and team situations;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Gmail and Google Applications, SAP, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Exceptional Candidate Qualifications
In addition to the Preferred Candidate Qualifications, the Exceptional Candidate have proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• A Juris Doctorate Degree;
• Working knowledge of Professional Service Contract and Grant templates and terms/conditions;
• Experience with Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs), Interagency Agreements (IAA's); Railroad Agreements, and Utility Agreements;
• Working knowledge of SAP;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience with Colorado procurement rules, and Colorado State fiscal rules.

Supplemental Information
Applicant Checklist
Complete Applications must include the following documents:

A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at the top of this announcement)

A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)

A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.

A detailed chronological resume. Resumes must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.

If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing your name, the name of your school, all coursework and degree(s) conferred or your NACES credential evaluation report. Credential evaluation reports must be official. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.
Notifications:

All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email. Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website.
The Hiring Process:

All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the minimum qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

• Part, or all, of the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
• Be sure your application materials specifically address your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the Major Duties, Minimum Qualifications, and Preferred Qualifications sections as listed above. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the deadline for application may result in your application not being accepted for this position and may affect your inclusion as a qualified candidate in any step of the selection process and placement on the eligible list.

A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

Transfer, Non-Disciplinary Demotion or Reinstatement

If you believe that you are eligible to be considered as a transfer, non-disciplinary demotion, or reinstatement to this vacancy, you must submit a completed application following the directions in this job announcement and you will be included in the selection process along with other qualified applicants. If you are the finalist for this position after the selection process, Human Resources will confirm your eligibility to be appointed as a transfer, non-disciplinary demotion, or reinstatement applicant.
Employment Screening

If an applicant reaches the finalist stage of the hiring process, the Colorado Department of Transportation may procure a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report on the applicant in connection with his/her application for employment purposes, as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These reports may be obtained at any time after receipt of the applicant's authorization. As part of the employment screening an applicant will be requested to disclose any deferred judgments and convictions as well as an explanation of the circumstances around any arrest or conviction. In the event that a screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or she will have an opportunity to dispute the information with "Info Cubic."Info Cubic, a consumer reporting agency, will obtain the report for CDOT. Further information regarding Info Cubic, a Division of Orange Tree, including its privacy policy, may be found online at www.InfoCubic.com and www.OrangeTreeScreening.com. Info Cubic is located at 7275 Ohms Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55439. The report may contain information bearing on the applicant's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living. The information that may be included in the report includes social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records checks, educational records, and driving records checks. CDOT will only request credit reports insofar as they relate to the position for which the applicant is applying. The information contained in the report will be obtained from private and/or public record sources. The applicant will have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after receipt of a notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report.
Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at 303.866.3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
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.
Discrimination and/or harassment against any person is prohibited because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran's status, marital status, gender identity or any other protected class recognized under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). This applies to all employment decisions.
ADAAA Accommodations

CDOT is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or 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 Priya Kumar at Priya.kumar@state.co.us
Former State Employees

Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application.
PK (SAP 50004626 /PCR # )
The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information:

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
01

If you are a current or previous State of Colorado employee, please list your Employee Identification Number (EID), dates of employment, and classifications for all State of Colorado Departments or institutes of Higher Education for which you have worked. The 2024 Step Pay Program may increase the salary range for employees with time in the class series. Your EID begins with 997 and is nine digits long. Please do not enter your Social Security Number. If not, please state "N/A".
02

If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Unofficial copies are acceptable, but they must show the name of the school, your name, all coursework and degree(s) conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Credential evaluatio reports must be official. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position. Have you included your transcript(s) or official evaluation report as an attachment to your application? If not, you may go back and do so now.

• I am using education to meet part or all of the minimum qualifications and have attached my transcript(s) or official credential evaluation report to my application.
• No, I have not attached transcripts to my application because I am using experience to meet the minimum qualifications.
• I have requested my transcripts from my college/university and will email them to Priya.kumar@state.co.us within 5 business days of the close date of the job announcement.

03

A chronological resume and cover letter are required for your application to be complete. Your cover letter should describe how your experience aligns with the minimum qualifications and exceptional candidate section of this announcement. Documents must be uploaded as attachments to your online application. Documents will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement. Please confirm that you have attached these documents to your application Please note: The education, experience, abilities, and accomplishments listed in this announcement have been identified as critical to successful performance in this position. Your cover letter should address your interest in and qualifications for this job with CDOT. Please be specific and detailed in describing experience, abilities, and accomplishments as they relate to this position's requirements and major duties as described in the announcement.

• Yes
• No

04

Please describe your experience in the following: 1) writing new contracts and modification documents 2) processing a high volume of contract documents through an established process. Please list the names of employer(s) where you performed these responsibilities and the dates of employment (mo/yr - mo/yr) Please do not write, "See Resume"
05

Have you been subject to disciplinary action in the last three years of your work experience? If so, please provide details of that disciplinary action. If not, please state "N/A".
06

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position. If this does not apply to you, please put "N/A".
07

If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application. Did you attach a copy of your DD214 to your application? If not, you may go back and do so now.

• Yes
• No - I am a veteran, but I do not qualify for veterans' preference
• N/A - I am not a veteran

08

CDOT-Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability We are a federal contractor or subcontractor required by law to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We are also required to measure our progress toward having at least 7% of our workforce be individuals with disabilities. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had a disability. Because a person may become disabled at any time, we ask all of our employees to update their information at least every five years.Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions. Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self-identified in the past. For more information about this form or the equal employment obligations of federal contractors under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp. You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition. Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Autism Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or hard of hearing Depression or anxiety Diabetes Epilepsy Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, or irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual disability Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Nervous system condition for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson's disease, or Multiple sclerosis (MS) Psychiatric condition, for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or major depression

• Yes, I Have A Disability, Or Have A History/Record Of Having A Disability
• No, I Don't Have A Disability, Or A History/Record Of Having A Disability
• I Don't Wish To Answer

Required Question