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DLSS Careers

CDLE regularly hires for a wide range of jobs posted on the CDLE careers page. Jobs at the CDLE Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (“DLSS”) include:

  • Compliance Investigators, who, with DLSS training and continuing education, investigate complaints of labor violations, write binding decisions ordering wage payments and changes to unlawful practices, and with experience may participate in outreach, rulemaking, and policy initiatives.
  • Data analysts and technicians, who obtain, analyze, and produce Colorado’s labor market data on jobs and pay by industry, by occupation, and for the state overall.
  • Economists and statistical analysts, who produce and present a variety of analyses and reports on Colorado’s labor market data.
  • Labor policy advisors, who analyze labor law and policy issues, take a lead role in DLSS rulemaking efforts, and produce and present reports and published guidance to internal and external audiences.
  • Administrative Assistants and Program Assistants, at varied levels of pay and experience.
  • Managers and supervisors of all of the above positions.
  • Other positions may be open on an ad hoc basis (Salesforce administrator, outreach and communications, hearing officer, etc.).

DLSS jobs currently posted, or with anticipated upcoming postings:

Labor Law Senior Policy Advisor

Labor Law Senior Policy Advisor posting

Date of posting (linked above): 5/12/2025
Applications due: 5:00 p.m. Thursday, 5/29/2025

The salary range for this position is:
$43.04 - $62.68 HOURLY
$3,443.08 - $5,014.16 BIWEEKLY
$7,460.00 - $10,864.01 MONTHLY
$89,520.00 - $130,368.12 ANNUALLY

The linked posting is where applications should be submitted, and has contact information for questions about the hiring process.

Tips for Applying:

Be sure to:

  1. list all experience of any potential or partial relevance, explaining any degree of relevance in your description of the experience;
  2. include part-time work, noting the average hours per week; and 
  3. answer the questions at the end of the application thoughtfully and in detail.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:
Eight (8) years of professional legal work experience that requires judgment and discretion (e.g., as a lawyer but not as a paralegal) that includes labor relations law experience, i.e., under the federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), at the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), or under similar state or federal union-management law (e.g., Colorado law on state or county employee unions).

OR

Education and Experience:
A combination of related education that includes coursework in civil procedure, administrative law, or labor or employment law (e.g., in the standard Juris Doctor curriculum that includes such coursework, or in another program with similar coursework) and/or relevant experience (using the guidelines stated above) in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to eight (8) years.

Description of the Job:

The Labor Relations Unit of the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics is hiring a Policy Advisor V position. The Labor Relations Unit administers and enforces provisions of the Labor Peace Act, the Industrial Relations Act, the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act, the Protections for Public Workers Act, and the Colorado Quality Apprenticeship Training Act of 2019 (Prevailing Wage Act). This ever-expanding program/unit is responsible for all state-wide labor relations and union matters within the Division’s jurisdiction. Program decisions and policies have state-wide implications. Upon written complaint, the program ensures compliance with the law via the applicable investigatory procedure. The program also educates the public regarding their rights and responsibilities pertaining to the laws and regulations within the unit’s statutory authority and jurisdiction.

This position operates as a Senior Policy Advisor (Policy Advisor V), which involves evaluating the relevance and importance of legal and organizational theories, concepts, and principles in order to tailor input and guidance to fit specific circumstances. This position has a unique level of expertise in legal analysis, research, and communication, with specific expertise in federal labor relations law; specifically, the National Labor Relations Act, serving as the Division’s Senior Authority in that area. Such legal analysis, research, and communication are essential components of the Division’s work, and critical to the Division’s mission.

This position examines the interplay between federal and state wage and hour laws, state employee-protection laws, county employee-protection laws, federal and state labor relations laws, and Division objectives. Then, based on that examination, this position proposes and directs courses of action first to the Labor Relations Program Manager, the Manager of Policy Development and Complex Claim Investigations, and the Division Director, as well as other relevant Labor Standards Managers, and if needed, the Department, and other agencies. Once courses of actions are approved this position incorporates results into staff publications, rulemaking, training, and Division policies.

This position develops models, processes, concepts, and theories pertaining to labor relations and Colorado public employee-protection laws, and other specialized fields of labor law, that may have little or no precedent in Colorado or in other jurisdictions. This position draws on expertise and research to propose legal strategy and courses of action to the Labor Relations Program Manager, Manager of Policy Development and Complex Claim Investigations, and Division Director on unprecedented issues, including analyzing law and interpretations under the NLRA and determining how to apply them to Colorado labor laws.

This position receives and responds to stakeholder inquiries regarding complex or novel issues in the application of the NLRA and interpretations and guidance thereunder to state labor relations and public employee-protection laws, as well as corresponding state labor relations rules and regulations; meets with stakeholders regarding these inquiries; analyzes interpretations, coverage, and application issues in the context of applying federal law to state labor laws and rules and Division objectives; determines or recommends to the Labor Relations Program Manager the substantive policy-setting response to the inquiries; and develops policies and internal or external published guidance for broader applicability of the substantive policy.

This position assists the Labor Relations Program Manager with the development and implementation of the Division’s process for accepting, dismissing, investigating, and resolving unfair labor practice complaints, and collective bargaining unit disputes filed with the Division. This position, thus, takes a lead role in providing an expert opinion and determination for interpretations and incorporation of federal labor law that this program applies consistently across each investigation. This position also serves as the Division-wide resource for discussions, clarifications, and issuances of policies, practices, and guidance on federal labor law — so that the senior authority can provide a sound and thoughtful application of the NLRA to Colorado labor law, where appropriate.    

This position conducts elections pursuant to the Labor Peace Act and Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act (“COBCA”) to form collective bargaining units, authorize all-union agreements, and decertify bargaining units or remove authorization for all-union agreements. This position evaluates strike notices and advises management on strike courses of action. This position provides coaching and training to the Labor Relations program on the subject matters and initiates meetings to discuss the subject matters. This position is a resource to employers, labor unions, employees, and their representatives regarding the state-wide labor relations.

To express interest in being notified of future job openings:

If you might be interested in working at DLSS, but there is no current or expected or upcoming posting: We do not take formal applications outside of official job postings, but we can put you on a list to be notified of future DLSS developments, including to be notified of postings of future openings that might be of interest to you. Please fill out this form to express interest, indicating what job, or types of jobs, would be of interest. You do not need to attach a resume or professional profile to the form, but you can if you wish.

About Us:

Through the Office of Labor Standards (LS), DLSS interprets, investigates, issues guidance and rules on, and enforces labor law on various aspects of: wages (minimum, overtime, deductions, etc.); health-related leave and whistleblowing; employee privacy rights (limits on inquiries into credit history, criminal record, or social media); union-management relations (elections and certain grievances); transparency in posting job and promotion opportunities; public contracting; and youth employment.

Through the Office of Labor Market Information (LMI), DLSS collects, calculates, and analyzes information on the state of, and trends in, labor markets throughout Colorado. Through the “LMI Gateway” site, LMI presents its data in various ways: industry employment and wages; current and projected industry and occupation levels; occupational wages; and labor force employment and wages. LMI also provides more customized information and analyses that help workforce centers, unemployment insurance, and policy-makers serve all Coloradans.