About this role
The Colorado Office of Public Guardianship
Position: Senior Guardian
Agency: Colorado Office of Public Guardianship
Status: Full-Time
FLSA: Exempt
Location: Greenwood Village, Colorado (Hybrid) Reports to: Director of Guardian Services
Salary: $81,304.96 annually ($6,775.41 monthly)
Important: This posting will be used to establish a continuous talent pool to fill positions as the agency expands statewide.
Current Open Territories
OPG is recruiting for Senior Guardian positions across the following regions as the agency expands statewide:
• Northwest Region - 1st, 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 20th, and 21st Judicial Districts
• Northeast Region - 2nd, 13th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Judicial Districts
• Southwest Region - 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, and 22nd Judicial Districts
• Southeast Region - 3rd, 4th, 10th, 15th, 16th, and 23rd Judicial Districts
Applicants may be considered for one or more regions based on interest, qualifications, and agency needs. Available territories may change as positions are filled and the agency continues its statewide expansion.
The Agency: The Colorado Office of Public Guardianship
The Colorado Office of Public Guardianship provides public guardianship services to eligible indigent and incapacitated adult individuals who have no responsible family members or friends who are available and appropriate to serve as guardian; lack adequate resources to compensate a private guardian and pay the costs associated with an appointment proceeding; and are not subject to a petition for appointment of guardian filed by a county adult protective services unit or otherwise authorized by C.R.S. § 26-3.1-104. The duties and services of the Colorado Office of Public Guardianship (OPG) is codified in the Office of Public Guardianship Act, C.R.S. §§ 13-94-101 – 13-94-111 (2017, 2019).
Mission Statement: The mission of the Colorado OPG is to provide guardianship services for indigent and incapacitated adults when other guardianship possibilities are exhausted. If Colorado adults lack willing and appropriate family or friends, resources to compensate a private guardian, and access to public service organizations that offer guardianship, the Colorado OPG provides guardianship services to secure the health and safety of these individuals while safeguarding their individual rights and preserving their independence wherever possible.
The office’s effectiveness depends heavily on independence, professionalism, collaboration, and public trust.
Colorado Office of Public Guardianship Agency Website
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to lead and shape guardianship practice while making a direct, lasting impact in the lives of adults who need support navigating important personal, medical, financial, and legal decisions.
As a Senior Guardian with the Colorado Office of Public Guardianship, you will supervise and mentor a team of Guardians while maintaining a reduced caseload of complex, high-risk cases. The role requires sound judgment, compassion, accountability, and the ability to build trusted relationships while advocating for each individual's needs, preferences, and well-being, along with the leadership skills to guide and develop staff.
OPG is continuing to expand its statewide reach, making this an exciting time to join the agency in a leadership capacity. Senior Guardians will have the opportunity to shape a growing public-service program, work collaboratively with community partners, and help strengthen access to guardianship services across Colorado.
This role may be a strong fit for someone who values meaningful work, professional autonomy, thoughtful decision-making, and the opportunity to lead a team while serving individuals and communities throughout the state.
Senior Guardian - Official Job Description
Position Overview
The Senior Guardian serves as a first-line supervisor and practice leader, providing day-to-day oversight, guidance, and support to assigned Guardians. This role is responsible for supervising staff, supporting workload distribution, and ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance in guardianship practice. The Senior Guardian serves as a subject matter expert, providing guidance on complex or high-risk cases, statutory interpretation, and best practices. The role maintains a reduced caseload of complex cases and supports decision-making, problem-solving, and escalation as needed. The Senior Guardian partners with leadership to support program development, staff performance, and continuous improvement of guardianship services.
Key responsibilities:
• Supervise and provide day-to-day regional leadership to assigned Guardians, including mentoring, coaching, and practice guidance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on complex cases, statutory interpretation, or guardianship best practices.
• Maintain a reduced caseload consisting of complex, high-risk, or specialized cases; provide on-call support for emergency situations as assigned.
• Oversee workload distribution and caseload assignments across assigned Guardians to ensure effective service delivery and balance of work.
• Meet regularly with assigned Guardians to review cases, provide guidance, and address performance or practice-related challenges.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support performance management activities, including identifying training and development needs.
• Assess complex and high-risk cases and determine appropriate action, including providing direct support, guidance, or escalation to leadership as needed.
• Participate in program and policy development and support implementation of agency initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards, statutes, policies, and procedures.
• Contribute to program evaluation efforts and identify unmet needs or opportunities for improvement.
• Review and assess guardianship referrals from internal and external stakeholders to determine appropriate case assignments, prioritization, and action planning.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Experience only
Six (6) years of directly related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience, including:
• At least two (2) years of experience in a discipline related to guardianship services, which includes medical decision-making for others in areas such as legal, counseling, healthcare, probation and parole, public administration, or services for individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or behavioral challenges, and
• Demonstrated leadership, lead, or supervisory experience, which may include mentoring, training, case guidance, or informal team leadership responsibilities
OR
Education and Experience:
A bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, gerontology, a related behavioral science, healthcare, or client support services field, and:
• Four (4) years of relevant experience in guardianship or related services, and
• Demonstrated leadership or lead experience as described above
Preferred Qualifications:
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, provide case guidance, or support team operations in a lead capacity
• Experience supervising or leading staff in a human services, legal, or healthcare setting
• Experience managing complex or high-risk cases involving vulnerable populations
• Experience supporting staff development, training, or mentoring
• Familiarity with guardianship statutes, court processes, and compliance requirements
• Experience working in a public sector or multi-agency environment
Skills and Competencies:
• Advanced critical thinking and decision-making skills, particularly in complex or high-risk situations
• Ability to lead, coach, and support staff in a professional and constructive manner
• Strong conflict resolution skills, including the ability to address staff and case-related challenges
• Ability to manage competing priorities across team and caseload responsibilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including guidance and feedback delivery
• Ability to interpret and apply statutes, policies, and best practices in guardianship services
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Supervise and provide day-to-day regional oversight to assigned Guardians
• Assign work and manage caseload distribution to ensure effective service delivery
• Provide onboarding, training, mentoring, and ongoing coaching to staff
• Conduct performance management activities, including feedback, evaluations, and development planning
• Establish expectations, monitor performance, and address performance concerns as needed
• Support staff professional development and identify training needs
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This is a hybrid position based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Periodic statewide travel is required, and the role includes rotating on-call duties for emergency situations.
The role requires resilience, professionalism, and the ability to respond thoughtfully to urgent or sensitive matters while balancing team supervision, complex case responsibilities, and agency priorities.
Agency Values
OPG’s work is guided by the following principles:
• Dignity: At-risk adults are treated with individual dignity and respect.
• Self-determination: The concerns and decisions of at-risk adults are, to the greatest extent possible, considered with the assistance to regain or develop capacities and participate in supported decision-making and person-centered planning.
• Access and Quality: At-risk adults should receive timely access to appropriate services, consistent with best practice, to ensure personal safety and well-being.
• Collaboration: The Colorado OPG actively seeks collaborative relationships with governmental and community stakeholders to maximize resources and support continuous improvement of policies and processes.
• Accountability and Transparency: Outcomes of the Colorado OPG are defined, documented, and made available to the Colorado General Assembly and the public, as required by statute, accurately and on a timely basis.
BENEFITS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The position includes a comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid leave and holidays, retirement through Colorado PERA, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Click here for more information regarding employee benefits: State of Colorado Employee Benefits
The Colorado Office of Public Guardianship is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to full inclusion and reasonable accommodations.
Conditions of Employment:
• This is a national recruitment open to applicants residing in the United States. (Internal candidates who are current OPG employees and Colorado residents are not subject to this requirement.)
• The selected candidate must reside in Colorado within 30 days of employment. Relocation assistance or reimbursement is not provided for this position. (Applies to external hires only; not applicable to current Colorado-based OPG employees.)
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. (Internal candidates with a current, valid background check on file are not required to repeat this process.)
• Employment is also contingent upon successful completion of the required Colorado Adult Protective Services (CAPS) background check. (Internal candidates with a current, valid CAPS clearance on file are not required to repeat this process.)
Application Deadline: Continuous posting. This posting will be used to fill multiple positions as the agency expands statewide. $81,304.96 annually ($6,775.41 monthly)