Intern

Job Description

About the Company

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is a state agency dedicated to making a difference in Coloradans’ lives by helping people and keeping them safe. Their work contributes to the safety of Coloradans and visitors, providing freedom, connection, and experience through travel by maintaining and improving transportation systems.

CDOT’s Core Values and Culture:
CDOT emphasizes Excellence, committing to quality, leadership, and continuous improvement of products and services. They also champion “CDOT for All,” which signifies their commitment to creating a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of identity (gender, race, ethnicity, religion, origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, etc.), has the opportunity to thrive. They believe their strength lies in their people and strive to shape, support, and sustain a positive employee experience.

Job Description: Intern, Office of Process Improvement (OPI)

This is a paid temporary position, requiring a minimum of 24 hours per week, with a maximum duration of 9 months from the hire date. Temporary employees accrue paid sick leave (1 hour for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is advised.

About the Office of Process Improvement (OPI):
The Office of Process Improvement (OPI) is central to CDOT’s commitment to continuous improvement, aligning with CDOT’s core value of “Excellence.” OPI provides the necessary infrastructure, processes, training, and support to cultivate a culture of ongoing enhancement across the department. Their long-term vision is: “Everyone, Every Day, Improving Every Process and Every Product, To Benefit Every Customer,” ensuring successful adoption and realization of benefits from all changes. OPI collaborates both internally within CDOT and externally with other government agencies to enhance services, products, and operations.

OPI offers three primary lines of service:

1. Lean Everyday Ideas (LEI): This flagship program encourages every CDOT employee to identify and implement daily improvements in their workplaces and processes. It facilitates sharing and collaboration on innovations through a robust database and a thorough vetting system.
2. Concept to Project (C2P): C2P aims to improve CDOT’s business improvement projects by offering training, tools, resources, and a standardized completion process. It also ensures that all business improvement projects impacting how people work integrate change management, leading to the successful realization of project benefits.
3. Strategy: This service line assists individuals, teams, departments, and regions in creating and executing their strategic plans, ensuring alignment with CDOT’s overall performance plan and the achievement of yearly performance goals.

About the Position (Intern):
As an OPI intern, you will play a crucial role across all OPI programs. The position offers significant learning opportunities, including participation in workshops such as CDOT’s 3-day Change Management for Practitioners workshop (leading to Prosci’s Change Practitioner Certification), lean process improvement workshops, and other professional development. Interns also have the chance to attend informative outings to state facilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with innovation and improvement throughout CDOT:
• Engaging with CDOTers by documenting and sharing their ideas and innovations.
• Maintaining a robust database of innovations through data collection, entry, and cleaning.
• Assessing process effectiveness and efficiency using continuous improvement and change management methodologies.
• Developing, managing, and executing projects to improve process effectiveness and efficiency, integrating change management into project plans.
• Developing, designing, and producing graphics and videos to support OPI initiatives (e.g., promotional materials, web content).
• Ensuring all electronic documents and designs adhere to accessibility best practices.
• Supporting project and change management initiatives through Concept to Project (C2P):
• Preparing and producing change management courses and supporting facilitators.
• Maintaining project and change management tools and resources (documents, spreadsheets, videos/web content).
• Assisting with projects aimed at improving C2P-associated processes to mature the program.
• Aiding the development of strategic plans within CDOT:
• Developing recommendations for improving operations.
• Documenting goals, metrics, and initiatives.
• Creating and producing communications independently, demonstrating strong verbal and written communication skills across various platforms.
• Developing personal organization and tracking methods (e.g., internal spreadsheets, software selection for effective results).
• Planning events related to innovation and improvement initiatives, including logistics, equipment, catering, and presenters.
• Performing other assigned duties to support CDOT’s goals and Excellence Value.
• Occasional car travel within the Denver metro region and other areas throughout the state.

Work Environment:

• The position is based at CDOT’s Statewide Headquarters Complex at 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver, CO 80204.
• OPI operates in a hybrid work environment, with interns expected to be in the office at least once a week (subject to change).
• The expected work schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 24 to 40 hours per week.
• The role requires the ability to work in an active, collaborative, team-oriented environment, often virtually.
• Regular use of computers and accompanying technology/software is essential.

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must be either:
• Any college student currently enrolled in an accredited community college, college, or university seeking an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree.
• OR A recent college graduate (within three calendar years of graduating with an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution).
• OR A certified participant in the Colorado Refugee Services Program.
• Note: Legible copies of official or unofficial college transcripts (or foreign credential evaluation) showing degree conferral must be submitted with the application.

Conditions 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.

Preferred Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be an undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate, with a strong interest in applying change management, project management, and process improvement techniques. Proven accomplishments and experience are sought in:

• Strong interest in the duties listed in the job description.
• Experience in process improvement, change management, or related disciplines (e.g., organizational development, industrial/organizational psychology, management science, HR management, systems engineering, quality assurance, industrial engineering, human factors engineering, strategy management, business management).
• Knowledge and experience with continuous improvement technologies and change management/change leadership theory, technology, and practices.
• Knowledge and experience with documenting processes and operations.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to take initiative and perform duties with minimal supervision in both remote and in-person settings.
• Familiarity with Google Suite (Gmail, applications); experience with Zoom, Canva, PowerBI, and LucidChart is a plus. Experience developing graphs and charts using Microsoft Office and Google Suites.
• Good basic understanding of fundamental graphic design principles.
• A strong commitment to learning.

Application Process:
Complete applications must include:
• A complete online CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy.
• A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (part of the online application).
• A cover letter detailing interest and alignment with qualifications (uploaded as an attachment).
• College transcripts or foreign credential evaluation (if using education to qualify, uploaded as an attachment).
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date will be considered. All correspondence regarding application status will be via email.