Job Description

JOB LOCATION

14999 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1563

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of:Integrity,Respect, Professionalism, andCustomer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Anticipated Hiring salary: $33.43 - $41.79/Hourly

Full Salary Range:$33.43 - $52.24/Hourly

Salary to be commensurate with experience.

(Variable Hour Position) This is classified as VHBE (Variable Hour Benefit Eligible), where the selected candidate can work up to 40 hours per week.  The selected candidate will be eligible to elect Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, accrue paid time off, and receive 11 paid holidays.

Deadline to apply: April 25th, 2026 (This position is subject to close once a qualified pool of applications has been obtained)

OF JOB

Mental Health Program Supervisor within the Aurora Municipal Public Defender’s office, functions as a non-attorney member of the defense team. Working with the public defenders, this individual assists with daily mental health screenings in the detention center, coordinates the Aurora Sustained program for the office, makes recommendations for when to set cases for competency, and coordinates competency evaluations for clients in and out of custody. This individual also serves as a liaison between the Aurora Sustained program and program stakeholders, including other city departments and community partners.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Functions as the primary mental health resource within the Aurora Public Defender Office and informs, works with mental health contractors who inform, or guides clinical students who function as advisors, where any individual represented by the public defender needs a competency evaluation, mental health referral, and/or the circumstances require an M1 hold.
• Ensures that clients in custody pre-arraignment are screened for mental health and acts as coverage for any mental health contractor whose primary duty is to do the same.
• Advises the attorney or works with a mental health contractor (MHC) who advises the attorney of individuals experiencing mental health or medical conditions that impact their ability to participate and understand the proceedings competently.
• Manages a caseload of individuals set for competency, including but not limited to coordinating competency evaluations and connecting individuals to the appropriate treatment services.
• Reviews cases and consults with attorneys as needed to make recommendations for mental health treatment or competency evaluation.
• Develops and maintains relationships with community partners, other City departments, attends meetings, and collaborates with stakeholders for the coordination of mental health and other services that improve the quality of representation by the Public Defender.
• Gathers and keeps data related to competency evaluations and outcomes, and assists community partners in data collection as needed. Supervises any interns who function as data analysts or otherwise assist in this effort, for the grant requirements, and to ensure there are no service gaps.
• Works closely with Legacy Unit: Deputy Public Defender (Mental Health Programs) to prepare cases set for the Competency docket.
• Coordinates competency evaluations with the contracted doctor, facilitates the evaluation by ensuring that the client is aware and the doctor has all background information or records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education:

• Master’s degree in counseling, behavioral health, social work, or related field.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience in social services and/or working with individuals involved in the justice system.
• Experience working with populations including individuals who are unhoused and/or experiencing one or more of the following: intellectual or developmental disability, severe persistent mental illness, substance use disorder.
• Experience applying trauma-informed principles to interactions with clients.

Preferred Qualifications:

• License in counseling, social work, or related field (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LAC)
• Spanish language proficiency preferred

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and issues specific to incarcerated individuals.
• A basic understanding of the criminal justice system and forensic mental health programs.
• Knowledge of community resources and programs that assist with or provide access to mental health services, case management, and/or housing assistance.
• Knowledge of different levels of care in mental health and substance abuse treatment, and a working understanding of the criteria for each.
• Knowledge of best practices when working with people who are unhoused and/or experiencing one or more of the following: intellectual or developmental disability, severe persistent mental illness, or substance use disorder.
• Understand the principles of motivational interviewing.

Skills:

• Skilled in mental health screening, assessment, and diagnosis consistent with licensure.
• Ability to de-escalate and manage clients experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
• Ability to build and develop rapport with and work with clients of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Skilled in understanding and working with clients with varying clinical diagnoses and presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to maintain professionalism when working with clients, caregivers, family members, or community partners.

Abilities:

• Effectively develop and maintain professional relationships with all levels of staff in the courthouse, detention center, and other stakeholder parties as needed.
• Communicate effectively with individuals who are unhoused and/or experiencing one or more of the following: intellectual or developmental disability, severe persistent mental illness, substance use disorder.
• Manage and prioritize multiple tasks and crisis situations as they arise.
• Ability to identify tasks and complete them independently.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• License in counseling, social work, or related field (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LAC) in the State of Colorado

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel:

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands:

• Light physical work that involves moving no more than 20 pounds at a time with or without assistance
• Frequent lifting, carrying, walking, and standing
• May require pushing, pulling, bending, and stooping
• Ability to review and interpret reports and other written documents with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to communicate with employees, contractors, and residents in field environments, with or without reasonable accommodation

Work Environment:

• Works primarily indoors but in a variety of settings with varying noise levels.
• Some travel between locations is required, primarily between detention centers in the metro area to visit clients, but also for off-site meetings with community partners.

Equipment Used:

• Uses standard office equipment, including a personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, and Excel
• Pen and paper for taking notes and completing mental health screenings in the jail and courthouse.
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check.

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.