CAIC Avalanche Forecaster - SW Backcountry (PSRS I)

State of Colorado; Durango (CO); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision and Dental plans

Strong retirement plans (PERA)

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is seeking experienced avalanche forecasters to analyze snow and weather data, forecast hazards, and produce public safety products.

The role involves field travel throughout Colorado, home-office work, and collaboration with the CAIC team.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years experience in an occupational field related to avalanche forecasting for backcountry recreation, winter recreation or transportation applications.
• One (1) year relevant experience related to avalanche forecasting.
• Substitutions: additional education substitutes for experience.

Responsibilities

• Analyze snow, weather, and avalanche data to determine current and future conditions.
• Create education material and teach short courses on snow, weather, and avalanche safety.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in planning and development/testing.

Skills

Avalanche forecasting experience

Field data collection

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in meteorology, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, communications or English (writing)

Tools

Wilderness First Responder certification

Job description

Residents and non-residents of Colorado may apply and be hired into this position as the work will be performed primarily at a location that is within 30 miles of the state border.

This position will work full time FTE during the winter months and reduced hours the rest of the year.

Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s our mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at https://dnr.colorado.gov/about-us to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today – and tomorrow.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical, Vision and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax and Roth 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

For more detailed information, please visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits

Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

This position is part of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), which exists to promote avalanche safety by reducing the impact of avalanches on recreation, industry and transportation in the State through a program of forecasting and education.

Residents and non-residents of Colorado may apply and be hired into this position as the work will be performed primarily at a location that is within 30 miles of the state border.

This position will work full time FTE during the winter months and reduced hours the rest of the year.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is a statewide agency helping people in Colorado with avalanches and avalanche safety.

This position’s primary responsibly is backcountry avalanche safety in the SW Colorado mountains south of highway US50 (greater San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges).

Work is primarily performed from a home office, one of CAIC’s offices, and in the field. This position will need to travel for monthly staff meetings, typically in Leadville, and other locations for meetings, training, and project work as directed by the supervisor.

This position performs four main functions:

Forecaster

• Analyze snow, weather, and avalanche data to determine current and future conditions.
• Use CAIC tools, systems, and procedures to document work process and predictions.
• Use CAIC tools, systems, and procedures to create and communicate public safety products.
• Participate in daily forecast meetings to facilitate the number, type, and quality of daily products.
• Development of daily avalanche hazard assessment and daily forecast meeting.
• Work in a team to decide current avalanche hazard levels and avalanche characteristics.
• Present summary and reasoning in daily forecast meeting and help others check their assessment of avalanche hazard for assigned areas.
• Create avalanche forecasts for staff of the Colorado Department of Transportation that meet or exceed CAIC’s goals for type, quantity, and quality.

Field Operations

• Field operations involves traveling throughout the mountains areas of Colorado in both winter and summer.
• This includes driving on snow-covered highways, 4x4 roads, and traveling in helicopters; it includes driving on snowmobiles and skis into steep, complex, and exposed terrain elevations; it includes exposure to avalanche hazard and mountain weather conditions in the winter and summer; it includes using explosives and delivery systems from hand-placed charges, to helicopter deployed charges, military artillery, gas projectile systems, and remote avalanche control systems.
• Most field operations include some type of data collection.
• Avalanche forecasters use a targeted sampling framework where current data is analyzed to inform future collection of specific fields, at specific times, and in specific locations. Avalanche Forecasters need knowledge of snow, weather, and avalanche phenomena to perform this task and field travel skills to perform these tasks. Avalanche Forecasters work in a team to create a plan for daily data collection efforts over broad mountainous sections of Colorado. They participate in and contribute to the daily risk management process.
• Field staff maintain Wilderness First Responder certification as part of CAIC field medical program and specific levels in the Incident Command System.
• Field operations include summer maintenance of remote instrumentation and supporting CDOT’s maintenance of remote avalanche control systems.

Author and Educator

• Collect and record daily observations at targeted sites and study plots
• Write reports and articles that document snow, weather, and avalanche events in Colorado.
• Examples include monthly and annual summaries of snow, weather, and avalanche conditions; reports on accidents and notable events, articles for a general audience on snow, weather, and avalanche safety or forecasting.
• Create education material. Teach short courses on snow, weather, and avalanche safety and forecasting, which could be in the field.

Agency Functions

• Attend staff meetings
• remain up-to-date on training/policies/procedures
• participate in planning/development/testing
• perform other common workplace tasks as needed.

Other duties assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Five (5) years experience in an occupational field related to avalanche forecasting for backcountry recreation (motorized or non-motorized guiding in avalanche terrain), winter recreation (ski area), or a transportation application (highway, railroad, etc.) or another workplace environment such as the USFS or workplace with winter field operations in avalanche terrain, or similar work experience.

OR

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment such as meteorology, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, communications, or English (writing).

AND

One (1) year relevant experience related to avalanche forecasting for backcountry recreation (motorized or non-motorized guiding in avalanche terrain), winter recreation (ski area), or a transportation application (highway, railroad, etc.) or another workplace environment such as the USFS or workplace with winter field operations in avalanche terrain, or similar work experience.

Substitutions

Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Please note:

The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. “See Resume” statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be able to pass the background check by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Oil and Public Safety to obtain a Type I Explosives Permit as well as a Federal background check to access the work location in the NOAA Labs in Boulder.
• Must be willing and able to travel within the state and occasional out-of-state travel.
• This position has access to a State fleet vehicle during the winter months but must be willing and able to use own vehicle for winter travel throughout Colorado when one is not available.
• Ability to travel on mountain roads and backcountry areas during the winter.
• Ability to travel on high very steep exposed portions of mountainous terrain.
• Former employees of the State of Colorado MUST have concluded employment in good standing to be eligible for rehire.
• Must possess and maintain (or be willing and able to obtain and maintain) a current Wilderness First Responder or higher and to perform avalanche and backcountry rescue.
• Must be willing and able to perform avalanche and backcountry rescue.
• Must be willing and able to work full-time as required.
• Must be willing and able to exert up to 100 lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 50 lbs of force frequently to move objects.
• Must be willing and able to obtain a Type I Explosive Permit with an avalanche endorsement, which will require a background check.
• Must possess or be willing to possess a certificate of completion of PRO2 or similar professional avalanche training course.
• Must be willing and able to work with explosives.
• Must be willing and able to tolerate noise and vibration related to explosives.
• Must be willing and able to pass a background check for access to the National Weather Service - Weather Forecast Office.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state of Colorado driver's license.
  • Must be able to drive a state vehicle and their driving record will be examined annually starting January 1st of each year.
• Must be willing and able to tolerate hot and cold weather and wet, humid and windy conditions.
• Must be willing and able to tolerate exposure to atmospheric conditions such as fumes, dusts, gases.
• Must be willing and able to tolerate exposure to radiant energy.
• Although Personal Protective Equipment is supplied, must possess equipment suitable for backcountry travel in avalanche terrain.
• Work Full Time hours during winter months and part time during summer months.