CAIC Avalanche Forecaster - SW Backcountry (PSRS I).
State of Colorado
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) seeks an experienced Forecaster to analyze snow, weather, and avalanche data and to develop reliable daily forecasts and safety products. The role involves field travel within Colorado, collaboration with a team, and presenting hazard assessments at daily meetings.
Responsibilities include creating daily avalanche forecasts, communicating findings to stakeholders, and supporting field operations across diverse terrain.
Qualifications
- Five years of avalanche forecasting experience in backcountry or winter operations.
- Bachelor's degree in meteorology, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, communications, or English.
- One year of relevant experience in avalanche forecasting.
- Substitutions: additional education may substitute for experience.
- Preferred: state experience, GIS, public speaking, MS Windows, Google Workspace, GIS systems.
Responsibilities
- Analyze snow, weather, and avalanche data to determine current and future conditions.
- Create and communicate public safety products.
- Attend daily forecast meetings to discuss hazard levels and product quality.
- Develop daily avalanche hazard assessments and forecasts for staff.
- Collaborate within a team to decide current avalanche hazard levels.
Skills
Education
Tools
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.
- 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
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.
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.
- 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 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 traveling 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.
- 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.
- Attend staff meetings
- remain up-to-date on training/policies/procedures
- participate in planning/development/testing
- perform other common workplace tasks as needed.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
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.
- 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 ofPRO2 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.
- Current or former State experience relevant to this position
- Familiarity with atmospheric physics and dynamics
- Familiarity with snow physics and avalanche dynamics
- Experience with public speaking and creating presentations
- Experience with creating content for social media platforms
- Experience with automated environmental measuring equipment
- Experience in technical writing and science communication
- Experience in education of people of all ages
- Experience with MS Windows and Google Workspace
- Experience with desktop and mobile GIS systems
It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
The Colorado Constitution requires all appointments and promotions in the state personnel system be made according to merit and fitness.
- A complete online Application for Announced Vacancy
- A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application.
- A current resume uploaded as an attachment to your online application
- If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
- All applications received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed by an HR Specialist against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.
- Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will be a structured application review by Subject Matter Experts.
- Resumes, cover letters and other attachments are not considered as part of initial reviews, therefore, it is important to document in your application your education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.
- Please thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) since question responses may be evaluated for content, writing ability, spelling, grammar, and effective communication.
- This recruitment may involve additional testing and/or exams to arrive at the top group for interviews.
We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL” of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
The Department of Natural Resources is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request accommodation, please contact our Benefits Specialist at dnr_hr_employeebenefits@state.co.us at least five business days before the date that any accommodation will be required to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
DNR uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV at 855-524-5627, Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). The Human Resources Office will be unable to assist with technical issues.
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