DFPC WFMS Fire Administrator III

State of Colorado; United States; Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental options

Wellness program

Retirement benefits (PERA)

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

State of Colorado, Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) seeks a knowledgeable administrator to support the Wildland Fire Management System (WFMS). The role performs program administration, billing, grants management, and cross-unit coordination while guiding districts and units statewide.

The position requires six years of related experience and strong Microsoft Office/Google Workspace skills.

Qualifications

• Six years of related experience in administrative, program management, or finance domains.
• Experience with purchasing, contracts, grants, and procurement processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Administers one or more WFMS programs, including budgeting, invoicing, and procurement.
• Provides guidance and coordination to WFMS districts, branches, units, and overhead.
• Develops training materials and supports continuity of administrative operations.

Skills

Program management

Administrative support

Budget tracking

Hiring onboarding

Contract management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

Location: Negotiable depending on successful candidate and available facilities.

A eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Our Mission

Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision

Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values

Unity, Honor, Service

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

Culture

At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace.

Careers with a purpose

If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification and Salary

Administrator III

Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,955 - $7,010/month; $59,460 - $84,120/year

Full Salary Range: $4,955 - $7,927/month; $59,460 - $95,124/year

Benefits

We provide a wide range of benefits to our employees.

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
• Eligible employees receive Basic Life and AD&D insurance equal to their annual earnings subject to a minimum benefit of $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000. Basic Life and AD&D are provided by the State of Colorado at no cost to employees.
• The State of Colorado's Wellness Program, State of Health, is a no-cost, year-long program that supports an employee’s health and wellness goals. This program offers personalized health coaching, skill groups and more. Participants can earn a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.
• Through BenefitHub, State of Colorado employees have access to discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment venues throughout Colorado and across the country.
• State contribution into a Health Savings Account when enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan.
• Eligible employees have access to medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).
• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.
• We offer excellent retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA for details.
• We provide generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four annual wellness days.
• The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
• Tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
• We offer Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.

About the Work Unit

The mission of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property, resources, environment, and quality of life in Colorado. DFPC’s vision is to be the Nation's premier state fire organization by acting with foresight, providing bold leadership, enhancing our partnerships, and exemplifying the highest level of professionalism in fire prevention and protection, while building a safe and supportive work environment for our employees.

The Division achieves this mission and vision through its four (4) Sections: Center of Excellence (COE), Fire and Life Safety, Professional Qualifications and Training, and Wildland Fire Management. Each of the four (4) sections serve Colorado’s fire community in a different capacity- from training firefighters to technological advancements in public safety, suppressing wildfires to building code enforcement, DFPC is dedicated to serving and safeguarding the people of Colorado while protecting property, resources, environment and quality of life.

One of the Wildland Fire Management Section’s (WFMS) primary roles is to assist and support local agencies with a range of wildland fire management programs including administrative, technical, preparedness, planning, response, and prescribed fire and fuels functions. Wildland fire management in Colorado is a cooperative, interagency partnership between local, county, state, tribal, and federal entities. Wildland fire protection responsibilities on non-federal lands in Colorado follow a hierarchy of: local jurisdiction > county sheriff > and finally to the State of Colorado (DFPC). WFMS plays a crucial role in coordinating with external partners and representing Colorado at both regional (multi-state) and national levels.

The WFMS Fire Administration Unit work unit performs critical administration, support and programmatic functions in support of fire operations both in day to day matters, execution of state processes, and overall operations. This unit consists of personnel who will be considered subject matter experts in their program area of assignment and will take established State, CDPS, and DFPC program objectives and coordinate and train WFMS employees, while retaining flexibility and awareness of the changing environments in which fire managers and firefighters must perform these functions.

Work Environment

• Hybrid (two days in the office minimum)
• Work unit core business hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with some flexibility available
• This position will not be required to be in true on-call status, but may be placed on an on-call schedule and may need to be available outside of standard work hours to perform core duties when operational priorities require it.
• Approximately 10-15% In-state travel and operating a state vehicle may be required for this position to attend meetings, onboarding, committees, coordinating groups, fire incidents, etc.

About the Job

This position reports to the Fire Administration Manager under the direction of the Deputy Director of Administration and performs professional administrative and technical functions in support of WFMS. The position serves as a subject matter resource and independently administers one or more assigned program areas, which may include workforce administration, financial and fiscal administration, fire incident business functions, budget and expenditure tracking, invoicing and payment processes, grants and agreements management, or other defined administrative and support functions.

The position also serves as a primary administrative point of contact for assigned WFMS Districts, Branches, Units, and overhead, providing coordination, technical guidance, training, and support to supervisors and employees statewide. The position implements established administrative processes, identifies and resolves administrative needs within delegated authority, and supports the consistent application of requirements and effective administrative operations across WFMS.

Program Administration & Technical Support

This position independently administers and serves as a technical resource in one or more assigned WFMS administrative program areas, which may include fire billing and incident business processes, facilities and leases, contract administration, grants and agreements, purchasing and procurement, budget and expenditure tracking, hiring and onboarding, and other special projects.

The position applies established state and federal statutes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, agreements, and internal processes to administer assigned programs; analyzes and reconciles information; coordinates with internal and external partners; provides technical guidance; identifies and resolves issues within delegated authority; and elevates complex or emerging matters as appropriate.

The position maintains working knowledge of multiple WFMS administrative functions and cross-trains in additional program areas to support continuity, workload capacity, and professional development.

Work Unit Administration & Operational Support

This position provides administrative coordination and technical assistance to assigned WFMS Districts, Branches, Units, and overhead, and serves as a primary administrative resource for assigned work units. The position independently implements established administrative processes and provides ongoing guidance in areas that may include timekeeping and incident documentation, purchasing card, travel rules, budget and expenditure tracking, facilities and logistics, technology and asset management, hiring and recruitment, onboarding/offboarding, and other administrative functions.

The position works collaboratively with supervisors and employees to identify administrative needs, resolve routine and complex issues within delegated authority, and adapt implementation to operational needs while maintaining established requirements. The position coordinates administrative activities across internal and external programs and helps ensure WFMS administrative processes are applied consistently and effectively within assigned work units. This includes incorporating standard incident business practices with state administrative processes.

Training, Process Improvement & Administrative Continuity

This position supports consistent and effective administration across WFMS by developing and delivering training, maintaining administrative guidance and reference materials, identifying opportunities for process improvement, and cross-training in administrative functions and application of incident business practices outside of primary assignments. The position uses operational experience, recurring questions, compliance issues, and identified service needs to recommend improvements to administrative processes, tools, training, and guidance.

The position provides training and technical assistance to WFMS employees and supervisors within assigned areas of expertise and may support section-wide administrative training initiatives at the direction of the Fire Administration Manager. The position maintains sufficient working knowledge of multiple WFMS administrative functions to provide coverage, assist with workload balancing, and support continuity during vacancies, periods of increased workload, organizational changes, or complex fire activity.

The position also participates in special projects, cross-functional initiatives, and emerging organizational priorities related to WFMS administrative operations. DFPC personnel may be relieved of regular duties and assigned to wildfire and/or all-hazard incidents in a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) or Incident Command System (ICS) position to perform incident management, firefighting, emergency, or incident support activities.

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. Relevant experience may include one or more of the following:
  • Administrative, business, or program management, including development, implementation, or oversight of administrative processes and systems;
  • Financial or fiscal administration, including reconciliation, budget or expenditure tracking, audit, billing, or financial controls;
  • Contract, grant, agreement, procurement, or project administration;
  • Human resources or workforce administration, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, payroll, or related processes; or
  • Wildland fire or emergency response incident business management, including incident billing, cost tracking, reimbursement, payroll, or related administrative functions.

OR Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• A combination of related education and relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to six (6) years.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• Three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience whose primary responsibility was in program management, financial administration, contracts, grants, procurement, human resources, workforce administration, incident business management, training, or other fields directly related to the position.
• Experience independently administering complex programs, processes, projects, or administrative functions involving multiple requirements, stakeholders, or work units.
• Experience interpreting and applying governmental fiscal, procurement, personnel, contracting, grant, or other administrative statutes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, systems, and processes, with preference for experience in Colorado state government.
• Experience working in wildland fire, public safety, emergency management, military, or another complex operational environment.
• Experience working with interagency or cooperative programs involving federal, state, local, or other governmental partners.
• Experience developing and delivering training, technical guidance, procedures, or reference materials to employees, supervisors, or other stakeholders.
• Experience analyzing complex administrative or operational issues, identifying process improvements or appropriate solutions, and implementing changes within established requirements and authority.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines, adapt to changing operational needs, and recognize when matters require escalation or additional guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to establish productive working relationships and provide effective administrative support to geographically dispersed employees, supervisors, programs, or work units.
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate administrative or technical information clearly to varied audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications and demonstrated ability to learn and effectively use new software and administrative systems.
• Current or previous NWCG qualifications in Finance, Plans, Logistics, or Command and General Staff positions, or other relevant wildland fire incident management experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service and community involvement.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a Colorado resident at the time of application
• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking, driving history, and drug screen.
  • A medical physical would be required for candidates who have NWCG qualifications that require a Work Capacity Test (WCT), and plan to perform in those roles. Test is not required for candidates who do not possess or plan to serve in positions requiring a WCT. Physical Fitness requirements will be commensurate with employee's wildland fire qualifications and agency needs.

Disability Accommodation

We have a disability accommodation provision. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure equitable opportunity applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at: [e-mail].

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.

Colorado Department of Public Safety 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.