DFPC WFMS Firefighter V: Aviation Specialist (Montrose)

Pueblo Community College; Montrose (CO); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental

Life insurance

Wellness program

BenefitHub discounts

Health Savings Account

FMLA & FAMLI

Flexible work arrangements

PERA retirement

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) Aviation Specialist role is to supervise the Helicopter Modules, coordinating between the Aviation Branch, local District staff, and other DFPC units to ensure safe, effective aviation operations.

The position emphasizes leadership, program management, and interagency collaboration, with readiness for wildland fire incidents and ongoing training and development for aviation personnel.

Responsibilities

• Directs DFPC fire aviation programs within the assigned District(s).
• Acts as State SME for aviation programs, services, and functions for DFPC staff and external partners.
• Interprets policies related to fire aviation management and communicates changes to internal/external groups.
• Determines need for resources, staffing, and equipment based on Preparedness Levels and plans utilization.
• Represents DFPC on committees, boards, and with local jurisdictions regarding aviation management.

Job description

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list for current vacancy at the following location:

• Primary office and position will be located at Montrose, CO (Southwest District 4)

An eligibility list may be established with this recruitment and could be used to fill similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Please refer to DFPC Fire Management Regions and Staff Link for more information regarding district boundaries Fire Management Regions and Staff.

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.

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:
FIREFIGHTER V
Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,149 - $8,580/month; $85,788 - $102,960/year
Full Salary Range: $7,149 - $10,009/month; $85,788 - $120,108/year

Benefits

• 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.

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, Fire and Life Safety, Professional Qualifications and Training, and Wildland Fire Management. Each of the four sections serve Colorado’s fire community in a different capacity- from training firefighters to technological advancements in public safety, responding to and managing 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.

Work Environment

• This is a hybrid position that is expected to work onsite the majority of the time. Onsite scheduling will be based on operational and business needs and may vary from week to week, with a minimum requirement of two days per week onsite.
• This position may be assigned to an on-call rotation on a written schedule. If applicable, this will be in accordance with current CDPS and DFPC guidelines pertaining to on-call for exempt employees.
• During emerging incidents in assigned region, this position will be expected to be available outside of standard work hours to coordinate DFPC response, and provide technical assistance to local agencies during the mutual aid and/or initial attack periods.

About the Position

Under the general guidance of the Director of DFPC and the WFMS Section Chief, this position is the primary mid-level supervisor of DFPC Helicopter Modules. The Aviation Specialist serves as the primary liaison between the Aviation Branch, the local DFPC District, and other DFPC Work Units, fostering a “One DFPC” operational culture. This position directs, manages, supervises, evaluates, organizes, and provides technical assistance to aviation management and operations within the assigned District(s). The primary purpose of this position is:

• Leadership & Supervision: Provide direct leadership, supervision, and support to the Helicopter Module crewmembers ensuring safe operations, professional development, and adherence to agency standards. This position is a primary supervisor of the Helicopter Module Captain, and secondary supervisor of the Lieutenant and other Helicopter Module positions.
• Integration & Coordination: Serve as the critical link between the Aviation Branch and the local DFPC District, as well as other DFPC Work Units. While supervised by the Aviation Branch, this position works in close collaboration ("dotted line" relationship) with District staff to integrate aviation resources into District operations, improve communication, and ensure the Helicopter Modules support the broader DFPC mission.

The incumbent is not required to be a subject matter expert in aviation upon hire, but at a minimum must possess strong fire management and leadership experience and skills to manage the Module effectively while acquiring preferred aviation knowledge and experience into the future.

Key Responsibilities

District Fire and Aviation Program Operations and Coordination

This position directs, manages, supervises, evaluates, organizes, and provides technical assistance to aviation management and operations within the assigned District(s). This includes but is not limited to:

• Directs DFPC fire aviation programs within the assigned District(s).
• Acts as the State's Subject Matter Expert (SME) for aviation programs, services, and functions within the assigned geographic area for DFPC staff and external partners.
• Interpret existing policies, rules, and regulations related to fire aviation management, and implements/communicates to external agencies and internal personnel; identifies issues and areas for improvement in policy, guidelines, and plans, and provides recommendations for changes as needed to maintain and improve effectiveness of programs.
• Determines need for specific resources, staffing, and equipment based on Preparedness Levels, develops a plan for utilization of needed and assigned resources.
• Represents DFPC, other State agencies, counties, and local fire agencies on committees, work groups, and boards concerning aviation management; compiles input from local jurisdictions and federal agencies; reviews, updates and applies changes to aviation plans; provides technical direction in the execution of plans; and coordinates with DFPC District staff to meet District staffing needs and response configurations to support operations on a continual basis.
• Maintains and communicates situational awareness of fire conditions and potential, as well as local and large-scale emergency incidents in the State and Nation.
• Evaluates aviation-based conflicts between federal, state, and local government agencies. Provides mediation where appropriate in coordination with District staff.
• District Integration: Regularly attends District meetings, planning sessions, briefings, and participates in District activities and events. Ensures the Helicopter Module(s) is viewed as an integrated District resource rather than a separate entity.
• DFPC Program Implementation: works with District and other DFPC staff to cooperatively implement DFPC programs and services for internal and external customers.
• Communication Liaison: Facilitates the flow of information between the Aviation Branch Chief and the District Chief. Proactively identifies and resolves communication breakdowns or operational silos.
• Joint Training & Projects: Coordinates joint training exercises between the Helicopter Module and District ground resources (engines, modules) to improve coordination, cohesion, familiarity, and safety.
• Serves as point of contact for aviation costs, statistics, dashboards and displays, reports, and product distribution.

Preparedness, Special Projects, & Other Duties as Assigned

Fire Preparedness Support:

• Directs action and provides oversight to fire preparedness and response programs within their assigned geographic area.
• Oversees overall readiness of response in region, including equipment, PPE, training, certifications, etc.
• Coordinates interagency, cooperative aviation programs within the assigned geographic area.
• Evaluates weather conditions, fire indices, and resource availability to determine staffing levels and readiness requirements.
• In conjunction with District staff, oversees, plans, and implements fuels treatment and prescribed fire projects that require aviation resources or that aviation resources may assist with.
• Directs use of Incident Qualification System (IQS) and other certification systems for assigned staff, ensuring agency and industry standards are met and adhered to.
• Develops, implements, and directs operations, training, and professional development programs based on assigned personnel and agency needs. Implements annual operational preparedness training following the WFMS Resource Operations and Standards Guide.
• Coordinates with other agencies to determine aviation training needs, coordinates with other DFPC sections, and assists in developing and implementing effective fire training.
• Identifies and communicates aviation operations issues within the District.

Special Projects

• Position coordinates, facilitates and assists with other State Agency, DFPC & WFMS programs and activities in the assigned geographic area, maintains awareness of other DFPC Sections, programs and operations within the assigned geographic area.
• Position assists and coordinates assigned employees to assist with other WFMS programs, and may be assigned other duties and special projects to support the mission of DFPC.
• Aviation Subject Matter Expertise: acts as the State's Subject Matter Expert (SME) for aviation programs, services, and functions within the assigned geographic area. Represents DFPC, other State agencies, counties, and local fire agencies on committees, work groups, and boards, particularly concerning aviation management, in coordination with district staff.

Other Duties as Assigned

• This duty involves flexibility and responsiveness to critical program and agency needs as they occur, especially in emergency situations.
• Mission Support: assists with other WFMS programs and may be assigned additional duties to support the overarching