Mutual Aid Program Coordinator.

State of Colorado; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Wellness program

PERA retirement benefits

Job summary

State of Colorado is seeking an EMAC Program Coordinator to lead the state's emergency response resource network. This hybrid role manages mutual aid operations, reimbursement processes, and cross‑agency coordination to ensure rapid, compliant deployment of resources during emergencies.

The position requires seven years of relevant experience or a combination of degree and experience, with hybrid work and travel as needed. Apply to contribute to Colorado's preparedness and resilience initiatives.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management.
• Bachelor's degree with 3 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 2 years of relevant experience.
• Transcript is required to be submitted at the time of application.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Colorado's EMAC program operations and mutual aid activities.
• Oversee reimbursement, fiscal governance, and adherence to compact requirements.
• Lead outreach, education, and coordination with State, local, and interstate partners.

Skills

Mutual aid operations

Resource management

Emergency management

Verbal/written communication

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree + 3 years experience

Master's degree + 2 years experience

Job description

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

An 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.

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

Emergency Preparedness and Communications Specialist IV

Anticipated Hiring Range: $6,022 - $7,829/month; $72,264 - $93,948/year

Full Salary Range: $6,022 - $9,636/month ; $72,264 - $115,632/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.

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

Description of Job

About the Work Unit

This position is located within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM). The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is a consolidated Emergency Management and Homeland Security team. The Division's mission is to lead and support Colorado's efforts to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from all-hazard events

The Office of Emergency Management conducts the four phases of emergency management (Preparedness, Response, Mitigation and Recovery) in coordination with other State Agencies and in support of local jurisdictions. It integrates emergency management efforts across all levels of government, including state, local, tribal and federal.

The Field Operations Section provides emergency management expertise across the five mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery to counties and municipalities. The unit provides technical and programmatic emergency management assistance in support of State and Local homeland security and emergency management goals. This work unit assists counties and municipalities with all- hazards emergency operations plans, mitigation plans and community preparedness and resiliency plans. Field Operations assists communities and municipalities with training and exercises and emergency management professional development. This work unit coordinates and integrates the efforts of field representatives from other state agencies and departments. Field Services transmits local requirements to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and provides local situational understanding and awareness to OEM. During incidents, Field Operations serves as the OEM liaison to local emergency management agencies. Additionally, this work unit manages and oversees the five state all-hazards incident management teams and Auxiliary Communications Unit. It provides training opportunities to the teams and monitors team qualification and availability.

Work Environment

A hybrid work model is utilized, requiring in-office attendance a minimum of three (3) days per week.

Work unit core hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility

May require to be on-call during emergency activations that may include nights, weekends, and/or holidays.

Requires regular in-state travel (up to 5 nights/month) and occasional out-of-state travel (up to 3 weeks/year).

About The Job

This position serves as the Designated Contact (DC) for Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) program, directing Colorado's participation in the nationwide emergency resource support network and managing interstate mutual aid operations and resource coordination during emergencies and disasters. Under the supervision of the Central Area Field Manager, the EMAC Program Coordinator is responsible for creating, implementing, and managing Colorado’s EMAC program. This role oversees the expedited procurement and deployment of critical resources during emergencies, coordinates aid sent to or received from other states. The position also leads statewide outreach, training, mutual aid optimization, and post-deployment financial reconciliation.

Key Responsibilities

EMAC Program Coordinator

Create, implement, and manage the State of Colorado EMAC program. This mission critical function is responsible for the expedited procurement of resources from across the nation to respond to a rapidly expanding disaster/emergency in Colorado. Conversely, this position will coordinate Colorado's assistance to other states during their times of need. EMAC or other mutual aid resources may include trained position/skill specific first responders and/or equipment/supplies. The EMAC Program Coordinator will serve as the critical node and as an essential subject matter expert relied upon by senior leadership to execute the program and possess decision making authority for the acquisition and deployment of these essential resources. Due to the nature of disasters, this position is on-call for these responsibilities 24/7. This work may extend to future interstate mutual aid compacts that Colorado becomes party to, including regional or international agreements.

All-Hazards Mutual Aid Optimization & Mission-Ready Package (MRP) Architecture

Designs, implements, and manages the state’s comprehensive framework for interstate all-hazards resource utilization through the curation of Mission-Ready Packages (MRPs). Formulates state-level guidelines, templates, and cost-modeling standards that allow state, local, tribal, and non-governmental entities to tier their capabilities. Evaluates existing mutual aid systems and invents new processes to increase resource visibility within the State's inventory tracking software (e.g., WebEOC or similar platforms) and the EMAC Operations System or EMAC Mutual Aid Support System. Regularly assess Colorado’s mutual aid programmatic readiness using tools available through the Compact, including the Planner+ platform, and report readiness and gaps to office leadership.

Statewide Stakeholder Education, Interagency Coordination & Outreach

Formulates, organizes, and executes a strategic statewide education and outreach program targeting government (local, tribal, state) and non-government partners (NGOs, private sector, volunteer groups). Develops curriculum and instructs training courses focused on mutual aid protocols, mutual aid legal frameworks, liability protections, and deployment reimbursement requirements. Represents DHSEM on regional and national boards or councils to benchmark Colorado's mutual aid capabilities. Conducts continual process improvement by assessing the applicability and effectiveness of EMAC programs and policies in other EMAC member programs, determining whether practices are suited for adoption in Colorado.

EMAC Reimbursement & Fiscal Governance Compliance

Establishes policy guidelines, designs operational workflows, and provides executive oversight for the financial reconciliation and reimbursement cycle post-deployment. Serves as the ultimate technical authority validating federal and state reimbursement documentation packages. Audits complex financial portfolios submitted by deploying agencies to ensure strict adherence to mutual aid compact requirements, minimizing the risk of funding de-obligations or audit failures.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

Seven (7) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.

OR Education And Experience, Knowledge, Skills

A Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.

or

A Master's Degree and two (2) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.

Please Note: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.

Preferred Qualifications And Competencies

• Experience in acute resource management/mobilization and/or supervision of mutual aid through government channels
• Emergency management experience, particularly in response and recovery operations
• Experience navigating legal and financial requirements of multi-state compacts, particularly the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)
• Strong verbal, written, and presentations skills.
• Experience presenting or training diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders
• Project or program management experience at an individual contributor or management level.
• Experience working across multiple computer, financial, and project management software systems during periods of significant updates or change.
• Experience navigating standard government fiscal rules and regulations, validation of financial documentation, and application of fiscal controls

Conditions of Employment