DFPC Firefighter IV: Helicopter Captain (Canon City)

Full Job Description

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 resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self.

We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!

Careers with a purpose

If you are passionate about public safety service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, this is the organization you want to join!

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.

You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

Unmatched Benefits

We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training and enriching professional development opportunities and a wide range of 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.

• State contribution into Health Savings Account when enrolled in HDHP.

• Job protected medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).

• Paid medical leave benefits provided by the State of Colorado.

• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.

• We offer unmatched 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.

• CDPS provides generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and 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.

• Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.

• Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

Requirements

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.

About the PositionThe Helicopter Captain supervises a firefighting resource—typically a helicopter module, but may also be assigned to an engine, squad, module, or hand crew—to deliver a range of firefighting and related services.

The primary responsibility of this position is to provide supervision, leadership, and direction to helicopter module personnel in alignment with the DFPC values of honor, integrity, service, and loyalty.

Helicopter modules regularly support diverse missions, including wildfire initial attack response, mitigation projects (i.e.

prescribed fire, hazardous fuel reduction, and resource management), and prevention and education.

As assigned, equipped, and qualified, this position may assist with all-hazard incident operations such as search and rescue and other incident response.

The Helicopter Captain must have prior direct supervisory experience and previous wildland firefighting experience. Additionally, this role assists with training programs, qualification and dispatch systems, and other preparedness activities.

• Provides direction, oversight, support and training to assigned employees; evaluates employee schedules and work load, makes adjustments as conditions warrant;
• Based on general guidance from the DFPC Director, by and through the WFMS Chief, develops professional development plans for assigned employees while implementing the goals and mission from the District leadership to support all WFMS programs and incident response.
• Based on general guidance from the DFPC Director, by and through the WFMS Chief, develops work plans and schedules for subordinate staff including, but not limited to, training programs for staff and customers, community outreach and education, statistical reporting, and preparation for emergency response.
• Schedules, coordinates tasks and logistical needs, evaluates, and provides safety guidance and oversight to assigned employees.
• Conducts performance evaluations of all assigned employees, makes recommendations on remediation or advancement;
• Manages the hiring process, including interviews of applicants, makes recommendations to hire, promote or transfer;
• Manages informal grievances, provides documentation to support corrective actions when needed;
• Oversees and reviews work products and employee health, and adjusts deadlines and plans of work accordingly, communicates concerns with supervisor as needed;
• Compiles all required incident documentation including but not limited to tracking Crew Time Reports, Equipment Shift Tickets, entering and approving time in state time keeping system.
• Approves time in state timekeeping systems, verifies employees are following best practices related to time entry, incident documentation, receipts, travel documents etc.; signs and approves all overtime, travel and purchase forms.
• Lead and participate in safety sessions and critiques; reviews safety topics to; maintain awareness of changes in aviation policy, regulations, and procedures;
• Directs and leads the Helicopter Module (or other resource) on a regular and recurring basis including on an incident.

While providing for their individual safety and the safety of those assigned to them, the employee supervises helicopter flight operations prior and during fire suppression and incident response work.

This includes, but is not limited to:Functions as contracting officer rep, monitor and ensure contract compliance by vendor and personnel

• Responsible for overall readiness of the helicopter crew, pilots, mechanics & related personnel
• Participates in pre-mission planning and briefings, understands information sources for mission planning;
• Coordinates a pre-flight briefing; directs personnel in helicopter operations missions;
• Prepares aircraft and crew for daily operations; assures familiarity with aircraft; assists flight crew with any needs or requests;
• Ensures all mission requests have been requested through proper chain of command
• Maintains situational awareness to ensure safe flight operations;
• Maintains appropriate level of mission response readiness;
• Uses and understands multiple communication systems in and on aircraft, including multi-channel radios; AM radios, etc; uses appropriate radio etiquette, what each radio is used for and more;
• Ensures all flight logs and related information is entered in a timely manner in the aviation database

While providing for their individual safety and the safety of those assigned to them, the employee supervises helicopter module operations during fire suppression and incident response work.

Fire suppression and incident response work includes, but is not limited to: organizes and deploys helicopter and crew based on current objectives and resource capabilities.

Requires intermediate fire knowledge and experience, skill in the application of firefighting tasks, and the ability to recognize and communicate safety considerations and other factors (fire intensity, fuel conditions, weather observations, flight operations etc.) used by higher qualified firefighters in their decision making process.

This knowledge, skill, and ability is shown by being qualified as an NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB).

• While providing for his/her individual safety, the employee works as a supervisor and crewmember in planning and implementation of mitigation, fuels treatment and resource management projects, including but not limited to:
  • cuts, clears, piles, and disposes of treated vegetation;
  • uses tools and equipment such as chainsaws, firing equipment, portable pumps, chippers, air curtain burners and more;
  • constructs firelines and prescribed fire burning as assigned;
  • performs ignitions and holding operations;
  • conducts mop up and patrol operations;
  • uses various communication methods including radios; may pre-program radios for assignments;
  • uses and maintains on and off-road vehicles;
  • hauls and packs fire related equipment and supplies;
  • performs and mentors others in safety inspections, maintains and repairs tools and equipment; cleans, reconditions, and stores properly.
• Coordinates aviation plan(s) related to hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed fire, natural resource management projects, and training missions.
• Identifies and provides training needs of crew to support prescribed fire and fuel management programs.
• Collects, documents and gathers data and records information on fuels sampling, fuel types, weather conditions, fire behaviors, and status of work accomplished.
• Designs, develops, and writes plans for various resource management projects, including but not limited to: hazardous fuels reduction projects, prescribed fire projects, natural resource management projects, and training agreements
• Implements defined processes and chain of command for collecting, producing, and distributing information.
• Participates in regular physical training and conditioning during work hours to maintain fitness levels as directed by supervisor

• Establishes and maintains the physical fitness level necessary to effectively perform hard physical labor for extended periods under adverse climate, fuel, and terrain conditions; mentors and trains new firefighters and validates readiness of assigned personnel.
• Inspects & maintains crews response equipment, vehicles, tools, PPE and more; implements processes to inventory tools, PPE, equipment; accounts for any safety issues; coordinates repair/replacement needs.
• Ensures vehicle & equipment readiness; includes daily maintenance checks.
• Determines crew qualifications needs within the resource, develops a crew training plan for the unit that best fits the response profile of the location.
• Implements annual operational preparedness training for assigned personnel following the WFMS Resource Operations and Standards Guide or equivalent.
• Communicates effectively with multichannel radios, prepares and programs radios for assignments and repair and/or replacement.

Manages on-going training and professional development of the crewmembers in the State of Colorado; CDPS, DFPC & WFMS standard operating policies, procedures & guidelines.

This includes time-keeping systems, time & leave policies, incident documentation requirements, travel & purchasing policies and more.

• Oversees the logistics and instruction of various courses, training and events, such as wildfire suppression classes, incident management, structural firefighting, medical and first aid, job fairs and community outreach to DFPC employees and external agency personnel.
• Assists other DFPC programs (reports, data entry, filing, training and testing, inspections, research, fire billing, logistics etc.) as needed and available to support the mission of CDPS and DFPC.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of documented professional wildland firefighting experience.

• Qualification to the NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB)

• Please upload a copy of your IQS or IQCS Master record or incident qualification card showing your NWCG qualification to the NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB) with this application.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Six (6)+ years of documented wildland firefighting experience, and/or additional fire service experience, including fireline supervision.

• Exceptional candidates will have a well documented track record of multiple years of experience as a first or second level supervisor, and will be proven leaders whose management approach is fundamentally grounded in the DFPC values of honor, integrity, service, and loyalty.

• Previous experience with state level fire programs, with a preference for experience with the state of CO fire programs.

• Previous experience in advanced helicopter operations, including search & rescue and other all hazards response.

• Exceptional candidates will also have one or more of the following NWCG qualifications:

  • Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4) or higher

  • Basic Faller (FAL3) or higher

  • Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) or higher

  • Strike Team or Task Force Leader

  • Helibase Manager (HEBM)

  • Additional Single Resource Boss qualifications

• State of Colorado/DFPC: Structural Firefighter I, Structural Firefighter II or equivalent.

• Medical certifications and qualifications including: Wilderness First Responder, Emergency First Responder, or Emergency Medical Technician.

• Demonstrated commitment to public service and community involvement.

• A complete CDPS Application for announced vacancy (please submit online using the link in this announcement).

• A complete supplemental questionnaire (must submit online as a part of the application).

• A copy of your NWCG qualifications (IQS or IQCS master record and/or incident qualification card).

• Detailed, chronological resume of experience.

• Upon initial employment, individuals will be required to provide a complete training file to DFPC that contains all necessary qualification documentation (course certificates, position task books, personnel evaluations, and incident experience history) to demonstrate that NWCG and other requirements have been met.

• Position may be required to attain additional training and/or certifications within a specified period of time, per current DFPC qualifications and professional development Standard Operating Guidelines and Policies.

• Current valid driver's license at time of hire, and must obtain a Colorado-issued driver's license within 6 months of hire. Ability to operate motor vehicles and to travel extensively throughout the state in a variety of weather conditions.

• Must be 18 years of age at time of hire.

• This position is a public safety officer as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 3796b Sec. 1204 (9).

• Must be willing to travel to wildfire incidents, severity assignments, and pre-position assignments throughout Colorado, and across the nation at times. Assignments may last for two weeks or longer.

Wildland Firefighters need to be familiar with and frequently use flammable liquids and solids in the performance of aviation operations and various prescribed fire and tactical firing tasks.

This includes the preparation, implementation and storage of drip torch fuel, Fire Retardant, Water Enhancers, Aluma Gel, Phosphorus and cleaning chemicals.

• Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking, driving history, medical physical exam, and drug screen.

• Must maintain an Arduous Fitness Level rating (based on NWCG standards) throughout the entire employment period. Must be able to obtain an Arduous Fitness Level rating within 2 weeks of hire.

Additional Information

Recruitment Timeline Information

• Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will advance to the comparative analysis process. However, if fewer than six candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all applicants will be referred directly to interview, and a numerical comparative analysis will not be conducted.

• For those candidates referred to interview, tentative time frame will be beginning of February 2026.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.