DFPC Firefighter VI: Deputy District Chief

Full Job Description

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.

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

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 Position

Under the general guidance of the Director of DFPC and the WFMS Section Chief, the Deputy District Chief reports to the District Chief, and has similar authorities, responsibilities, and supervisory roles to ensure continuity of operations for the management and coordination of programs and services within the District.

This position is authorized to make critical decisions, lead programs, and manage personnel without interruption, and assumes all duties and responsibilities of the District Chief in their absence.

The Deputy District Chief increases overall effectiveness and capacity to deliver programs and support local fire agencies within each DFPC District, and adds additional capacity to provide technical assistance to local agencies during fire and emergency response on a year-round basis.

The Deputy District Chief position manages and coordinates key programs and special projects within the District, and works closely with the Regional Battalion Chiefs and other District staff in these program areas.

This includes, but is not limited to the following program areas: planning and implementation of fuels treatments, prescribed fire, and other mitigation activities; internal training and certifications; District safety and wellness; District prevention, education, marketing, and communications efforts; and other new/special initiatives such as Incident Management Teams, Heavy Equipment program, etc.

The Deputy District Chief works directly with and serves as the primary District point of contact in the above program areas for internal DFPC program leads, including: the WFMS Prescribed Fire and Fuels Unit Chief, the WFMS Marketing and Communications Coordinator, the DFPC Safety and Wellness Coordinator, and DFPC Professional Qualifications and Training Section (PQTS) staff.

This Deputy District Chief provides District level oversight, assistance, and coordination to and between the Regional Battalion Chiefs, with the Battalion Chiefs being the primary point of contact and Subject Matter Expert for stakeholders and partners within their respective multi-county region.

Due to the increased size of the WFMS, the complexities and dynamic nature of wildland fire response and management, and the workload of the District Chief, the Deputy District Chief position partners with the District Chief on a daily basis to plan, develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate an integrated fire management program, and fully acts as the District Chief on a frequent, on-going basis in the absence of the District Chief or when they are committed to other duties.

Intra-District Administration, Coordination, and Special Projects

• Safety: Oversees and implements the DFPC Safety Program within the District.
  • Primary District point of contact for DFPC Risk Management and Wellness Coordinator
  • Ensures District-level plans are complete, approved, and up to date
  • Participates in accident investigations, and leads when needed
  • Ensures all District personnel are aware of and have access to DFPC and WFMS safety plans and documents
  • Monitors safety issues and trends, and recommends/implements corrective actions and mitigation measures
• Staff Training: Develops, coordinates, and implements training and certification programs for all District employees.
  • Primary District point of contact for DFPC PQTS staff for non-wildfire (structure fire, emergency medical services, etc.) certifications and training.
  • Works with external entities to identify, develop, and implement training and certifications in other discipline areas (e.g., Search and Rescue, Unmanned Aerial Systems, etc.).
  • Prioritizes recertification, classes, and other training based on agency mission and Strategic Plan, District operational needs, individual work plans, and available budget.
  • Provides guidance and direction to supervisors and employees on professional development planning. Develops, implements, and coordinates a training and professional development program for all District staff.
  • Coordinates training schedules, facilities, instructors, etc.
  • Coordinate with other agencies to develop, and implement effective fire training in all fire service areas.
• Prescribed Fire, Fuels Treatment and Mitigation: Develops and oversees implementation of Safety program within district.
  • Primary District point of contact for WFMS Prescribed Fire and Fuels Unit Chief.

  The DDC will lead and coordinate the planning and implementation of prescribed fire and fuels treatment projects across each District.

  This will include coordination and facilitation with local, State, and federal partners on multi-agency, landscape-scale projects such as the current Shared Stewardship effort.

  • Determines District priorities for both planning and implementation based on conditions, available resources and current workload, project deadlines, and available budget.
  • Determines priority order for implementation of projects and assigns resources within the District
• Mutual Aid and Coordination of Fire Resources:
  • Coordinates and collaborates with the Resource Coordination Battalion Chief on mutual aid programs, statewide efforts on dispatching and mobilization of fire resources, etc.
• Fire Prevention, Education, and Communication
  • Primary District point of contact for WFMS Information and Education Specialist, and DFPC Public Information Officer
  • Serves as an internal and external focal point for planning and implementation of education, prevention, and mitigation programs in the District.
  • Coordinates and assists with marketing, information and education efforts in the District.
  • Provides direction and prioritization for education and outreach efforts.
• Special Projects:
  • Other special projects as assigned by District Chief

  Oversight of and directs the use of the Incident Qualification System (IQS) and Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC), or their successor systems, internally for DFPC employees and externally for cooperating fire departments, Counties, and other State agency personnel.

  Coordinates with WFMS Plans Branch as needed.

  
  District Supervision and Management
  

  The Deputy District Chief actively partners with and the District Chief in leading District operations on a daily basis, concurrently managing multiple aspects of the District, and has commensurate authority and decision making responsibility for District level oversight and coordination.

  This position has an interchangeable relationship between supervising and work lead over Battalion Chiefs, Captains and other District Staff in day-to-day operations of designated programs and special projects.

  The level of work lead, supervision, and management is in line with the organizational structure, is fluid, and can be formally delegated at leadership’s discretion.

  • Works directly with the District Chief to jointly perform formal first and second level supervisory duties, including performance management planning, mentoring, and guiding professional development for District personnel.
  • 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, assists the District Chief with development of 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, assists with the development of 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 overall 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 informal grievances, provides documentation to support corrective actions when needed;
  • Offers recommendations or suggestions that hold significance, including but not limited to, decisions involving hiring, terminations, promotions, and other administrative actions that affect pay status and tenure.
  • Oversees and reviews work products and employee health, and adjusts deadlines and plans of work accordingly, communicates concerns with the supervisor as needed.
  
  Incident and Operational Leadership, Acting Roles, and Special Projects
  
  • This duty involves flexibility and responsiveness to critical program and agency needs as they occur, especially in emergency situations.
  • Mission Support: Assists with other DFPC programs and may be assigned additional duties to support the overarching missions of DFPC and CDPS.

  Acting Capacity: due to the size and complexity of WFMS and the dynamic nature of year-round fire response and management, the Deputy Section Chief position fully serves in and performs the duties of multiple positions and roles on a frequent, on-going, basis: Routinely performs the duties of the District Chief in their absence, ensuring continuity of essential Section programs and operations.

  Assumes authority and responsibility for the District's operational and supervisory functions.

  • The District and Deputy District Chief function as a team to provide year-round leadership and supervision, with the positions covering for each other as needed due to fire activity, training, travel status, other acting assignments, annual leave, etc., all of which require the Deputy District chief to serve in the District Chief role on a frequent, on-going basis.
  • In the absence of a Regional Battalion Chief position, perform all duties assigned to those positions.

Incident and Operational Leadership:Maintains a continuous high-level situation awareness of fire incidents and wildfire conditions, and provides District-level direction, decision making, and coordination for complex wildfires and other fire/all-hazard incidents.

In conjunction with the assigned District Chief and neighboring District and Deputy District Chiefs, maintains continual situational awareness of fire incidents within the state.

Participates in the DFPC Duty Officer rotation as required.

Resource Coordination & Allocation: Determines need and appropriateness for state suppression response to assist local agencies.

Evaluate fire activity, fire indices, and local agency conditions to make recommendations on the temporary need for additional State suppression resources to be placed within the assigned Region or District.

• Assesses fire conditions and incident needs and makes recommendations to the District Chief and WFMS Deputy Section Chief to request or provide mutual aid resources to/from other DFPC DistrictAssesses capacity and ability to send assigned resources to other DFPC Districts or out-of-state, and makes recommendations to the District Chief or WFMS Deputy Section Chief.
• Determining strategic allocation of assigned suppression resources within the District based on forecasted wildfire danger and CDPS priorities.
• Performs and supports District staff staff with implementation of the Wildfire Emergency Response Fund (WERF), and Emergency Fire Fund (EFF).
• Makes recommendations to WFMS Section Chief and/or Deputy Section Chief for funding expenditures and resource commitments to incidents with the District, and provides rationale and justification.

Coordinates with the District Chief to develop on-call protocol, schedules, and rotations for the District based on preparedness levels and other criteria.

Incident Response: DFPC personnel may be relieved of regular duties and assigned to wildfire and/or all-hazards incidents in a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), Incident Command System (ICS), or support position to perform incident management, firefighting, or emergency incident support activities.

When assigned to an emergency incident, the position will be: working outside of regular job duties; working under the operational control of the incident; and compensated per the current DFPC emergency and incident guidelines and procedures.

Qualifications

Required Minimum Qualifications and Experiences
This must be specifically documented in your application submission. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. Please note, your application will not be considered if documentation to support this qualification is not provided.

Nine (9) years of professional wildland fire management work experience or closely related experience.

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience equal to nine (9) years may be substituted.Professional wildland fire management experience, or closely related experience that demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position will be considered.

These include, but are not limited to:Wildfire Preparedness: developing and implementing strategies, plans, and activities prior to ignition, to meet identified readiness objectives.

Wildfire Response: direct involvement in suppressing wildfires, including tactical operations, resource deployment, and incident command.

Incident Management: experience in managing complex incidents, adhering to Incident Command System (ICS) principles, and coordinating multi-agency efforts.

Training: developing, delivering, or overseeing fire-related training programs.

Prescribed Fire: planning, executing, and/or overseeing prescribed fire projects.

Minimum Special Qualifications (previous or current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)) as:

• Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) or higher; and

• Division / Group Supervisor (DIVS) or higher in the Operations Section.

• These NWCG qualification may be substituted for with one of the following options:

  • Five (5) or more years experience as a DFPC Battalion Chief; or

  • Three (3) or more years professional experience as a Chief Officer (Battalion Chief or higher) in a career fire department, and qualified as a NWCG Strike Team Leader or Task Force Leader (TFLD) or higher in the Operations Section.

Required Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to communicate effectively with varying levels of an organization

• Computer proficiency with working knowledge of Google platform, Microsoft 365, Word, Excel,Adobe Acrobat.

• Strong organizational skills, ability to multitask and work in a faced paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of documented, professional wildland fire experience.

• Preferred Special Qualifications (previous or current NWCG) as:

  • Any Unit Leader or higher in one of the other ICS Sections (Finance, Plans, and/or Logistics).

  • Exceptional candidates will have Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS) or higher.

  • Exceptional candidates will have Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) or higher.

  • Exceptional candidates will have Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2) or higher.

  • Exceptional candidates will have any Type 3 or higher Command and General Staff qualification (FSC3, LSC3, OSC3, PIO3, PSC3, and SOF3).

• Three (3) or more of those years supervising one or more Work Units.

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a related field including natural resource management, fire science, or fire service management/administration

• Exceptional candidates will have documented professional experience working in one or more of the following program areas:

  • Cooperative, interagency wildfire management programs including multi-agency operating plans, agreements, zone fire boards, multi-agency coordination (MAC) groups, etc.

  • Serving as an Agency Administrator / Line Officer on multi-jurisdiction, complex wildland fire incidents.

• Broad and varied experience in wildland fire management (i.e. fire response and operations,incident management, interagency fire management programs, prescribed fire and fuels treatments, dispatch and mobilization, wildfire intelligence, training and qualifications,etc.).

• Experience managing and implementing state-level fire management programs, including working with local fire departments and counties. Exceptional candidates will have experience with Colorado interagency, cooperative wildfire management programs.

• Experience as a DFPC Battalion Chief, Fire Management Officer, and/or Chief or Company Officer with a Fire Department.

• Documented experience with being a solution oriented leader, with an ability to take initiative; strong background in creating, implementing and improving programs.

• Documented experience developing new programs and/or managing complex, multi-agency programs.

• 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.
  
  

Conditions of Employment

• 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 1 month 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, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking, driving history, drug screen.Medical physical will be required to candidates who have a NWCG qualification that requires a work capacity test (WCT) and who plan to perform in those roles and maintain currency in the qualification.

In these cases, a complete firefighter medical exam will be required in the pre-employment testing.

Additional Information