DFPC Firefighter VII Branch Chief Fire Resources

• This is a hybrid position.
• Travel schedule will vary but may be up to 20% of time
• In-state travel and operation of a State vehicle will be required for this position: committees associations organizations coordinating groups fire incidents etc.
• Out-of-State travel may be required for this position: representation and participation for multi-state and national level conferences training association meetings etc.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under the general guidance of the Director of DFPC and the WFMS Section Chief this position is responsible for overseeing and leading the DFPC Fire Resources Branch including the Resource Coordination Unit and the Resource Mobilization Unit. This position reports directly to a WFMS Deputy Section Chief. The Fire Resources Branch is responsible on a Statewide basis for: coordinating with federal state county and local systems to integrate and streamline mobilization of fire resources (wildfire structure fire EMS etc.); maintaining data and systems for fire service resources; tracking status and availability of fire resources; working with Stakeholders on mobilization plans and maintaining mutual aid agreements; providing training to Stakeholders; managing wildfire and incident management qualification and certifications systems; and mobilizing fire service resources for emergency incidents at the request of Fire Department County State and Federal incident commanders and/or local dispatch centers.

This position: directly supervises four (4) Resource Coordination Battalion Chiefs (Firefighter 5) and one (1) Resource Mobilization Unit Chief (Administrator 5); is the secondary supervisor of three (3) supervisory Deputy Center Managers (Technician V); and is the third level supervisor of multiple Lead Dispatcher (Technician IV) Fire Dispatcher (Technician III) and Fire Resource Specialist (Technician III) positions.

• This position provides comprehensive leadership and direct supervision to the Fire Resources Branch aligning all programs and operations with the agencys mission and objectives. The Branch Chief is responsible for the strategic direction operational oversight and professional development of staff ensuring effective delivery of fire services and support across Colorado to local county state and federal agencies.
• Provides direct supervision and oversight of Work Units within theBranch:
  • Supervises assigned staff and serves as a second and third-level supervisor for Branch employees and staff.
  • Provides direction oversight support and mentorship to Work Unit supervisors and staff to enable them to deliver fire programs and support to local County State and federal agencies across Colorado.
  • Based on general guidance from the DFPC Director by and through the WFMS Chief develops work plans develops professional development plans and oversees implementation of goals and activities for the Work Units within the Branch to support all DFPC programs and fire response.
  • Serves as primary point of contact for hiring of all positions within the Branch coordinates with WFMS Fire Administration Team to initiate the hiring process facilitates applicant interviews and provides the WFMS Section Chief (or other Appointing Authority) with recommendations for hire promotion and/or transfers.
• Leadership and Management of Branch:
  • This position develops directs and administers the implementation of Branch and Unit Level functions and services in order to carry out the agencys mission and objectives.
  • In conjunction with the WFMS Deputy Section Chief and consultation with other DFPC Work Units and field staff makes programmatic and process decisions related to Branch-level programs services and functions across the State.
  • Position prioritizes projects assigns tasks and establishes deadlines provides project context and background and monitors work products for effective program delivery.
  • Serves as a subject matter expert for other DFPC Work Units and external partners for Branch-level programs services and functions across the State.
  • This position partners with WFMS Deputy Section and other Branch Chiefs for assessment and monitoring of Branch-level programs services and functions development of strategies to accomplish agency goals and objectives and provides recommendations and input for Section level needs priorities and strategic planning.
  • Regularly represents and makes decisions on behalf of the WFMS Deputy Section Chief.
  • Provides guidance mentoring support and tracking for determination and implementation of employees: job related training needs maintenance of skills and certifications professional development planning and career track identification.

• Provides daily leadership direction and oversight for Fire Resource Branch programs services and functions on a statewide basis.
• Serves as a Colorado Subject Matter Expert on Branch-level programs services and functions and as a State of Colorado liaison to national level program managers.
• Program Development & Oversight: Directs the development and implementation of comprehensive plans and procedures for statewide Branch-level programs services and functions ensuring alignmentwithlegislativerequirementsstakeholderinputandDFPCgoals and objectives. This includes the development of regional and statewide mutual aid operating plans processes and procedures for statewide fire resource dispatching and ensuring the effective and reliable function of the Statewide Mutual Aid System.
• Program Maintenance and Problem Solving: Facilitates high-level system and process development with intra-division and inter-agency work units and staff. Troubleshoots issues and develops solutions to ensure systems and processes meet interagency business and operational needs. Conducts analyses makes programmatic recommendations and develops guidance to ensure Branch functions programs and practices adhere to established budgets policies and interagency agreements.
  • Situational Awareness & Coordination: Researches and implements systems and methods for maintaining real-time situational awareness of fire service needs and incidents. Coordinates closely with the DFPC Fire Planning Branch the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and the Interagency Dispatch System to monitor current and predicted fire activity resource availability and incident needs.
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Recommendations: Compiles stakeholder input develops alternatives and makes recommendations to the DFPC Director and WFMS Section Chief on program groups focused on statewide fire management.
  • Policy Integration: Coordinates with the WFMS Deputy Section Chief to integrate Branch-level programs services and functions into overall DFPC policies objectives and staffing.
  • Executive Level Decision Making: this position serves as the DFPC delegated representative on the Zone Executive Board for each Interagency Dispatch Zone in Colorado collaborating with Line Officers from multiple local and federal agencies. This involves providing leaders intent high-level direction and expectations to the multi-agency Zone Fire Boards and leadership at each of the Interagency Dispatch Centers. This also includes facilitating dispute and conflict resolution for those entities when needed.

• This position serves as the primary liaison for the Fire Resources Branch responsible for articulating agency policies positions and strategies to diverse internal and external stakeholders including the public. The Branch Chief ensures seamless communication and coordination across the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to other Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) entities and to fire agencies across the state. This role is critical to promoting DFPC programs and for the development and maintenance of an integrated and efficient statewide system for Branch-level programs services and functions.
• The Branch Chief plans coordinates and interacts with various partners and systems to develop implement and maintain an integrated efficient system for statewide coordination dispatch and mobilization of fire resources when local agency capacity has been exceeded. This includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordination: Coordinates with the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) specifically managing or directing Emergency Support Function 4 (ESF-4) activities when needed. This requires in-depth knowledge of the roles of the Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the SEOC during incidents and assisting with sourcing and coordination of fire-based resources for large incidents and disaster support
  • The Branch Chief is responsible for oversight of DFPC Dispatch staffing and functions within the Interagency Dispatch system. This requires coordination and collaboration with federal partners to ensure a fully integrated dispatch scheme is developed for both wildfire and all other fire service needs. Ensures local County and State needs are met during implementation of the RMA Dispatch Efficiency study to consolidate and restructure Interagency Dispatch Centers (IADC) for wildland fire.
  • The Branch Chief is responsible for determining needs of local Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs)/911 centers and ensuring systems and processes are linked so that those entities and their systems can access the larger statewide and national systems.
  • External Partnership Management: Establishes and maintains professional relationships with a broad range of external partners including: Fire Protection Districts; County Sheriffs; local/county/state emergency managers; Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM); 911 Dispatch Centers/Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) federal and management agencies (US Forest Service Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Indian Affairs US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service); and other relevant entities.
• Represents the WFMS Section and Deputy Section Chief and functions as a Liaison between DFPC Work Units external fire agencies and the Interagency Dispatch system. Coordinates with internal (DFPC) and external (CDPS) Work Units and personnel resulting in necessary actions and/or processes to meet DFPC and stakeholder business needs.
• Coordinates and facilitates with both intra-division and inter-agency Work Units and staff to develop and implement high level systems and processes for Branch-level programs services and functions on a statewide basis. Ensures that systems and processes meet DFPC business and operational needs. Trouble shoots issues and problem areas and develops recommendations and solutions to correct these as needed.
• In conjunction with the WFMS Section and Deputy Section Chiefs conducts analyses makes programmatic recommendations develops internal processes and guidance and ensures Branch functions programs and practices fall within established budgets policies and rules.
  • Determines business needs of DFPC Work Units and resources as well as external fire agencies and ensures systems and processes are linked so that those entities have access to Branch products and systems as needed.
• Statewide Subject Matter Expertise: acts as the States Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Branch-level programs services and functions. Represents DFPC other State agencies counties and local fire agencies on statewide multi-state and national committees work groups and boards particularly concerning Branch related issues.
• Oversight of the coordination with Colorado stakeholders and partners on state-wide issues involving Branch-level programs services and functions. Most functions of the Fire Resources Branch must be closely coordinated with interagency partners including federal state county and local agencies. Coordination will be at the strategic planning level to determine goals and needs then at the developmental level to implement solutions and recommendations to meet state-wide priorities.

• This duty involves flexibility and responsiveness to critical program and agency needs as they occur especially in emergency situations.
• Acting Capacity: performs all duties assigned to the WFMS Deputy Section Chief in their absence ensuring continuity of essential operations.
• Mission Support: assists with other WFMS programs and may be assigned additional duties to support the overarching missions of DFPC and CDPS.
• 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.

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 and various industry standard inventory control and tracking software. Competency with internet navigation is also required.

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

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Eleven (11) or more years of documented professional experience in professional wildland or structural firefighting incident management and/or dispatching and mobilization of fire resources with increasing program management supervisory responsibility and documented leadership skills and abilities.

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

• Bachelors Degree or higher in a related field including natural resource management fire science or fire service management/administration.

• Previous or current dispatch related qualifications including National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and/or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) certifications and qualifications.

• Prior wildfire and/or fire service mobilization and dispatching experience with exceptional candidates having documented experience as a Center Manager or equivalent leadership position at Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) or Interagency Dispatch Center.

• 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.

• Documented experience with being a solution oriented leader with an ability to take initiative; strong background in creating implementations and improving policies and procedures.

• Experience with wildfire dispatch and qualification systems including but not limited to: CRRF IROC IQCS IQS and WildCAD.

• 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 qualification (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 drivers license at time of hire and must obtain a Colorado-issued drivers license within 1 month of hire. Ability to operate motor vehicles and to travel extensively throughout the state in a variety of weather conditions.

• 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.

• Position must maintain the NWCG required fitness levels for the employees NWCG wildland fire qualifications throughout the employment period. Required fitness levels will vary based on qualifications. Actual qualifications and currency including fitness levels will vary based on supervisor input employees professional development plan and current agency needs.

• 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 FLSA Exempt employees.

• This position will be expected to be available outside of standard work hours to coordinate statewide fire response and provide expertise and technical assistance to interagency Dispatch Center staff and DFPC leadership when incidents occur.

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

• Must be Colorado resident at the time of application