DFPC WFMS Firefighter IV: Helicopter Captain

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

8d • Onsite

About The Position

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. This position is an operational, field level position with supervisory responsibilities whose primary purpose is to provide wildland fire suppression response and incident response; assist in mitigation, fuels, and prescribed fire functions; assist in fire-preparedness support including training; and provide response and support in other all hazard incident response as qualified. The Helicopter Captain supervises a full time, year round helicopter module that operates on either a Type 1 S-70M FireHawk or Type 2 B-205A++ aerial platform, but may also be temporarily assigned to an engine, squad, module, or hand crew to provide a range of firefighting and related services. The primary responsibility of this position is to provide supervision, leadership, and operational 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), 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.

Requirements

• Five (5) years of documented professional wildland firefighting experience.
• Qualification to the NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB).
• 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.
• Must maintain the NWCG required fitness levels for the employee’s NWCG wildland fire qualifications throughout the employment period.

Nice To Haves

• Six (6) + years of documented wildland firefighting experience, and/or additional fire service experience, including fireline supervision.
• 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 in advanced helicopter operations, including search & rescue, and other all hazards response.
• Previous supervisory or team lead experience.
• Previous experience with state level fire programs, with a preference for experience with the state of CO fire programs.
• 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.
• Certification as a DFPC Aircrew Mission Specialist.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Supervises helicopter module operations during fire suppression and incident response work, including organizing and deploying helicopter and crew based on current objectives and resource capabilities.
• Constructs fireline utilizing hand tools; cuts and clears vegetation utilizing power saws; conducts mop up and patrol operations; carries out ignition operations; coordinates, performs and assists with rescue operations.
• Operates and travels in vehicles on and off-road; hauls and packs fire related equipment and supplies; uses various tools and equipment such as chainsaws, shovels, drip torches, fusees, pulaskis.
• Uses various communication methods including radios; uses maps, compass, GPS, and other technology and tools to gather information and navigate an incident.
• Performs safety inspections, maintaining and repairing of tools and equipment; performs and follows demobilizing duties, including required incident documentation.
• Briefs crew on demobilization procedures, compiles all required incident documentation including Crew Time Reports, Equipment Shift Tickets, resources orders.
• Performs and oversees non-wildfire and all-hazard incident response and support functions as trained, qualified, and equipped including resource management, search and rescue, and other all hazard missions.
• Provides direction, oversight, support and training to assigned employees; evaluates employee schedules and work load, makes adjustments as conditions warrant.
• 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.
• Develops work plans and schedules for subordinate staff including 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 Helitack crew (or other resource) on a regular and recurring basis including on an incident.
• 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.
• Works as a supervisor and crewmember in planning and implementation of mitigation, fuels treatment and resource management projects.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents.
• Short and long-term disability coverage.
• Life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
• 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.
• State of Colorado's Wellness Program, State of Health, offers personalized health coaching, skill groups and more.
• Participants can earn a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.
• Access to discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment venues throughout Colorado and across the country through BenefitHub.
• State contribution into a Health Savings Account when enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan.
• 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.
• PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan.
• Optional 401K and 457 plans.
• 11 paid holidays annually.
• Accrued annual and sick leave.
• Four annual wellness days.
• Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) provides short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
• Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed