Senior Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC) Specialist

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC) Specialist is a working technical expert in the Colorado Department of Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The position supports federal, state, Tribal, and local government agencies by installing, maintaining, monitoring, modifying, calibrating, and repairing microwave, telephone, two-way radio, digital trunked radio, data, and video communications equipment and systems. The work helps maintain reliable public safety communications networks used by more than 136,000 Colorado first responders. The specialist provides technical guidance and instruction to other telecommunications specialists, supports system upgrades and maintenance planning, maintains equipment records and documentation, and monitors statewide microwave and wireless networks. The position also maintains transmitter-site facilities, towers, backup power systems, batteries, and environmental controls. Emergency response is an essential part of the role: the specialist is on call on a rotating basis and may be called back at any time to restore service or assist with emergency, search, rescue, and recovery operations. Duties may require travel to isolated, high-altitude sites in severe weather using four-wheel-drive vehicles or all-terrain snow-cats, as well as climbing communications towers up to 350 feet.

Requirements

Meet one of the following minimum qualification options: three years of hands-on technical experience with land mobile radio (LMR), microwave, two-way radio, or related RF technologies; or a combination of a related formalized apprenticeship program or higher-level coursework from an accredited, non-correspondence vocational or trades school and hands-on technical experience in those technologies totaling three years.
Valid Colorado Driver’s License.
Successful completion of a background investigation, including a polygraph exam, fingerprint-based criminal history search, reference checks, and driving history review.
Must be available for on-call duty and call-outs, potentially 24 hours a day on a rotating basis.
Ability to work with engine coolants, fuels, battery acid, grease, ATF hydraulic fluid, and lead.
Physical strength and agility to climb communications towers up to 350 feet, climb across tower arms, and perform work while suspended.
Ability to work in all weather conditions.
Ability to obtain and maintain within six months of hire the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL), tower rescue training and tower-climbing certification, Sno-Cat certification, winter survival training, avalanche awareness training, and First Aid and CPR.

Nice To Haves

Strong working knowledge of RF microwave communication.
Hands-on technical experience.
Technical instruction experience.
Current tower certification.
Current FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL).

Responsibilities

Assist in establishing installation, maintenance, and operating processes and procedures.
Modify, develop, and construct circuits, systems, and peripheral communication assemblies using manufacturer instructions, best practices, and industry standards.
Install and repair equipment and systems when documentation is limited or unavailable.
Support supervisors and regional engineers by estimating staffing, time, material, and equipment needs for system upgrades and maintenance.
Update instruction manuals, schematics, circuit records, and equipment records.
Monitor microwave and statewide wireless networks remotely each day and perform repairs or calibration when service faults are detected.
Participate in maintenance and installation of microwave systems, base and repeater stations, two-way mobile radios, and auxiliary equipment.
Maintain and repair transmitter-site buildings, grounds, fences, antennas, and towers; climb towers to install, repair, remove, or assess structures and equipment.
Assist in designing and fabricating new or untried electronic equipment.
Maintain proficiency in TDM circuits, -48 VDC power systems, and related telecommunications standards; maintain required training and certifications and serve as a work lead as needed.
Communicate professionally in writing and verbally, consult with supervisors about intergovernmental and service-level agreements, and recommend updates to documented procedures.
Respond to emergency outages through 24-hour rotating on-call and call-back availability and facilitate restoration of communications service.
Perform installation, maintenance, and comprehensive repairs to maintain public safety communications networks.
Use specialized transportation, including four-wheel-drive vehicles and all-terrain snow-cats, to reach remote transmitter sites during extreme weather and support search, rescue, and recovery missions as required.
Assess remote-site conditions and bring appropriate equipment, protective gear, and technical tools.
Coordinate and perform routine maintenance and repairs on the assigned snow-cat and service roads.
Provide preventive maintenance to emergency power plants, batteries, and environmental control systems.

Benefits

Medical and dental coverage options for permanent employees and dependents.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
State-provided Basic Life and AD&D insurance at no cost to employees, with legal resources and discounts.
State of Colorado Wellness Program, including health coaching and skill groups; participants may earn a monthly health insurance premium discount.
Employee discounts, promotions, and special programs through BenefitHub.
State contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan.
Medical leave eligibility under FMLA and the State of Colorado FAMLI program.
Hybrid or other flexible work arrangements may be available depending on the role.
PERA Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution retirement plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans.
Eleven paid holidays annually, accrued annual and sick leave, and four annual wellness days.
Employee Assistance Program offering short-term counseling, referrals, resources, training, and organizational development services.
Tuition reimbursement and reduced tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.