DFPC Firefighter VII: Branch Chief of Fire Planning
Job Description
Salary
$103,248.00 - $123,912.00 Annually
Location
Statewide, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
DFPC-WFMS-01004-11/2025
Department
Department of Public Safety
Division
Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Opening Date
11/13/2025
Closing Date
12/3/2025 5:00 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Type of Announcement
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address
Negotiable depending on successful candidate and available facilities.
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
Ryan McCombs, Human Resources Specialist, ryan.mccombs@state.co.us
Salary Note
Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
How To Apply
Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Information
This position is not subject to the Hiring Freeze as outlined in Executive Order D 2025 009 due to being critical to protecting the health, life and safety of Coloradans.
This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.
An eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.
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.
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.
Appeal Rights
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.
Supplemental Information
Are you in need of an accommodation?
If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at cdps_hr@state.co.us .
Equiuty, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
Colorado Department of Public Safety is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resources department at cdps_hr@state.co.us .
NotificationsAll correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.
Please Read Carefully - 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 be referred to the comparative analysis process. If this results in less than 6 applicants, all applicants will be referred to interview and will not have a numeric analysis.
- For those candidates referred to interview, tentative timeframe will be the last week of December.
- Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
Responsibilities
Description of Job
About the Work Unit
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.
Work Environment
- This is a hybrid position - Location is negotiable depending on successful candidate and available facilities.
- 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.
- 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.
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 Planning Branch, including the Intelligence Unit, Prescribed Fire and Fuels Unit, and the Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) Unit. This position reports directly to a WFMS Deputy Section Chief. Within the WFMS, the Fire Planning Branch is responsible for: maintaining situational awareness of potential and actual incidents within the State and nation; supporting fire operations by assessing and providing intelligence information on location, fuels, fire behavior, fire modeling, values at risk, etc.; facilitating communication and information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies within Colorado, the 5-state Rocky Mountain Area (RMA), and across the country; assessing and compiling data, and developing products, reports and recommendations for various programs (e.g. fire occurrence and impacts, resource utilization, fuels treatments, etc.); and supporting DFPC and CDPS leadership decision making with recommendations and intelligence products.
Branch Leadership and Supervision
- This position provides comprehensive leadership and direct supervision to the Fire Planning Branch, aligning all programs and operations with the agency's 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 the Branch:
- 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 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 the Branch:
- This position develops, directs, and administers the implementation of Branch and Unit Level functions and services in order to carry out the agency’s 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 employee’s: job related training needs, maintenance of skills and certifications, professional development planning, and career track identification.
Implementation and Management of Fire Programs
- Provides daily leadership, direction, and oversight for Fire Planning Branch programs, services and functions.
- 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 Branch functions Branch-level programs, services and functions; ensuring alignment with legislative requirements, stakeholder input, and DFPC goals and objectives. This includes the development of plans, processes and procedures for the:
- collection of incident and environmental data and information;
- development of products for end users, and distribution of products to inform and support decision makers, dispatch centers, and on the ground fire managers across the state.
- rulemaking process and development of guidelines for the use of prescribed fire by State of Colorado employees and/or on State-owned properties.
- 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 Resources Branch and the Interagency Dispatch System to monitor current and predicted fuel and weather conditions, incident status, and alerts for dangerous and/or unusual fuel and fire behavior conditions.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Recommendations: compiles stakeholder input, develops alternatives, and makes recommendations to the DFPC Director and WFMS Section Chief on program needs, goals, and improvements. Serves as a wildfire SME on a variety of projects and 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.
- Policy and Guidelines - serves on multi-agency and/or national level committees and groups (i.e. National Wildfire Coordinating Group) to develop standards and guidelines for interagency wildfire operations, processes, training curriculum, etc.
Internal (CDPS/DFPC) and External Communications and Coordination
- This position serves as the primary liaison for the Fire Planning 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 systems for Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA), development and dissemination of intelligence products, guidelines for prescribed fire planning and implementation, and other Branch-level programs on a statewide basis. Ensures local, county, and State needs are met during development, implementation, and maintenance of programs.
- Represents the WFMS Section and Deputy Section Chief and functions as a Liaison between DFPC Work Units, external fire agencies, and the interagency wildfire 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 products and systems as needed.
- Statewide Subject Matter Expertise: acts as the State's 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.
- Oversight of the coordination with Colorado stakeholders and partners on Branch-level programs, services and functions. Most functions of the Fire Planning 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.
Special Projects / Other Duties As Assigned
- 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.
Job Requirements
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Required Minimum Qualifications & Experience
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.
- Ten (10) years of professional wildland fire management work experience or closely related experience. A combination of related education and/or relevant experience equal to ten (10) years may be substituted.
- A minimum of one (1) year of the required minimum experience must have been at the level of a work leader, staff authority, unit supervisor, or equivalent authority.
- 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.
- Prescribed Fire: planning, executing, and/or overseeing prescribed fire projects.
- Wildfire detection, surveillance, and mapping
- Fire Intelligence - compiles and analyzes a variety of diverse data sources to develop products and information to support firefighters and fire managers before, during, and after wildfire incidents.
- Fire behavior modeling - utilize software and systems to predict fire spread, intensity and interaction with the physical environment for planning and suppression activities.
Please note, your application will not be considered if documentation to support this qualification is not provided.
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 wildland fire experience, with increasing program management, supervisory responsibility, and documented leadership skills and abilities.
- Three 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
- Preferred Special Qualifications - previous or current National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications of (Please note, your application will not be considered if documentation to support this qualification is not provided.):
- Strike Team / Task Force Leader or higher in the Operations Section;
- Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) or higher;
- Any Unit Leader or higher in one of the other ICS Sections (Finance, Plans, and/or Logistics);
- 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);
- Exceptional candidates will have one or more of: Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and/or Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN).
- Exceptional candidates will have documented professional experience working in one or more of the following program areas:
- Prescribed fire and fuels management;
- Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) or equivalent;
- Wildfire Intelligence;
- Fuels and fire behavior modeling and predictions; and/or
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- 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.
- Documented experience with being a solution-oriented leader, with an ability to take initiative; strong background in creating, implementing and improving policies and procedures.
- Documented experience developing new programs and/or managing complex, multi-agency programs.
- Demonstrated commitment to public service and community involvement.
Complete Applications Must Include the Following:
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Applicants will be required to complete a background investigation that includes polygraph exam, fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checks, driving history and drug screen or medical physical exam (if applicable)
- A Medical physical exam applies 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.
- Position must maintain the NWCG required fitness levels for the employee’s 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, employee’s 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 DFPC leadership when incidents occur.
- Required to be a Colorado resident at the time of application submission.
