Salary $77,808.00 - $93,384.00 Annually

Location Other (see multiple locations in job posting), CO

Job Type Full Time

Job Number DFPC-WFMS-FF4Heli-09/2026

Department Department of Public Safety

Division Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Opening Date 09/10/2026

Closing Date 9/28/2026 5:00 PM Mountain

FLSA Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address Fremont County (Southeast District 3) or Montrose County (Southwest District 4)

Hiring Pay Rate Anticipated Hiring Range: $6,484 - $7,782/month or $77,808 - $93,384/year

FLSA Status Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information Ryan McCombs -- 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.

Type of Announcement A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

THIS POSITION HAS A RESIDENCY WAIVER

A residency waiver has been granted for this position. Applications will be accepted from both Colorado residents and non-residents.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility list for current and future vacancies at the following location(s):

Southeast District 3: Canon Helicopter Captain - Penrose, CO
Southwest District 4: Montrose Helicopter Captain - Montrose, CO

An eligibility list may be established with this recruitment and could be used to fill similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Please refer to DFPC Fire Management Regions and Staff Link for more information regarding district boundaries Fire Management Regions and Staff.

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 dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace.

Careers with a purpose:

If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career.

We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services.

Classification and Salary:

FIREFIGHTER IV

Anticipated Hiring Range: $6,484 - $7,782/month; $77,808 - $93,384/year

Full Salary Range: $6,484 - $9,080/month; $77,808 - $108,960/year

Benefits:

We provide a wide range of benefits to our employees.

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.
Eligible employees receive 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. Basic Life and AD&D are provided by the State of Colorado at no cost to employees.
The State of Colorado's Wellness Program, State of Health, is a no-cost, year-long program that supports an employee’s health and wellness goals. This program offers personalized health coaching, skill groups and more. Participants can earn a $20 per month health insurance premium discount.
Through BenefitHub, State of Colorado employees have access to discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment venues throughout Colorado and across the country.
State contribution into a Health Savings Account when enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan.
Eligible employees have 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.
We offer excellent 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.
We provide generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four 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.
Tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
We offer Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

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

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.

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.

Work Environment

100% In-person position
This position may require call-back, extended staffing, and days-off staffing based on fire conditions, incident activity and availability of firefighter resources.

About the Position

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 Canon Helicopter Module operates on a Type 2 B-205A++ helicopter.

The Montrose Helicopter Module operates on a Type 1 S-70M FireHawk helicopter.

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.

Key Responsibilities

Fire Suppression and Incident Response

While providing for their individual safety and the safety of those assigned to them, the employee supervises helicopter module operations during fire suppression and incident response work. Fire suppression and incident response work includes, but is not limited to:
organizes and deploys 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.
Based on location and business needs, the position will perform and oversee non-wildfire and all-hazard incident response and support functions as trained, qualified, and equipped including, but not limited to: resource management, search and rescue, and other all hazard missions.
Requires intermediate fire knowledge and experience, skill in the application of firefighting tasks, and the ability to recognize and communicate safety considerations and other factors (fire intensity, fuel conditions, weather observations, flight operations etc.) used by higher qualified firefighters in their decision making process. This knowledge, skill, and ability is shown by being qualified as an NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB).
On a limited basis, the employee may temporarily work as a Firefighter V if appropriately qualified, or may be required to supervise other single resources such as a squad, module, handcrew or engine if appropriately qualified.
Incident response may require travel to active fires, severity assignments, and pre-position assignments throughout Colorado and across the nation.
Incident response will require travel in rotor and/or fixed-wing aircraft for detection, reconnaissance, communication, coordination, command and control purposes prior to, during, and following wildland fire and all-hazard incidents.
Incident response may require personnel to be assigned to an incident for two weeks or longer in austere living and working conditions.
Incident response may require working long hours (up to 16 hours per day) in outdoor settings and performing strenuous manual labor under extreme environmental conditions.
Work schedules will be expected to be flexible and modified at times to fit the business need based on fire conditions.
Participates in regular physical training and conditioning during work hours to maintain fitness levels as directed by the supervisor.

Supervision & Helicopter Flight Operations

The Helicopter Captain supervises assigned personnel and day-to-day helicopter operations & preparedness. This includes, but is not limited to:

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, 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.
Based on general guidance from the DFPC Director, by and through the WFMS Chief, develops 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 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.
While providing for their individual safety and the safety of those assigned to them, the employee supervises helicopter flight operations prior and during fire suppression and incident response work. This includes, but is not limited to:
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.

Mitigation, Resource Management, and Training Missions

While providing for his/her individual safety, the employee works as a supervisor and crewmember in planning and implementation of mitigation, fuels treatment and resource management projects, including but not limited to:
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 but not limited to: 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.
Participates in regular physical training and conditioning during work hours to maintain fitness levels as directed by the supervisor.

Fire Preparedness Support and Other Duties as Assigned

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. This includes time-keeping systems, time & leave policies, incident documentation requirements, travel & purchasing policies and more.
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.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Five (5) years of documented professional wildland firefighting experience.
Qualification to the NWCG Helicopter Manager - Single Resource (HMGB)
Please upload a copy of your IQS or IQCS Master record or incident qualification card showing your NWCG qualification to Single Resource Boss qualification or higher in the Operations Section
When assigned to the Type 1 S-70M FireHawk (located in Montrose), successful candidate will be required to attain DFPC Aircrew Mission Specialist (AMS) Task Book within one (1) year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Six (6) + years of documented wildland firefighting experience, and/or additional fire service experience, including fireline supervision.
Exceptional candidates will have a 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.
Exceptional candidates will also have 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.

Complete Applications Must Include the Following Documents

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 6 months 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.
The aircraft resources are staffed and available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with staggered scheduling to make this coverage possible. The normal work schedule of this position may include the requirement to work on weekend days, holidays, and extended shifts.
This position may require call-back, extended staffing, and days-off staffing based on fire conditions, incident activity and availability of firefighter resources.
Firefighters need to be familiar with and frequently use flammable liquids and solids in the performance of various prescribed fire and tactical firing tasks. This includes the preparation, implementation and storage of drip torch fuel, Aluma Gel, Phosphorus, and gunpowder.
Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking, driving history, medical physical exam, and drug screen.
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.

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

Disability Accommodation

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure equitable opportunity applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at: cdps_hr@state.co.us.

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.

Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices

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.
Closing Date: 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 may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them. Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.
Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points. Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form.
Application Tips: For an overview of State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video.
Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).
Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application. Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application 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.
e-Verify: CDPS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Comparative Analysis Steps may include (dates are tentative and subject to change):
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will advance to the comparative analysis process. However, if fewer than six candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all applicants will be referred directly to interview, and a numerical comparative analysis will not be conducted.
Panel Interview - Tentative timeframe is beginning of October.
Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control jobs

Firefighter IV: Helicopter Captain

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