Battalion Chief - Wildland

*** APPLICATION PACKET DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 27th by 12:00pm (Noon)***

Position:                             Battalion Chief - Wildland

Staff Member Type:     Career

FLSA Status:                     Full-Time; Non-Exempt 

Reports To:                       Deputy Chief 

Department:                    Operations

Supervisory:                   Yes

GENERAL STATEMENT: 

The Battalion Chief of Wildland (BC-W) is a senior command-level position responsible for the strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of all operational wildland fire management, and fuels management, activities for the Aspen Fire Protection District (AFPD). This position provides department-wide leadership for wildland response preparedness, operational readiness, project management, contractor relations, fuels crew and mitigation management, community education, and comprehensive wildland training programs.

The Battalion Chief of Wildland ensures AFPD’s wildland program is aligned with district values, interagency standards, and best practices while fostering a people-first, safety-driven, and highly professional wildland organization. The BC-W serves as AFPD’s principal subject-matter expert for wildland fire and represents the District at the local, state, and federal levels.

The Battalion Chief of Wildland is expected to exemplify AFPD’s core values, with a strong emphasis on people, safety, integrity, service, and professionalism. This position, and the division they manage must remain completely and seamlessly integrated with the remainder of AFPD. This position plays a critical role in shaping a resilient, prepared, and community-focused wildland fire program.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY: 

The Battalion Chief of Wildland directly or indirectly supervises all AFPD Wildland operational career, seasonal, and volunteer personnel through subordinate officers, supervisors, administrative staff or others as may be appropriate and assigned by the CEO/Fire Chief. Supervisory responsibilities may include operational personnel, administrative staff, or both.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Wildland Response Preparedness & Operations

• Ensure year-round wildland response preparedness, including staffing models, equipment readiness, pre-plans, and seasonal scaling.


• Serve in command or general staff roles during all phases of a wildland incident: initial attack, extended attack, Type 3 incident management and all-hazard events as assigned.


• Create, develop and oversee AFPD fuel management program including personnel, division development, contractor management, and execution of strategic and planning goals.


• Oversee development and execution of wildfire response plans, evacuation planning coordination, and interagency operational alignment.


• Oversee development and management of Aspen Fire’s wildland fire crew. Including full-time employees, seasonal crew members, and others, including hiring and management.


• Maintain AFPD readiness for initial attack, extended attack, and Type 3 incident management responsibilities.


• Evaluate after-action reviews and implement continuous improvement strategies.


• Create a daily briefing program to be used during fire season that communicates fire weather, fire activity, resource status, national, state, and local situation reports, safety topics and other applicable topics. These briefings must be made available to the entirety of our operational personnel whenever possible.


• Coordinate closely with the AFPD shift commander daily to ensure operational alignment and excellent communication.


• Manage and oversee the fire department’s wildland firefighting drone program, including all applicable training, compliance, maintenance and operational aspects.

Mitigation, Fuels Management & Community Risk Reduction

• Collaborate closely with our Wildfire Resilience program to lead AFPD’s wildland mitigation and fuels management programs, including defensible space, prescribed fire (where applicable), mechanical treatments, and grant-funded projects.


• Coordinate with local, state, and federal partners on cross-boundary fuels reduction initiatives.


• Oversee Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) risk assessments and community wildfire protection planning.


• Ensure mitigation efforts align with AFPD’s Community Risk Reduction (CRR) philosophy.


• Communicate programmatic needs effectively for grants and fundraising efforts of the Aspen Wildfire Foundation.


• Participate in robust projects, operations, and other planning processes during months of lower fire activity, ensuring readiness and preparation.

Education & Community Engagement

• Provide executive oversight of wildland fire education initiatives for residents, visitors, and stakeholders, in collaboration with the Wildfire Resilience program.


• Support public education programs related to defensible space, wildfire preparedness, evacuation readiness, and fire-adapted communities.


• Represent AFPD in community meetings, boards, interagency task forces, and public forums related to wildland fire.

Training & Professional Development

• Oversee all wildland training programs, ensuring compliance with NWCG, state, and AFPD standards.


• Ensure personnel are properly trained, qualified, and credentialed for assigned wildland positions.


• Support mentorship and career development pathways for wildland personnel.


• Coordinate simulations, drills, and joint training with partner agencies.

• Supports and participates in a culture of fitness and wellness by taking personal initiative to maintain physical fitness and overall wellness appropriate to the demands of the position.


• Create and implement a crew fitness program specifically tailored to the needs of a wildland fire crew ensuring excellent physical fitness for all members while focusing on injury prevention and operational readiness.

Personnel Leadership & Culture

• Lead with a people-first philosophy emphasizing health, safety, professionalism, accountability, and respect.


• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate assigned wildland officers and personnel.


• Foster collaboration between wildland and all-hazard divisions to support an integrated all-hazards response model.


• Address performance, discipline, and wellness matters in accordance with AFPD policy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: 

• Strong leadership, decision-making, management, and strategic planning skills. 

• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities. 

• Proficiency in developing, implementing, and managing policies and procedures, managing budgets and leading complex programs. 

• Advanced knowledge of wildland fire suppression, preparedness, mitigation, and training programs.


• Strong command presence and decision-making abilities in complex, high-risk environments.


• Excellent team member skills.


• Skill in building effective teams, managing change, fostering positive culture, building partnerships, and representing the organization professionally.

EQUIPMENT, ENVIRONMENT, MENTAL & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:  

• Ability to work in office and emergency response environments. 


• Must be in excellent physical condition and be able to pass appropriate medical and physical examinations.


• Must be able to supervise or perform emergency scene duties safely and effectively while wearing all required personal protective gear, including self-contained breathing apparatus.


• Must be able to perform prolonged, possibly strenuous work, under adverse emergency conditions involving physical and mental stress.


• Driving: Must be able to operate vehicles in the normal course of duties.

• Office equipment: Able to operate a copier, fax, calculator, printer, scanner, phone and cell phone.  


• Computer equipment: Able to operate a personal computer, laptop computer, tablet, Microsoft Office, and other software used in the profession and department.  


• Other equipment: Able to operate Fire Fighting and medical equipment, tools; radios and pagers; district vehicles, apparatus and equipment.  

• Language skills: Reads, interprets, and analyzes technical documents, codes and regulations, and professional journals; writes reports, business correspondence, procedures, and proposals; presents information and responds to questions individually and in small or large groups.


• Mathematical skills: Performs mathematical calculations utilizing basic mathematical calculations and formulas.


• Reasoning ability: Applies the principles of logic, scientific and medical thinking, and fire science judgment to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems using multiple, complex abstract and concrete variables in order to collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.


• Physical activities: Sits for several hours at a time; may walk, stand, bend, stoop, reach, climb, carry and lift for short to long periods of time.


• Lifting: May lift/carry and push/pull up to 100 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 180 pounds.


• Vision and hearing: Must be able to read paper and electronic documents. Must be able to differentiate colors and shades of color, use peripheral vision and depth perception; must be able to see at night and/or in dark spaces. Must be able to hear sufficiently to converse with others and participate in meetings with large and small groups. Must be able to distinguish odors.

Note: Reasonable accommodation and consideration may be given for an otherwise qualified individual with a disability.

MINIMUM REQIREMENTS:

• Be at least 21 years old

• High school diploma, GED or higher from an accredited educational institution


• Minimum of 10 years of firefighting and/or EMS service with increasing responsibility in fire suppression, emergency medical response or fire prevention.


• Possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver’s License with satisfactory driving record or be able to obtain within 30 days of employment. 


• Ability to successfully pass a background check commensurate with the position of public trust associated with firefighters and the fire service. 


• Extensive, progressive experience in wildland fire operations, management, and leadership at the local and national level.


• NWCG Engine Boss (ENGB) or higher


• NWCGFAL3


• Classes: S-211, S-212, S-215, S-219, S-230, S-231, S-260, S-270, S-290 and L280


• Demonstrated experience in wildland training coordination, fuels management, and interagency operations.

• Valid Colorado Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or National Registry EMT certification and be able to obtain Colorado licensure within (2) months of hire


• Valid BLS for Healthcare Provider card or equivalent  

• ICS 100, 200, 300, and NIMS 700 & 800 certifications

Any equivalent combination of experience, training, or education which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for this position may be considered.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Associates degree or higher from an accredited educational institution, preferably within Fire Science, Public Administration, Business or Emergency Services


• NWCG RXB2 (or higher)


• NWCG qualifications appropriate to command and general staff roles (e.g., ICT3, DIVS, TFLD, or higher). 


• Experience in WUI-focused fire districts or mountain environments.

• Valid Colorado, IFSAC or ProBoard Firefighter I certification (or higher)

• Valid Colorado, IFSAC or ProBoard Fire Officer I certification (or higher) or approved equivalent.


• Valid Colorado, IFSAC or ProBoard Fire Instructor I certification (or higher) or approved equivalent


• Valid Colorado, IFSAC or ProBoard Hazardous Materials Operations certification or approved equivalent


• ICS 400


• Knowledge of fire modeling and/or GIS systems

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Must be able to respond to emergency incidents and fulfill incident command responsibilities when assigned or needed, as determined by the CEO/Fire Chief, including during off-duty hours. The BC-W is responsible for maintaining reliable transportation, communication, and availability necessary to meet these response expectations within a reasonable time.

HOURS AND WORK SCHEDULE 

This is a non-exempt position that includes work during daytime hours, with evening, night, weekends and/or holidays should the need arise. This is a 40-hour per week position. This work may be required in emergency conditions, which might involve extreme danger and exertion under hazardous conditions (flames, smoke, hazardous materials, cramped conditions, charged or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, downed power lines, victims with severe injuries and/or death, and inclement weather, etc.). 

NOTE: 

Essential function, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the above listed tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. 

The District reserves the right to change, update and/or amend this job description as the needs of 

the organization changes.