What are the responsibilities and job description for the Office of Public Safety Communications Manager- Denver position at State of Colorado Job Opportunities?
Department Information
This position is open only to Colorado residents only.
Please Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.
CDPS is an equal opportunity employer. See our EEOD Utilization Report (2020)
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
CDPS commits to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment. We ensure that we recruit, retain, and promote engaged employees. Our approach to diversity is simple - it's about embracing everyone! We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative. Our strength is our promise to be inclusive with intentional strategies to welcome and uplift our employees to thrive - while building a more equitable workplace.
Why I love My Job at CDPS
At CDPS we nurture an employee-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 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.
- Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
- Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.
For a complete review of the benefits we offer, please click on this link.
Description of Job
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
This position is located within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM). The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is a dynamic and diverse team that is committed to developing, administering and coordinating comprehensive and integrated statewide emergency management and homeland security programs. The Division’s work ensures the safety and security of Colorado and its infrastructure through unity of effort with local, tribal, state, federal, private, and nongovernmental partners.
This position is located within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM). The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is a dynamic and diverse team that is committed to developing, administering and coordinating comprehensive and integrated statewide emergency management and homeland security programs. The Division’s work ensures the safety and security of Colorado and its infrastructure through unity of effort with local, tribal, state, federal, private, and nongovernmental partners.
Our Mission: To lead and support Colorado's effort to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from all-hazards events.
Our Vision: A prepared, safe and resilient Colorado!
Our Core Values: Service, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Vision and Excellence.
Our Guiding Principles: Results-Focused, Innovative, Service-Oriented and Employee-Centric.
Our mission is accomplished through a comprehensive and coordinated program of mitigating hazards, preparing for emergencies, preventing terrorist attacks and other criminal activity, coordinating resources for response to a disaster and supporting subsequent recovery efforts. The division also serves as the conduit for state and federal funding to prepare for and recover from all hazard events. The division accomplishes its mission through the following offices:
- Director's Office
- Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
- Office of Grants Management (OGM)
- Office of Security and Prevention (CIAC)
- Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC)
ABOUT THE WORK UNIT
The Office of Public Safety Communications (OPSC) provides critical and essential public safety two-way radio communications to over 1,000 local, state, tribal and federal public safety and governmental agencies across the state. On average the system supports 8 – 9M calls per month and is one of the largest communications systems in the United States. It is currently the largest system in Colorado providing interoperability across a vast array of
independent communications systems in every county jurisdiction and region of the state. Over 120,000 Colorado first responders use the system for routine operations, emergency operations, interoperability, mutual aid, for both naturally occurring and man caused large scale events.
independent communications systems in every county jurisdiction and region of the state. Over 120,000 Colorado first responders use the system for routine operations, emergency operations, interoperability, mutual aid, for both naturally occurring and man caused large scale events.
The OPSC represents the State of Colorado, in all matters related to public safety communications, in partnership with political subdivisions, elected officials, state departments, local, regional, tribal and federal government. The OPSC team is made up of system engineers, network monitoring, program management, project management, transmitter site facility operations and maintenance.
We are responsible for system design - expansion and architecture, establishment and enforcement public safety communications policy, procedures, standards, technological advancement, system security – system upgrade management, Federal Communications Commission licensing and compliance, radio programing and talk group assignment, transmitter site and tower construction, everything associated with what may directly impact the performance and reliability of the OPSC.
Our teams are geographically and strategically stationed at 13 regional technical service centers throughout the state to ensure an immediate response and accelerated restoration of communications continuity of operations. This includes, but is not limited to knowledge and proficiency of all computer software programs operating various components of the system, installation, service and maintenance of all backup power generators, environmental conditioning units, UHF – VHF – Microwave, transmitters – receivers, coaxial waveguide - antenna systems and communications tower structures in excess of 400 feet.
All engineering and technical specialist are trained in winter survival and safe snow-cat operations in effort to safely access high altitude mountain communications sites in Colorado’s ever changing and extreme weather conditions and have been called upon in the event of emergencies and extreme weather events to assist in first responder search and rescue missions. This support unit responds to 24-hour system monitored alarm notifications indicating component trouble or failures, routine and preventive maintenance ensuring the highest level of system performance
and preventing interruptions in service and loss of availability.
ABOUT THE POSITION
This position provides electronic engineering expertise and services to support the State’s Public Safety Communications Network (PSCN). This position supports local, tribal, state, federal agencies, and the public safety-first responders’ community. The engineer identifies specific communication needs and engineering solutions and formulates recommendations by approving or disapproving the acquisition of telecommunication equipment. They establish telecommunications procedures by obtaining special licenses and permits and documenting technical information and procedures, identifying and ordering all equipment needed and implementing approved projects.
This position provides expert analysis of radio frequency (RF) coverage predictions, propagation, microwave paths and modes in existing infrastructure and for future enhancements to RF architecture. They mitigate or eliminate interference from energy sources which are harmful to state resources using best practices engineering in RF science. Use advanced calculations and field test instrumentation to determine potentially harmful interference. Determine best-path propagation modes, site-to-site geography, licensing, rights-of-way, property assessments, and path gain/loss calculation for path profile analysis. Provides Maximum Permissible Exposure limit calculations and measurements. Determine, plan, design, implement and resolve mpls, telco, connectivity to all network transmitters sites.
This position exists to provide staff management to the Denver Service Center, OPSC and electronic engineering expertise and services to support the State’s communication networks. Position supports state agencies and the public safety community by: identifying specific communications needs, engineering solutions, formulating recommendations, approving or disapproving the acquisition of telecommunication equipment, establishing information and procedures, identifying and ordering all equipment needed and implementing and managing approved projects
This position provides expert analysis of radio frequency (RF) coverage predictions, propagation, microwave paths and modes in existing infrastructure and for future enhancements to RF architecture. They mitigate or eliminate interference from energy sources which are harmful to state resources using best practices engineering in RF science. Use advanced calculations and field test instrumentation to determine potentially harmful interference. Determine best-path propagation modes, site-to-site geography, licensing, rights-of-way, property assessments, and path gain/loss calculation for path profile analysis. Provides Maximum Permissible Exposure limit calculations and measurements. Determine, plan, design, implement and resolve mpls, telco, connectivity to all network transmitters sites.
This position exists to provide staff management to the Denver Service Center, OPSC and electronic engineering expertise and services to support the State’s communication networks. Position supports state agencies and the public safety community by: identifying specific communications needs, engineering solutions, formulating recommendations, approving or disapproving the acquisition of telecommunication equipment, establishing information and procedures, identifying and ordering all equipment needed and implementing and managing approved projects
Duties include (but are not limited to):
Engineering Design
Designs, engineers, or upgrades new or existing telecommunications systems, by analyzing and evaluating the users' telecommunications needs, by developing comprehensive plans and projects, by compiling and documenting implementation procedures, ordering, equipment and applying for licenses and permits. Designs and implements engineering changes to enhance communications coverage for any specific area of responsibility in response to state agencies' requests. Utilizes existing infrastructure, including selection of appropriate communications equipment applicable to enhancing statewide interoperability while addressing requester's needs. Designs and implements engineering changes to enhance migration from legacy telco to industry standard MPLS/Segment routing protocol for OPSC network data paths.
Supervision
The position is responsible for the daily supervision of regular, on-going staff. Develop staff performance plans on an annual basis and conduct a minimum of 2 performance reviews per year (progress review and annual). Plans should include metrics that align with department and organizational goals. Reviews and approves evaluations written by direct reports who manage other employees. Gives direction on tasks and priorities and provide ongoing, coaching, feedback and evaluation to staff. Documents all discussions and plans accordingly. Monitors and approves leave requests. Manages employee conflicts and respond to both informal and formal grievances as delegated. Participates in team hiring process. Staff scheduling and allocation. Maintains your own professional skills and technical abilities and foster and promote a culture of continuous learning and development with your own team. Accountable for translating the organizational vision into operational execution for your team. Participates and provides recommendations on performance pay rewards. Addresses unsatisfactory employee performance as delegated and in a timely manner, within organizational guidelines. Approves requisitions. Must be able to respond appropriately to employee objections in various forms, offering guidance, expert knowledge in subject area(s), direction, and general wisdom in working a situation where a clear path to success may not be evident. Prepares and supports individuals and team for organizational changes as needed.
Operations and Business Management, Customer Management, and Regulatory
Position is accountable for the execution of the functional duties of the team(s) within the organization. Utilizes project management practices and methodologies to work on and/or lead formal projects to help the Agency meet current and future goals and objectives. Responsible for managing projects and ensuring adequate resources are available. Tracks project progress. Schedules and conducts regular team meetings throughout the year in support of operational objectives. Provides monthly and quarterly metrics reports to leadership to ensure professional standards are being met. Continuously recommends and oversees the implementation of regularly upgraded and enhanced tools and processes. Ensures teams are working toward operational metrics. Identifies roadblocks to consistently meeting metrics and make resource requests to leadership. Creates and maintains standard operating procedure (SOP) documentation as instructed by leadership. Follows and enforces organizational policies and procedures to ensure compliance requirements are met and adhered to. Follows and trains on all safety procedures and requirements as needed. Assists field maintenance staff and governmental agencies by answering questions, by reviewing correspondence and vendor proposals, by investigating complaints and solving problems, and by providing information on telecommunications services, policies and procedures. Receives phone calls for communications failures of various degrees of need requiring the ability to quickly diagnose over the phone or on site. Designs, engineers, maintains, transitions from legacy telco OPSC network data paths to MPLS - Segmented dynamic routing.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
Experience Only:Six (6) years of experience:
Repair and maintenance of Aviat Eclipse microwave (point to multipoint) or Motorola land mobile (mobile, base station, repeater).
5 year's of lead and/or supervisory role with activities that include skills building, mentoring and team building.
OR
Education and Experience:A combination of related education and experience that equals (6) years.
Related education : Electronics Technician Association (ETA), Associate Electronics Technician (CETa) Certificate with four years, Aviat Eclipse microwave (point to multipoint) or Motorola land mobile (mobile, base station, repeater) repair - maintenance - certifications. Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology EET, Aviat Eclipse microwave (point to multipoint) or Motorola land mobile (mobile, base station, repeater) repair - maintenance - certifications.
Experience: Repair and maintenance of Aviat Eclipse microwave (point to multipoint) or Motorola land mobile (mobile, base station, repeater). Experience must include 5 year's of lead and/or supervisory role with activities that include skills building, mentoring and team building.
Note: A transcript as described under "Complete Applications" must be submitted at the time of application to meet this qualification.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Ability to prioritize projects.
- Demonstrated strong critical thinking skills.
- Ability to make independent decisions within a broad procedural framework.
- Ability to multi-task.
- Strong organizational and follow up skills.
- Self-sufficient, highly motivated and team player.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment with consistency and reliability
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Federal Communication Commission (FCC) license
- Aviat Eclipse or Aviat CTR microwave (point to multipoint experience)
- Motorola land mobile (portable, mobile, base station, repeater) repair maintenance experience
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam and a fingerprint based criminal history search.
- Designated Critical. Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety and welfare.
- Colorado Driver's License: Will travel between state communication equipment locations as a field team member. Required for all-terrain vehicle for access support. Statewide, occasional overnight stay; May be required to travel by 4x4, off-road vehicle, or tracked snow vehicle and operate a state vehicle
- Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials: Will work with chemicals such as engine coolants, fuels, battery acid, grease, ATF hydraulic fluid, and lead.
- Must have FCC General Radiotelephone Operators License (GROL)
- Must be able and willing to climb towers, lift 50 lbs. at chest level and carry for 100 feet.
- Will require travel to remote transmitters/towers in the high-altitude mountains of Colorado.
- Must be able to work at high altitudes for extended periods of time, travel by tracked snow vehicles, 4x4 trucks, and other vehicles.
- Will often require over-night stays near remote locations in hotels or other lodging.
- Must be a resident of Colorado at the time of application submission.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Core Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
- On call/shift work as needed for the purposes of outages and break-fixes
- Hybrid position
APPEAL RIGHTS
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing and appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date your 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 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 for 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 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
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS ASSISTANCE AND QUESTIONS
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that protects people with physical and mental disabilities and allows them the opportunity for employment with or without a reasonable accommodation. Please direct questions and requests for reasonable accommodations to cdps_hr@state.co.us
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that protects people with physical and mental disabilities and allows them the opportunity for employment with or without a reasonable accommodation. Please direct questions and requests for reasonable accommodations to cdps_hr@state.co.us
NOTIFICATIONS
All 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.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
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
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.
- 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. Each answer (1-4) should be no longer than one page.
- 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).
- Comparative Analysis: Include a structured application review by a panel of SMEs.
