DFPC Chief of Aviation Maintenance

Chief of Aviation Maintenance

This position is responsible for overseeing the safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance of maintenance operations for the state-owned aviation fleet, including rotor-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. It plays a critical role in ensuring aircraft airworthiness by implementing and monitoring sound maintenance practices and processes. The position ensures that all aircraft remain mission-ready, meet all applicable regulatory standards, and operate safely in alignment with both state and federal aviation requirements.

Aircraft Fleet Maintenance Oversight & Regulatory Compliance

This position coordinates and oversees all planned and unplanned maintenance, repairs, inspections, and modifications for state owned FireHawk, Bell 205, other rotorcraft, and fixed wing aircraft. It plans, monitors, and executes inspections, overhauls, repairs, and component replacements. The position oversees and supports contracted and state employees maintenance team(s), inspectors, and support staff; ensures aircraft maintenance activities are executed with the highest levels of safety, compliance, efficiency, and quality.

The position develops and enforces standard operating procedures, maintenance policies, and quality control practices. It develops and manages training programs for internal and external personnel assigned to maintain an aircraft to ensure team qualifications and regulatory compliance. It ensures adequate inspection aids, special tools and equipment are available, inspected, calibrated and maintained in a serviceable condition. It manages tool control and tool calibration program to ensure all tools and test equipment are inspected and maintained in a serviceable and, when applicable, in calibrated condition. It assists with complex and specialized maintenance requirements. The position manages aircraft records, FAA Airworthiness Directives (AD's) and manufacturer Service Bulletins (SB's) compliance, and maintenance release procedures. It ensures the accuracy and timeliness of aircraft maintenance logs and records. It responds to Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations and leads return-to-service actions quickly and safely. It fosters a safety-first, accountable, and collaborative culture within the maintenance division.

Regulatory Compliance

The position ensures compliance with FAR / FAA Part 133 / 135 and FAR / FAA part 145 air carrier certificates, CDPS / DFPC policies, and federal regulations. It serves as the primary point of contact with FAA inspectors, coordinating audits, surveillance, and corrective actions; ensures all maintenance activities are in full compliance with FAA regulations, company policies, and manufacturer requirements. It maintains aircraft in accordance with approved maintenance programs and tracks time / life-limited components.

Maintenance Planning & Operational Coordination

The position collaborates closely with DFPC Aviation Branch Chief, DFPC Chief Pilot, DFPC MMA Unit chief, flight operators, DFPC Helicopter Operations Specialist (HOS), dispatch, and communicates planned and unplanned maintenance to ensure optimal aircraft availability. It manages AOG (Aircraft on Ground) situations efficiently and promptly. It works closely with flight operations, safety, and scheduling to align maintenance efforts with mission demands; manages and trains internal and external personnel assigned to maintain an aircraft in safety and risk management programs; plans and manages maintenance budgets, parts procurement, planned maintenance schedules, and parts inventory; evaluates vendors, contractors, and overhaul facilities for cost-effective, safe, and high-quality services; negotiates and executes applicable maintenance contracts and service agreements, including warranty programs; ensures workforce qualifications, certifications, and training currency; coordinates recurrent OEM and FAA training; plans long-term maintenance strategies to minimize downtime and reduce costs.

Record Keeping, Training, and Other Duties as assigned

The position ensures aircraft records, maintenance data, and flight data are maintained in accordance with FAA regulations and DFPC policies. It ensures aircraft and engine maintenance logs and maintenance records are maintained, screened, and monitored for compliance with current regulations, manufacturer maintenance programs, airworthiness directives, and Division policies. It oversees maintenance management personnel training requirements and provides input on planning of all scheduled training. It ensures adequate inspection aids, special tools and equipment are available, inspected, calibrated, and maintained in a serviceable condition. It ensures all maintenance personnel performing maintenance and inspections have adequate training and are appropriately qualified to perform the work which they have been assigned. It conducts internal and external facility audits as necessary. It performs advanced administrative duties using computers, including data entry. It updates and interfaces with a computerized maintenance tracking program. It manages and maintains AAIP, MEL's, and other FAA regulatory documentation as necessary. DFPC personnel may be relieved of regular duties and assigned to wildfire and / or all-hazard 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.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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. Current FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate required (please upload a copy of your certification with your application). Current FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) or ability to obtain within 60-days of hire (please upload a copy of your certification with your application). Nine (9) years of documented experience in rotorcraft helicopter and fixed-wing maintenance OR A combination of related education and / or relevant experience in rotorcraft helicopter and fixed-wing maintenance equal to nine (9) years. 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 multi-task and work in a faced paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

Ten (10) or more years documented experience in rotorcraft helicopter maintenance, with increasing program management, supervisory responsibility, and documented leadership skills and abilities. Preference for candidates with experience with Black Hawk UH-60 / S-70, Bell 205 and / or Pilatus PC-12 management. Additional previous experience in rotor-wing maintenance. Previous experience in supervision, with emphasis on experience supervising multiple units. Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance, Engineering, or related field. Documented experience with being a solution oriented leader, with an ability to take initiative; strong background in creating, implementations and improving policies and procedures. Prior military helicopter maintenance experience (especially Army UH-60) strongly preferred. Prior wildland firefighting and / or fire aviation experience is preferred. Experience with interagency, cooperative fire management programs including, but not limited to operating plans, agreements, management of multi-jurisdiction fires, etc. Experience with state-level interagency, cooperative wildfire management programs is preferred, including documented experience and relationships working with local fire departments and counties. 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 Current FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate required 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. 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. Must 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. Applicants must be willing to be fingerprinted, successfully pass a polygraph, drug screen, and a medical physical exam as a condition of hire. If applicable, the 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.

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