Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

The Wildfire Partners Team of the Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department is seeking to hire a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. The Wildfire Mitigation Specialist is primarily field positions responsible for regulatory and voluntary Home Ignition Zone assessments, inspections and field visits with homeowners, builders and property managers. Candidates must be willing and able to work in the field every single work day. Work in the field takes place all year round; however, fewer visits take place during the winter. This is a supervised position that will require the ability to work collaboratively with a larger team and the ability to exercise independent judgment. This position is newly created as a result of Boulder County’s Wildfire Mitigation Tax. It will be part of the expanded mission of Wildfire Partners as we expand to include the entirety of Boulder County in our program area. This will involve developing new strategies based on elements of our award-winning Wildfire Partners Program.

Example of Duties:

1. Uses an iPad to conduct Wildfire Partners assessments—on-site 2-4 hour educational home ignition zone (HIZ) assessments—with homeowners, builders and property managers using the best available science to make prioritized home hardening and defensible space recommendations and requirements to reduce the vulnerabilities of their home igniting in a wildfire.
   • These HIZ assessments include existing homes, new homes, short-term rentals and Wildfire Partners’ recertifications.
2. Conducts onsite HIZ assessments, inspections and field visits multiple days a week to confirm that wildfire mitigation measures are completed in accordance with standards. Communicates corrections or approves inspections and enters results into database systems.
3. Coordinates, collaborates and serves as a resource with other departments, agencies, jurisdictions and groups in areas and programs directly related to wildfire mitigation.
4. Reviews and responds to Planning department referrals of development proposals with site location, defensible space, ignition-resistant materials, emergency water supply and emergency vehicle access wildfire mitigation concerns and requirements. Attends review staff meetings as applicable to provide input.
5. Participates in the planning and preparation of community wildfire protection plans, community meetings, wildfire hazard ratings and land use and building codes.
6. Performs related work as assigned.
7. May be reassigned in an emergency.