Chief of Operations/Deputy Director

Job Description

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 34487
Agency: Public Safety - Wildland Fire
Location: Rapid City, SDSalary: $76,317.44 - $90,828.00 Annual Salary, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: L
Closing Date: 02/05/2026

South Dakota Wildland Fire is hiring a Chief of Operations/Deputy Director . This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Public Safety. For more information on SD Wildland Fire, please visit https://wildlandfire.sd.gov/ . For more information on the Department of Public Safety, please visit https://dps.sd.gov/ .

Responsibilities of the Chief of Operations/Deputy Director Include:

• Leads firefighters in wildland fire suppression and other emergency management operations.
• Provides direction to the fire management program by ensuring safe and effective fire management operations. This includes development of annual operating plans, memorandums of understanding and joint powers agreements with other agencies and municipal and volunteer fire departments.
• Provide leadership and direction to operations staff, including the Training Program Manager, District Office Program Manager, Handcrew Program Manager.
• Lead strategic planning to guide the future of the agency and build firefighting capacity.
• Develops statewide wildfire management program goals and creates policies and procedures to accomplish those goals.
• Provides leadership for the agencies prescribed fire program to reduce fuel loading, improve wildlife habitat, and prevent catastrophic wildfire.
• Assist with the development of the agency budget for submission to the department secretary.
• Attend negotiations of cost-share agreements with federal land management agencies.
• Represent the agency at meetings with other state agencies to negotiate and review MOU's and JPA's.
• Represent South Dakota and agency on regional and national sub-committees.
• Act on the Director's behalf when the Director is not available.

The successful candidate will be allowed to travel out of state for federal fire assignments. Please contact the hiring manager for more information.

Licenses and Certifications: NWCG certification as Division Group Supervisor and Incident Commander Type 3

This Position:

• Works in a typical office environment.
• Works in fire management situations that are inherently dangerous and are exposed to unpredictable fire behavior, burns, smoke, dust, and extreme temperatures exacerbated by the need for and weight of protective gear.
• Works around heavy equipment and aircraft in operation with limited visibility.
• Walks and works in rough terrain.
• Performs continuous and hard physical labor using hand and power tools.
• Is required to pass an annual pack test at the arduous level.

Questionnaire: Applicants will be required to answer a series of job related questions when submitting an application for this job.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• NWCG qualifications: Division Group Supervisor, Incident Commander Type 3
• Effective communicator both orally and written
• Highly motivated with the ability to work independently
• Passion for development of future leaders

Knowledge of:

• fire ecology, fire behavior, and fire management theories, concepts, principles, and standards in a wildland fire environment;
• policies, techniques and practices of wildland firefighting obtained through substantial service as a primary firefighter;
• principles, practices, and concepts of wildland fire management (e.g., fire effects, fire hazard and risk analysis, fuel and smoke management, incident management, prescribed fire, and fire use) sufficient to perform program development and oversight for the fire and aviation management programs;
• laws, regulations, and agency policies and procedures applicable to the use and protection of natural and cultural resources;
• accepted wildland fire safety practices and procedures;
• latest technological advances in fire management sufficient to evaluate their applicability to specific situations;
• budgeting policy, procedures and techniques sufficient to develop program budgets and annual work plans;
• capabilities, limitations, approved safety standards, and operating procedures of commonly used fixed and rotary wing aircraft;
• supervisory policies, procedures, and methods in order to manage a diverse workforce;
• contracting procedures and policies;
• basic computer applications and terminology.

Ability to:

• identify, recruit and develop employees for future leadership roles;
• interpret and implement department laws and policies;
• provide leadership that promotes team work and interpersonal relationships;
• organize and prioritize work activities;
• communicate information clearly and concisely both orally and written;
• establish effective working relationships with volunteer firefighters, land and business owners, the general public, local governments, federal agencies, other state agencies, seasonal employees, and others as situations arise;
• work outdoors in all types of weather and terrain, under physically and mentally demanding situations, and in hazardous conditions;
• present and promote division objectives and services.

***Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach the following in your application :

1. Current Fire Training and Qualification Master Record
2. Current Incident Qualification Card (red card)
3. Copies of fire management plans, prescribed burn plans, annual operating plans or other fire management planning documents where you have been the primary author. Describe which portion of the plan you were responsible for writing if you did not author the entire plan.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class B retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=3AD
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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