Mutual Aid Program Coordinator

This position is located within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM). The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is a consolidated Emergency Management and Homeland Security team. The Division's mission is to lead and support Colorado’s efforts to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from all-hazard events

The Office of Emergency Management conducts the four phases of emergency management (Preparedness, Response, Mitigation and Recovery) in coordination with other State Agencies and in support of local jurisdictions. It integrates emergency management efforts across all levels of government, including state, local, tribal and federal.

The Field Operations Section provides emergency management expertise across the five mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery to counties and municipalities. The unit provides technical and programmatic emergency management assistance in support of State and Local homeland security and emergency management goals. This work unit assists counties and municipalities with all- hazards emergency operations plans, mitigation plans and community preparedness and resiliency plans. Field Operations assists communities and municipalities with training and exercises and emergency management professional development. This work unit coordinates and integrates the efforts of field representatives from other state agencies and departments. Field Services transmits local requirements to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and provides local situational understanding and awareness to OEM. During incidents, Field Operations serves as the OEM liaison to local emergency management agencies. Additionally, this work unit manages and oversees the five state all-hazards incident management teams and Auxiliary Communications Unit. It provides training opportunities to the teams and monitors team qualification and availability.

A hybrid work model is utilized, requiring in-office attendance a minimum of three (3) days per week.

Work unit core hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility

May require to be on-call during emergency activations that may include nights, weekends, and/or holidays.

Requires regular in-state travel (up to 5 nights/month) and occasional out-of-state travel (up to 3 weeks/year).

About the Job

This position serves as the Designated Contact (DC) for Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) program, directing Colorado's participation in the nationwide emergency resource support network and managing interstate mutual aid operations and resource coordination during emergencies and disasters. Under the supervision of the Central Area Field Manager, the EMAC Program Coordinator is responsible for creating, implementing, and managing Colorado’s EMAC program. This role oversees the expedited procurement and deployment of critical resources during emergencies, coordinates aid sent to or received from other states. The position also leads statewide outreach, training, mutual aid optimization, and post-deployment financial reconciliation.

Key Responsibilities 

EMAC Program Coordinator
Create, implement, and manage the State of Colorado EMAC program. This mission critical function is responsible for the expedited procurement of resources from across the nation to respond to a rapidly expanding disaster/emergency in Colorado. Conversely, this position will coordinate Colorado's assistance to other states during their times of need. EMAC or other mutual aid resources may include trained position/skill specific first responders and/or equipment/supplies. The EMAC Program Coordinator will serve as the critical node and as an essential subject matter expert relied upon by senior leadership to execute the program and possess decision making authority for the acquisition and deployment of these essential resources. Due to the nature of disasters, this position is on-call for these responsibilities 24/7. This work may extend to future interstate mutual aid compacts that Colorado becomes party to, including regional or international agreements. 

All-Hazards Mutual Aid Optimization & Mission-Ready Package (MRP) Architecture
Designs, implements, and manages the state’s comprehensive framework for interstate all-hazards resource utilization through the curation of Mission-Ready Packages (MRPs). Formulates state-level guidelines, templates, and cost-modeling standards that allow state, local, tribal, and non-governmental entities to tier their capabilities. Evaluates existing mutual aid systems and invents new processes to increase resource visibility within the State's inventory tracking software (e.g., WebEOC or similar platforms) and the EMAC Operations System or EMAC Mutual Aid Support System. Regularly assess Colorado’s mutual aid programmatic readiness using tools available through the Compact, including the Planner+ platform, and report readiness and gaps to office leadership.

Statewide Stakeholder Education, Interagency Coordination & Outreach
Formulates, organizes, and executes a strategic statewide education and outreach program targeting government (local, tribal, state) and non-government partners (NGOs, private sector, volunteer groups). Develops curriculum and instructs training courses focused on mutual aid protocols, mutual aid legal frameworks, liability protections, and deployment reimbursement requirements. Represents DHSEM on regional and national boards or councils to benchmark Colorado's mutual aid capabilities. Conducts continual process improvement by assessing the applicability and effectiveness of EMAC programs and policies in other EMAC member programs, determining whether practices are suited for adoption in Colorado.

EMAC Reimbursement & Fiscal Governance Compliance
Establishes policy guidelines, designs operational workflows, and provides executive oversight for the financial reconciliation and reimbursement cycle post-deployment. Serves as the ultimate technical authority validating federal and state reimbursement documentation packages. Audits complex financial portfolios submitted by deploying agencies to ensure strict adherence to mutual aid compact requirements, minimizing the risk of funding de-obligations or audit failures.

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

Seven (7) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.

OR Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills 

A Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.
or
A Master's Degree and two (2) years of relevant experience in mutual aid, resource management, or emergency management (response or recovery) operations.

Please Note: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• Experience in acute resource management/mobilization and/or supervision of mutual aid through government channels

• Emergency management experience, particularly in response and recovery operations

• Experience navigating legal and financial requirements of multi-state compacts, particularly the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)

• Strong verbal, written, and presentations skills.

• Experience presenting or training diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders

• Project or program management experience at an individual contributor or management level. 

• Experience working across multiple computer, financial, and project management software systems during periods of significant updates or change. 

• Experience navigating standard government fiscal rules and regulations, validation of financial documentation, and application of fiscal controls

Conditions of Employment 

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 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 form 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 the 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.

• 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.  

• Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process. 

• 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).

• Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application.  Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application 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 "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

• e-Verify: CDPS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

• Comparative Analysis Steps may include : 

  • Structured application review by a panel of SMEs 

  • Panel Interview