Operations Manager, Fire, Emergency, Outdoor Sciences

Salary: $59,524.00 - $65,476.00 Annually
Location : Lakewood, CO
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 01147
Division: Academic Affairs & Workforce Innovation
Department: Outdoor Education
Opening Date: 05/26/2026
Closing Date: 6/9/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA Status: Exempt
To Apply: 1. Resume2. Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.


Red Rocks Community College exemplifies extraordinary. We are dedicated to our which promote student achievement, staff empowerment, and community engagement. We live our values: Integrity, Collaboration, Learning, Inclusiveness, and Communication.


RRCC seeks applicants who understand and have first-hand experience working with diverse populations, which may include but are not limited to, historically marginalized populations such as people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, veterans, first generation graduates, and people with disabilities.

Summary of Position
The Operations Manager for Fire, Emergency, and Outdoor Sciences provides strategic and operational leadership for Fire Science Technology, Emergency Management, Outdoor Education, and Park Ranger Technology programs within a dynamic academic environment. This position oversees department-wide operations supporting classroom, laboratory, field-based, and high-risk instructional activities, ensuring operational readiness, regulatory compliance, risk management, equipment oversight, accreditation support, and student certification tracking. The Operations Manager coordinates complex scheduling, logistics, purchasing, vendor and agency partnerships, fleet and equipment management, and field permitting while maintaining compliance with institutional, state, federal, NFPA, OSHA, DFPC, and land management agency requirements.

The role also supports student success initiatives through advising coordination, internship partnerships, career events, and operational support for credential and degree pathways. Additionally, the position supervises office support staff and student employees, manages records and accreditation documentation, and serves as a key liaison among faculty, students, external agencies, employers, and community partners. Work is primarily performed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evening, weekend, field-based, and off-site work required to support training operations, events, and partner activities. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.

Top Three Characteristics of a Successful Candidate:

1. Exceptional Operational and Organizational Leadership
2. Strong Risk Management and Compliance Focus
3. Collaborative Communication and Relationship Building Skills

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of higher education operations, including administrative processes, academic policies, and compliance requirements.
• Ability to coordinate complex schedules and logistics across classroom, laboratory, field, and high-risk training environments.
• Familiarity with student information and records systems (e.g., Banner, DegreeWorks, Cognos) and training/certification systems (e.g., DFPC RMS).
• Working knowledge of risk management practices in field-based and emergency services training environments; ability to apply safety standards and protocols.
• Understanding of procurement, contracting, invoice processing, and audit-ready documentation practices.
• Strong record management and documentation skills, including creation of manuals, forms, and process workflows.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to support students, faculty, and external partners with clear, accurate information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat for documentation and electronic workflows.
• Ability to foster collaboration across internal departments and external agencies to support program outcomes and operational readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Fire Science, Emergency Management, Outdoor Education, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or related field.
• Minimum of three (2) years of experience in program operations, logistics, records management, or administrative coordination in applied, high-risk, or public safety environments.
• Demonstrated experience with data/records tracking, report generation, and compliance documentation.
• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required. This position involves regular travel to off-site locations, meetings, or partner facilities.

Substitution: A combination of education and directly related experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting public safety or outdoor education programs within higher education.
• Familiarity with NFPA standards, DFPC requirements, and federal land-use permitting processes.
• Supervisory experience managing staff and/or student employees.
• Experience with accreditation readiness, site visit coordination, and continuous compliance management.
• Demonstrated experience working in high-risk instructional environments.

Physical & Cognitive Demands
The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.

• Moves, positions, and transports files, office materials, and program equipment; may lift and move items weighing up to 50 lbs in support of field and training operations.
• Constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills.
• This position operates variably in an office environment and often uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Red Rocks Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment, please contact Jennifer Matthews, Executive Director of Human Resources, at View phone number on click.appcast.io or
Starting Salary
Starting salary range for this position is $59,524 to $65,476 annually, commensurate with education and experience. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.

To Apply

All applicants must submit:

1. Resume
2. Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Visit our to submit your application.


If you have questions regarding this position, please contact us at
Notice to all Applicants

• Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
• Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
• Final candidates are required to submit unofficial transcripts for non-instructional positions and official transcripts for instructional positions to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
• Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
• Red Rocks Community College participates in E-Verify.
• Red Rocks Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
• All RRCC employees, except student employees, contribute to at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
• Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.

RRCC/CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance and business need without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, marital status, religion, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at


We also believe in going further. At RRCC we have a focus on equity and belonging. We strive to create a community in which everyone feels respected and valued for their unique talents and contributions, and where people from all backgrounds are able to achieve their goals. Red Rocks Community College acknowledges that inclusion and equity are multifaceted and complex concepts, and that our efforts in these areas will require innovation, intention, and an institutional commitment to these principles, across our entire college community.

Red Rocks Community College is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). As we move toward full HSI status, we are focused on servingness and are committed to creating a learning environment where equity is expected and our Latinx students thrive.

For information regarding Red Rocks Community College Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please visit:
At RRCC, we value and uphold a commitment to a workplace that focuses on employees. In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive selection of benefits to support our employees, including:

• Strong, flexible retirement benefits including 's Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. RRCC contributes 21.61% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are also available.
• Comprehensive including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
• Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program ().
• Generous benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
• for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
• State employees are eligible to participate in which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the website.

01


Do you have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Fire Science, Emergency Management, Outdoor Education, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or related field?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a minimum of three (2) years of experience in program operations, logistics, records management, or administrative coordination in applied, high-risk, or public safety environments?

• Yes
• No

Required Question