Summary

This role leads APS's efforts to reduce wildfire risk and protect the communities we serve. By overseeing the company's fire mitigation program, this leader ensures proactive planning, strong partnerships, and safe, reliable operation of APS's transmission and distribution system.

What Your Day Would Be Like

• Setting the direction for APS's fire mitigation strategy, balancing near-term risk reduction with long-range planning
• Partnering with internal Transmission & Distribution teams to strengthen vegetation management and corridor maintenance practices
• Collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to align efforts and share best practices around wildfire prevention
• Leading and supporting front-line supervisors responsible for response, investigation, and data-driven analysis
• Representing APS in industry forums and with regulators, helping shape wildfire mitigation standards and approaches

Who We're Looking For

• Experience leading or managing fire mitigation, wildfire prevention, or closely related safety or infrastructure programs
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work across departments and with external agencies and regulators
• Comfort guiding teams through complex, high-impact work that affects public safety and system reliability
• Strategic thinker who can connect long-term planning with day-to-day operational realities
• Clear communicator who represents the company professionally with internal and external stakeholders

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Science or a related field (e.g., Fire Technology, Fire Administration, Emergency Management) and eight (8) years fire management, emergency planning/response or related experience
• OR Associates Degree from an accredited college or university in Fire Science or a related field and ten (10) years related fire management, emergency planning/response, or related experience.
• In lieu of degree, twelve (12) years combination of education and of experience in fire mitigation, emergency planning/response or related experience. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Must have three (3) years of specialized experience performing one or more the following duties:
  • Assisting with a component of a wild land and/or prescribed fire management program,
  • Implementation of a fire mitigation budget,
  • Implementation of agreements with cooperators, and/or
  • Maintaining relationships with entities external to the organization regarding fire management program issues.
  • Possess and maintain the Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS) credential or obtain this credential within one year of employment.

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications:

• Proficient knowledge of APS easements, accounting, procurement, and budgeting systems, internal computer programs and MS software packages.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable ANSI and OSHA standards, USDA Forest Service and other federal agency regulations, easement law, contract law, specification design, APS Accident Prevention Manual, IBEW labor agreements, and company policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of electric transmission and distribution theory, design of electric systems/facilities and hardware components, safety practices associated with working close to energized conductors and within substations.
• Ability to interpret detailed prints, circuit maps and diagrams and operate GPS unit.
• Strong problem identification/ resolution, communication, negotiation, interpersonal, and customer relation skills and the ability to visualize end results of several multi-faceted functions involving integrated tasks.
• Experience working in an outdoor environment in remote areas and in inclement weather.
• Effective communication skills demonstrated through written communications and presentations. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet.
• Experience with ArcGIS and working knowledge of GPS and field data collection methods.

Major Accountabilities

1) Assist in the development and administration of fire control strategies, policies and procedures including pre-suppression, prevention, and detection. Provide direction in the compilation, review, and distribution of fire hazard and risk data and analytics. Collaborate in Incident Command System for wild land fire suppression and prescribed burning operations with agency partners. Assist in the determination of resources required for post fire power restoration. Provide guidance relating to prescribed burns and forest restoration efforts along utility corridors.

2) Develop, manage and oversee the fire mitigation program to ensure compliance with Federal and State Guidelines, Oversee reporting requirements of the program.Serve as the company spokesperson to external agencies or citizen groups on program issues.

3) Establish and administer goals and objectives for the unit to ensure goals of reliability plan are achieved. Develop the unit budget, and ensure funded targets are achieved through ongoing monitoring of performance and costs, designing, developing, and evaluating new methods for fire mitgation and collaborate with peer manager on forestry & vegetation management consistent with Federal, State, and Local regulations and utility industry standards to improve effectiveness.

4) Provide effective leadership to team to ensure individual contribution and team success; supports corporate reliability plan by communicating the overall direction and performance expectations. Manage and develop employees, encouraging teamwork, customer advocacy, and personal accountability. Support individual employee development through training and developmental assignments, performance management, and coaching.

5) Promote Customer Satisfaction by providing an effective interface with internal and external customers, establishing reasonable expectations up front, and then meeting the expectations.Foster understanding of, and support for, the Company's program, including education individual property owners, representatives of various governmental agencies, and the public.

6) Maintain business acumen on technology and regulations through professional reading, attendance at seminars and participation in professional organizations.

7) Provide oversight leadership & technical advice and support to APS divisions to ensure integration of wildfire processes into all fire mitigation related documents, plans, and projects. Support long-range fire behavior prediction science and climatology. Assist in the development, management, and delivery of related fire mitigation training programs.

8) Collaborate with peer leadership on Smart Grid technology group to ensure that the identification/list of high fire-risk transmission feeders across APS geographic territory is updated annually.

9) Ensure management of annual meetings to bring together all of the Fire Mitigation programs stakeholders to review issues and fire mitigation program business planning (e.g., T&D Operations, Engineering, Construction, IT, Risk Management).

10) Manage oversight of wildfire risk analysis between the Technology Innovation department, Smart Grid Development, and Operations and Maintenance crews and develop plans to mitigate risks to APS property, operations, and service.

11) Oversee Technical Training team to develop, implement, and deliver formal, comprehensive fire prevention and safety programs and employee training. Develop, implement, and maintain fire management related procedures and resource documents.

Onsite: Requires work to be performed in the field and/or at an APS facility. Depending on the responsibilities of the role, this may include, but is not limited to, working at a power plant, job site, or in the community.

• Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
• Role types are subject to change based on business need.