DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

Address: 1110 W. Washington Suite 500
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $75,750/ year 

Grade: 23

Closing Date: 10/6/2025 *Initial resume review begins 9/29/25*

The Utility Mitigation Program Manager leads the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management’s (DFFM) programmatic oversight of wildfire mitigation planning under ARS §30-901 et seq., ARS § 37-1311, and ARS § 40-1301 et seq. as established in House Bill 2201.

This position is responsible for the end-to-end review, approval, and monitoring of wildfire mitigation plans submitted by public power entities and electric utilities. The Manager serves as the central program lead, aligning DFFM review processes, ensuring statutory compliance, and managing stakeholder engagement with utilities, local governments, federal partners, community organizations and the general public.

The role requires both technical wildfire risk knowledge and strong program management skills, including principles and practices of leadership and supervision, to ensure plans are scientifically sound, in the public interest, and tailored to utility-specific risks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Program Management:

• Lead the statewide Wildfire Mitigation Plan program under HB2201, developing review schedules, approval protocols, and compliance monitoring systems.
• Manage workflows to ensure timely completion of statutory review deadlines
  (120-day administrative review, 60-day final action).
• Coordinate public notice, comment, and hearing requirements as mandated in statute.
  

Utility and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as primary liaison with public power entities, electric utilities, and attachors in reviewing and revising wildfire mitigation plans.
  
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including community
  organizations, local governments, state, and federal partners.
  
• Facilitate workshops, targeted training sessions for utilities and stakeholders, and outreach efforts to ensure consistent understanding and application of mitigation standards.
  

Technical Plan Review and Risk Analysis:

• Conduct and oversee review of submitted wildfire mitigation plans to confirm compliance with statutory requirements (preventive actions, vegetation management, infrastructure inspection, de-energization protocols, restoration procedures, and monitoring systems).
• Provide written recommendations to the State Forester regarding plan approval or required modifications.
  

Public and Interagency Coordination:

• Organize and manage required public meetings, including remote participation, to gather input on proposed plans. Ensure effective coordination with local governments located and utility stakeholders in their respective service areas.
  
• Represent DFFM in interagency committees, working groups, and collaborative wildfire mitigation efforts.
  
• Supervise, mentor and train subordinate staff in alignment with principles and practices
  of leadership and supervision.

Other Duties:

• Perform related duties as assigned, including participation in agency
  initiatives supporting wildfire prevention and mitigation.
  

Knowledge of:

• Wildland fire behavior, fuels, suppression strategies, and weather influences.
• Public power and electric utility infrastructure, operations, and wildfire mitigation best practices.
• HB 2201 statutory requirements, Arizona wildfire policy, and interagency agreements.
  
• Risk assessment tools and fire modeling systems (FSPro, STFB, WFDSS).
  
• Stakeholder engagement practices and collaborative conservation strategies.
  
• Principles of program and project management.

Skills in:

• Program and project management, including timelines, budgets, and performance
  metrics.
  
• Effective stakeholder engagement with utilities, local governments, conservation NGOs,
  and the public.
  
• Clear and persuasive oral and written communication across technical and non-technical
  audiences.
  
• Use of GIS, fire behavior models, and decision-support systems.
  
• Facilitation of workshops, hearings, and public engagement processes.
  
• Analytical and strategic thinking in high-complexity policy and technical environments.

Ability to:

• Review, validate, and approve wildfire mitigation plans for statutory compliance,
  feasibility, and public interest.
  
• Build collaborative partnerships and negotiate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  
• Translate complex technical wildfire risk data into actionable recommendations for
  decision-makers.
  
• Exercise sound judgment in balancing scientific, operational, and policy considerations.
  
• Perform field site visits and engage in on-the-ground utility and vegetation assessments.
  
• Drive on state business and travel statewide as needed.

Extensive experience in fuels management and as a fuels project planner and/or Wildfire Suppression mitigation and management.

A valid Arizona Driver's License.

Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
  
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
  
• 10 paid holidays per year
  
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed
  foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
  
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
  
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
  
• Deferred compensation plan
  
• Wellness plans
  
• Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The current contribution rate is 12.00%

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Selene Rojas at srojas@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (623) 236-6664. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.