Summary
Description
The headings in this Job Description are for reference only and shall not affect its interpretation.
SALARY RANGE: $135,000 – $145,000 annually. Possibility for assignment differential during incident response.
BENEFITS: OCFPD pays for 100% of medical, dental, vision, disability, and death insurance benefits for employees. This position qualifies for Colorado Fire & Police Pension Association retirement benefits: Employees contribute 12% and OCFPD matches 9%.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 9, 2026
APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: Apply by March 2, 2026 (First review; open until filled).
TO APPLY: Submit a resume and letter briefly outlining your qualifications and interest to join@oakcreekfire.org.
FLSA STATUS: FLSA Exempt.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: At-will, full-time.
REPORTS TO: OCFPD Board of Directors (the “Board”).
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Nestled neatly in Colorado’s rich and fertile Yampa Valley, OCFPD is based in rural Routt County on CO-131, seventeen miles south of the ranching and winter resort community of Steamboat Springs. OCFPD serves a population of just under 2,700 – a lively collection of Coloradans of all stripes, from local ranchers to part-time homeowners to working families who live, work, and play across the district and the Yampa Valley. With year-round activities and attractions – from skiing to boating to hunting to hiking and horseback riding – we also serve visitors from all over the world.
OCFPD covers approximately 278 square miles in both Routt and Rio Blanco counties, with two primary population and structure concentrations: The Town of Oak Creek and the neighborhoods of Stagecoach.
The Town of Oak Creek was incorporated in in 1907 as a major coal mining community. Today, its population is just shy of 1,000, many of whom commute to work in Steamboat Springs. The primary housing stock is single-family residential, with a vibrant and award-winning commercial district at its core featuring multiple bars, restaurants, shops and a town hall, a library, and a town-run ice rink, town-run mountain park for hiking and biking, and town-run meadow for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The neighborhoods of Stagecoach are located along Routt County Road 16 stretching from Stagecoach State Park to Lynx Pass. This is a major growth corridor attracting new residents looking for vast views and mountain living.
In addition to Stagecoach State Park, a 780-acre reservoir with a full-service marina, OCFPD also borders the Sarvis Creek Wilderness and the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
ABOUT OCFPD
We are a growing, all-hazard 911 organization. With an annual budget of approximately $2.4 million and a team of up to 20, we are unique in that we are visible, life-saving first responders in close-knit communities close to home while also responding to wildland fires within an expansive, remote district – and providing mutual aid support to Routt County, the state of Colorado, and to national fire incidents.
Our community uniquely values a meaningful life-work balance; it’s why people choose to live here. Our firefighters are our most valuable resource and supporting employee growth and ambitions both personally and within the fire service is a top priority.
ABOUT THE POSITION
This is a unique opportunity to make your mark on a growing community in an increasingly important part of Colorado that presents unique management and firefighting opportunities. The right leader can build a legacy that will forever shape both this region and your future in the fire service, given our position at the forefront of wildland firefighting and wildland-urban-interface population growth.
Under the general direction of the Board, the Fire Chief serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Commander in Chief of OCFPD.
The Fire Chief is responsible for implementing the Board’s written or oral rules, policies, practices or procedures orders, and directives, including those set forth in the Member Handbook (collectively, the “Rules”). The Fire Chief shall also carry out the duties imposed by federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, standards or ordinances, including but not limited to the duties imposed by the Colorado Special District Act, C.R.S. §32-1-1002, applicable medical protocols, and the applicable Fire Code(s) and Nationally Recognized Standards.
The Fire Chief is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day administration, operation, and finances of OCFPD, including but not limited to developing, implementing, supervising, maintaining, and evaluating the fire suppression, fire prevention and education, emergency rescue, hazardous materials, ambulance, and emergency medical services provided by OCFPD directly or through third-party providers.
The Fire Chief shall also serve as the public face of OCFPD and is expected to maintain and grow relationships with community members from across OCFPD, the region, and the state.
For more information and a full job description, visit our website or contact OCFPD Vice President Skyler McKinley at skyler@wzstrategies.com.
