Associate Director of Operations

Associate Director of Operations

Location: Winnipeg, MB (Candidates based in Winnipeg are preferred; however, applicants from across Canada will be considered, with required on-site presence in Winnipeg during fire season).

Position summary

Initially reporting to the Director of Operations, the Associate Director of Operations position at CIFFC offers a unique leadership opportunity as a structured transition into the Director of Operations role. Once the current Director of Operations retires, the role will then report to the Executive Director.

The Director of Operations is a senior management position within the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc. (CIFFC), responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the CIFFC Operations Division. The selected candidate will work closely with the current Director for one fire season, gaining hands-on experience in national and international resource coordination, emergency response, and strategic operations management. This planned succession ensures continuity and fosters a deep understanding of CIFFC's critical functions.

The Operations Division is responsible for the delivery of primary services to the member agencies including facilitating national and international resource sharing, gathering and disseminating wildland fire information and delivering a CIFFC Training Program that supports agency development and resource exchange. In addition, the Operations Division also manages the development and maintenance of a pan-Canadian incident command system (ICS Canada) common to the CIFFC member agencies, emergency measures organizations and other cooperating agencies from across the country.

The Associate Director of Operations must maintain a good working relationship with all levels of Fire Supervisors and Managers across Canada and Internationally and at times represent the member agencies on specific national and international working groups and committees. The complexity of the position requires the ability to; communicate, direct and motivate staff, manage projects and budgets, and deliver on strategic planning initiatives for the Operations Division. A working knowledge of wildfire operations or similar emergency management experience is required.

Position duties & responsibilities

• Direct the overall management of the Operations Division
• Direct the overall operation of the CIFFC Coordination Centre ensuring continuous service during critical time periods throughout the Canadian wildland fire season and as required to support other countries during Canada's off-season
• Direct the overall management of the CIFFC Training Program
• Direct the overall management of the Incident Command System (ICS) Canada Program
• Lead the CIFFC Resource Management Committee (RMC)
• Lead the Canadian Multiagency Coordinating (CMAC), group and actively participate in the CIFFC Strategic Planning Unit
• Ensure an emergency relocation plan for coordination centre services is current
• Ensure a modern coordination centre employing innovative and practical technologies
• Direct the successful implementation of CIFFC's aviation services
• Provide direction to the Safety Health and Wellness Community of Practice, Aviation, Coordination, Equipment and Training Working Groups.
• Ensure the CIFFC Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI) framework is integrated with all national and international operations
• Ensure a robust firefighter Fitness Exchange Standard is developed and maintained
• When requested, attend conferences, meetings and seminars to exchange technical information to enhance the furtherance of fire technology and resource sharing both nationally and internationally
• Assist the Executive Director in negotiating associated operating plans for international reciprocal arrangements and maintaining ongoing partnerships
• Lead the review of international invoices and approve for payment
• Ensure Resource Exchange Fund REF invoicing is completed annually
• Lead the annual review of all International Operating Plans
• Maintain the International position equivalency crosswalk document and briefing standards
• Direct the overall management of the Mutual Aid Resource Sharing Agreement Implementation Guidelines
• Maintain working relationships with Canadian border and immigration officials (Canadian Border Services Agency, Immigration Refugees, Citizenship Canada) and Mission/Embassy officials to establish protocols and procedures for importing international wildland fire resources
• Develop and maintain a connection/relationship with Government Operations Centre /Public Safety Canada, Global Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada
• Provide support to the Corporate Services Division in managing the annual budgeting processes
• Within the Operations Division, ensure compliance to the CIFFC Administration Manual along with all associated policies, forms and position descriptions and maintain their currency
• Ensure all Operations Division staff receive annual performance management plans and associated appraisals and the required coaching and leadership
• Ensure a work environment where employees are treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity and where the individual qualities, characteristics and differences of others are respected
• Ensure a workplace that fosters open communication, innovation, creativity and a culture of continuous process improvement
• Have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may from time-to-time be delegated and assigned to him or her by the Executive Director
• Anticipate the future needs of the wildfire community and position CIFFC operationally to meet those needs

Required knowledge, skills, abilities and qualifications

• Graduated from a recognized university or college in Renewable Resource Management or Emergency Management or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven leadership experience in a wildland fire or similar emergency management organization, with a track record of increasing responsibility and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience managing or playing a critical role in response or support functions within a dispatch, coordination or operations center.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and make sound decisions when under pressure or stress
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team of diverse professionals
• Strong working and operational knowledge of CIFFC is considered an asset
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Demonstrated proficiency in all areas of presentation design and delivery
• Demonstrated abilityto effectively communicate (verbally and written)in Canada's two official languages (English and French) preferred
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Exceptional organizational and presentation (both written and verbal) skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability in taking initiative and working well under limited supervision
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with private and sensitive information
• Demonstrated ability to manage change and achieve results
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, problem-solve, and achieve consensus by fostering collaboration
• Demonstrated financial and budgeting skills

How to Apply: Please apply online at

For further information about this career opportunity, please feel free to contact Janelle Robin at (204) 396-4752.