Cal Fire Communication Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Responsibilities

As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets.

Our First Responder Solutions program is seeking a Sr Project Manager to enlarge our team responsible for supporting the California Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Sr. Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact between Peraton and CAL FIRE stakeholders, providing end-to-end oversight of the CAD Network Consulting Engagement. This individual is responsible for driving all five project phases to successful completion - on time, within scope, and within budget - while maintaining the operational integrity of a mission-critical public safety network.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of the engagement from Startup and Planning through Operations Support, ensuring phase gate criteria are met before progression.
• Develop, maintain, and execute the Project Management Plan (PMP), including integrated master schedules, risk registers, and communication plans.
• Serve as the primary liaison to CAL FIRE leadership, coordinating stakeholder alignment, status reporting, and executive briefings.
• Manage cross-functional teams including architects, analysts, and administrators; resolve resource conflicts and maintain team accountability.
• Oversee the Knowledge Transfer and Onboarding phase, ensuring Peraton personnel achieve full operational readiness prior to assuming network responsibility.
• Establish and monitor SLAs, KPIs, and operational metrics during the Operations Support phase; drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues; escalate critical items to Peraton leadership and CAL FIRE as appropriate.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor relationships, including contract compliance and deliverable acceptance.
• Ensure all project activities comply with California state IT procurement standards, NIMS/ICS frameworks, and applicable federal regulations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in project management, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field and 8 years of experience.
• Minimum 8 years of IT project management experience, with at least 3 years managing network infrastructure or public safety technology programs.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification required.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale network transitions or technology refresh programs for government or public safety clients.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet) and formal methodologies (PMI, Agile/hybrid).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• ITIL v4 Foundation certification
• Strong understanding of CAD systems, public safety communications, or emergency dispatch environments preferred.
• Experience with California state government contracting and IT governance frameworks is a strong plus.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME