This position functions as the department director of the Oak Harbor Fire Department and is responsible for command leadership, management, and general supervision of the department, including firefighting, emergency medical services, employee training, fire prevention, public education, permit reviews, administration, and the repair and maintenance of property, equipment, and apparatus. Duties also include capital improvement plans, budgets, regulatory compliance, information systems, communications, and premier customer services. The Chief serves as a member of the City’s management team and may serve as Director of Emergency Response.Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, crew needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors:

• Participate in the City’s management team functions, and with the Mayor and City Administrator, develop plans and programs to enhance customer focused community services, major projects, and other initiatives.
• Attend City Council meetings and provide ongoing communications regarding fire department command leadership, management, services, special events, and other matters.
• Plan and direct operations; establish departmental operating procedures; and direct the maintenance, repair, improvement, and replacement of property and equipment.
• Direct the department’s response, when appropriate, at the scene of major fires or other incidents, and provide overall direction to communications, community services, and reporting.
• Direct and review results of the municipal fire prevention and public education programs.
• Direct the departmental training program; guide overall program planning, assessment, and development.
• Confer with members of the public and with other governmental officials with respect to fire prevention, public education, and fire protection administrative problems.
• Lead and provide overall direction for Fire Department’s development review functions; attend Planning Commission or Board of Appeals meetings if subjects pertain to fire department policies, fire prevention, suppression, and safety (life).
• Enforce all phases of Fire Code, City Ordinance, rules, and regulations adopted by the City pertaining to fire, emergency medical services, and disaster preparedness.
• Supervise and provide aid in building inspections: enforce and advise on fire code and administration.
• Provide overall leadership to volunteer staff activities.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City officials, department heads, co-workers, supervisor, and other City departments and to interact with the public using good judgment in a courteous and helpful manner in stressful situations.
• Direct and coordinate the City’s emergency management response, program, and work closely with the Mayor, City Administrator, County, Federal, other municipalities, and community organizations. Maintain CEMP and provide training for the City.
• Develop, present, implement and monitor the department’s annual budget; implement operational changes as necessary to conform with the budget; and be responsible for the annual report.
• Coordinate activities with other City departments and be responsible for capital improvement projects, information systems, and long-range plans.

Associated Job Functions:

• Perform special projects and studies as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility
Supervise assigned department personnel to include volunteers.
Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Knowledge of:

• Command leadership, management principles, methods, systems, technologies, and equipment.
• Fire hazards and fire prevention techniques, and of fire code administration.
• Fire emergency management services.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the department of relevant laws and ordinances.
• English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and mathematics.

Skill in:

• Oral communication for working with a diversity of personnel, public officials, and citizens.

Ability to:

• Manage proactive, forward thinking strategic program development and administration.
• Write effectively and with clarity.
• Plan, supervise, and perform leadership, team building, administrative and management activities related to a full-service fire department with a premier customer service focus.
• Plan, organize and direct the work of a fire department, to analyze its effectiveness, and to adopt operations to changing municipal needs and conditions.
• Utilize a personal computer and associated City and department-specific software.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Bachelor's degree in education, public policy and administration, management, fire protection, fire technology, fire command and administration or closely related field. 
• Five (5) years of experience in fire department senior management, operations, and administration as a chief officer including community service and command leadership experience.
• Experience must demonstrate outstanding command leadership skills and customer and community focused management with regulatory, budget, and proactive, forward thinking strategic planning skills.
• Meet and maintain certification requirements mandated by Federal/State Law for Incident Commanders.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and the ability to provide a driver’s abstract showing a good driving record.
• Commercial Driver's License or Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention (EVIP) certification, as required.
• Complete a comprehensive background investigation including fingerprint, criminal history, prior sexual offenses, recent drug use, and credit check.
• Conditional employment offer will include medical examination with pre-employment drug screen and psychological evaluation..
Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Executive Fire Officer (EFO) graduate from the National Fire Academy
• Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Service Excellence (CPSE)

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed in a variety of settings including offices, a fire station, emergency scene, and emergency response vehicle; and the work may involve off-duty command recall for major emergencies. The environment ranges from a normal/routine to the emergency setting with unusual modes of communication, extreme noise, discomfort, and hazard. The emergency environment may require the management/performance of hazardous tasks under conditions that require strenuous exertion with limited visibility and the physical ability to climb ladders, carry fire hose, lift patients and wear Self Contained Breathing Apparatus certification, in addition to exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals and gases, extremes in temperature, cramped surroundings, exposed heights and infectious diseases.
Safety Statement:
We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.