Deputy Fire Chief

OPEN: February 10,  2025

Closing Date: March 7, 2025 5:00 pm

The City of Santa Maria Fire Department invites applications for the position of Deputy Fire Chief. This position is responsible for management, technical and administrative work in commanding fire operations and related apparatus and human resources for the department. This position supervises professional, technical and support staff and is classified as an “at-will” Organizational /Enterprise Leader - Safety broadband classification. The Deputy Fire Chief acts as the Department Director in the absence of the Fire Chief.

IDEAL CANDIDATE: 
The ideal candidate will have the knowledge, skills, and experience to act as the Deputy Department Director in the Fire Department and assist the Fire Chief in providing clear direction and vision to carry out the mission of the preservation of life and protection of property within the City of Santa Maria.

WHO WE ARE: The City of Santa Maria is a full-service City with a City Council/City Manager form of government with over 700 employees and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City of Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City has a harmonious balance of maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, and is in close proximity to beaches, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions. 

WHAT WE DO: The City of Santa Maria is experiencing explosive growth with thousands of residential, commercial, industrial, and retail projects in development. The Fire Department’s goal is to continue to develop staffing that will support continued growth of both the city and the Fire Department. The Santa Maria Fire Department provides all risk emergency services, as well as public education programs, fire prevention, and life safety measures to the City's residents. These services support the Fire Department's mission of effectively preserving lives and protecting property. The department provides Emergency Services, which include pre-hospital emergency medical services at the Emergency Medical Technician I (EMT-1) level; response to structural, vehicular and vegetation fires, hazardous materials response, water rescue, trench rescue, public assistance and other emergencies. The department also administers a hazardous materials business plan program in cooperation with Santa Barbara County.

REQUIRED SUBMITTALS:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Current CPR 
4. Current EMT Certificate issued within the State of California

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:

Deputy Fire Chief (Organizational/Enterprise Leader - Safety job classification)

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and nature of the assignment and the following are examples of duties:

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans, organizes, manages, leads, and evaluates the overall operations of the department in the absence of the department head or major programs or projects. Has authority over department or program staff and/or leads multiple programs and/or divisions within the department.
• Oversees on scene disaster and emergency situations; works with officers, firefighters, other jurisdiction leadership and command staff; makes complex and decisive technical and safety decisions.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental standards, policies, goals, and outcomes.
• Performs necessary management, technical and administrative work in commanding fire operations and related apparatus and human resources.
• Assists with administration and operations of fire prevention, safety, risk management, emergency services, public education programs, life safety measures and provides oversight and support of the City’s disaster program.
• Prioritizes and allocates resources within the department or city-wide; oversees the development of the department’s budget; and balances fiscal priorities among divisions, projects, and programs.
• Leads multi-disciplinary teams with team membership from multiple departments, labor organizations, the community, and/or other governmental agencies.
• Coordinates resources and decision making with other departments and/or City Manager’s office.
• Exercises a high level of independent action and decision making over department operations city-wide.
• Assist in developing department goals and objectives; assist in the development of and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Plan, organize and direct the activities and operations of the Fire Department
• Direct, oversee and participate in the development of work plan; assign work activities, projects, and programs; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures.
• Recommends the appointment of personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; implement discipline procedures as required; maintain discipline and high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the department.
• Represent the department to outside agencies and organizations; participate in outside community and professional groups and committees; provide technical assistance as necessary.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports; prepare written correspondence.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:
Deputy Fire Chief (Broadband classification, Organization/Enterprise Leader - Safety)

1. Experience and/or education directly related to the level of leadership and the scope of organizational authority/responsibility required by the position.  Specific qualifications for this position are:
   •  Possession of the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business, public administration, fire science, or another field of study applicable to the responsibilities and requirements of this job class. Completion of a relevant master’s degree or the Executive Fire Officer program is highly recommended.
   • Five years of increasingly responsible experience in a municipal fire agency providing fire command for a full range of urban fire protection services, including administrative and supervisory responsibility at the Battalion Chief level or higher.
2. Mastery of the core competencies listed above and the ability to immediately demonstrate these competencies consistent with the position's level in the leadership series and the specific work assignment.
3. Additional Qualifications:
   Some assignments may require incumbents to possess some or all of the following:
   • Current technical/professional knowledge of the complex principles, methods, standards, and techniques associated with the scope of work of a fire professional with knowledge of the areas listed below:
     • Modern firefighting, EMS systems and processes, the incident command system fire administration, fire prevention, and provisions of local fire code requirements and related ordinances; organizational and fiscal management; budget preparation; operations and maintenance of apparatus; applicable laws and regulations.
   • Possession of valid and current license(s) and/or certifications associated with the assignment such as:
     • Current Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Certificate issued within the State of California.
     • Current CPR card for Healthcare Providers.
     • California State Board of Fire Services Certification as a Chief Fire Officer, or equivalent.
   • Possession of a valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by the date of appointment.

DESIRED CORE COMPETENCIES:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of Individual Contributor, Front Line Supervisor and Middle Manager core competencies identified by the organization. 

Strategic Leader:

• Mission Focus - understand and support the organization's mission, believe in it, value it, and display commitment.
• Visioning - imaginative, able to create a vision of the future, communicate it clearly and enthusiastically to others.
• Strategic Thinking - act with the future in mind, understand the factors influencing strategy, and consider future impact when weighing decisions.
• Business Thinking - see the organization as integrated and interlocking; understand the impacts of changes.
• Diplomacy - work within the organization's power network; recognize personal agendas, balance internal politics, and work well with elected officials.
• Global Mindset - see their city role in a larger context within the community, region, and beyond; value diversity and other points of view, identify partnership opportunities, and exhibit coalition-building skills.
• Risk Taking - willingness to take calculated chances to achieve goals; gracefully accept failure, learn, & move forward.
• Leadership Identification - identify with leaders and enjoy positions of responsibility and authority.
• Presentation Skills - comfortable and confident in front of an audience; effectively deliver messages and engage with the public and stakeholders.

Prior to an offer of employment, applicants must pass a thorough background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.
 
If you have further job-related questions, please contact staff in the HR Division at 805-925-0951 x2203. If you are experiencing any technical (computer related) difficulties, please call the NEOGOV help line for technical assistance at 1-855-524-5627.

Salary : $176,014 - $210,000