What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy Fire Chief position at City of Tuscaloosa?
Summary
Essential Functions
Enforces and complies with all city fire codes and ordinances and state fire laws and regulations in order to protect life and property.
Supervises, directs and evaluates assigned staff, processes employee concerns and problems, directs work, counsels, disciplines and completes employee performance appraisals.
Assists with planning, organizing, managing, overseeing, and directing, either personally or through subordinate supervisors, all departmental functions and support staff activities in order to ensure proper allocation of personnel and resources and the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.
Assists with preparation of long-range management and operational plans; prepares, reviews, and coordinates special programs and project development; prepares action plans for fire safety and prevention.
Assists in the oversight and evaluation of fire services; determines proficiency level and identifies areas requiring improvement; formulates and executes action plan to correct deficiencies.
Assists in establishing goals and objectives for employees; develops and implements policies, standard operating procedures, and training plan; monitors implementation of departmental rules and regulations; updates departmental guidelines according to federal, state, or local legislation.
Instructs and directs subordinates on proper policies and procedures of the department; ensures personnel comply with guidelines, uniform requirements, and departmental regulations.
Interacts with agencies within the county; coordinates mutual fire and rescue protection plans with surrounding municipalities; reviews and/or coordinates special programs, project development, and special orders and memoranda.
Responds to alarms and emergency calls involving fire, hazardous materials, natural and man-made disasters, rescue, and critical incidents; evaluates on-scene conditions, determines strategy and tactics, and directs firefighting and/or rescue activities; supervises fire communications.
Establishes and maintains good working relations with the public; meets with the news media, merchants, community/civic organizations, citizens, elected officials, officers, employees, and individuals and responds to questions, complaints, and requests for information; makes presentations and public speeches; promotes and teaches fire prevention and safety; serves on and meets with panels, boards, and or committees; represents Mayor at meetings or functions.
Assists in conducting internal investigations as requested by Fire Chief; investigates complaints against department personnel; makes disciplinary action decisions.
Assists with annual budget preparation; administers approved budget and monitors operational expenditures for fiscal compliance; reviews, signs, and/or approves purchases, payroll, outside service expenses, and invoice payments.
Directs and participates in selection process of administrative personnel and new recruits; makes recommendations.
Reviews documents processed by subordinates; discusses errors and recommends methods for corrective/alternative action; provides technical assistance.
Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws/regulations including current field and code manuals, policy and procedures manuals, employee handbooks, area maps; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations.
Meets with the Fire Chief and other city officials regarding policies affecting the administration of the department; recommends improvements and changes.
Attends and conducts departmental staff meetings; attends workshops and training sessions to remain knowledgeable of department and city operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay abreast of changing policies, procedures, codes, and laws.
Composes, prepares, reviews, and/or approves forms, logs, requests, records, reports, correspondence, and documents associated with daily responsibilities of this position; prepares and maintains files and administrative records.
Cooperates and serves as liaison with federal, state, and local law enforcement/investigating agencies and its officers or representatives when their activities or investigations are related to on-going investigations within city jurisdiction.
Conducts inspections of departmental vehicles, equipment, and buildings; evaluates and directs tests on equipment; writes and/or approves specifications for new apparatus and equipment; ensures specifications meet federal, state, and local regulations; oversees and assists with procurement of equipment, supplies, and protective gear for both fire and rescue divisions.
Recommends additions and changes to water hydrant system; assists Office of City Attorney with vehicle accidents, personnel and legal problems, and policies associated with outside agencies; resolves technical communication difficulties; coordinates department activities with Emergency Management.
Answers the telephone; provides information, advice and guidance; takes and relays messages and/or direct calls to appropriate personnel; returns calls.
Recommends and supports policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the Fire Department.
Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in daily activities.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
May be required to be on twenty-four-hour call and/or regularly work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays.
Performs administrative tasks as assigned and/or requested by elected officials.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, in a timely manner.
Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions
The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computer, printer, calculator, copy and facsimile machines, and telephone. In addition, may be required to operate and a variety of firefighting, rescue, and medical equipment including extinguisher, pumper, hand/power tools, chain saw, generator, fans, ladders, hoses, breathing apparatus, protective clothing, emergency medical supplies, ropes, forcible entry and rescue tools, two-way radio, and motor vehicles. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for light work while performing administrative tasks and moderate work while performing field duties.
DATA COMPREHENSION: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things which may include policies and procedures, maps, blueprints, data sheets, safety bulletins, code books, guidelines, handbooks, and various manuals.
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange technical, medical, safety, financial, personnel, and administrative information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with elected officials, attorneys, sales representatives, educators, and the general public.
LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires ability to read a variety of informational, safety, medical, administrative, financial, technical, and personnel related documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice such as speaking before a board or committee.
INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex fire prevention/suppression, rescue, medical, financial, administrative and personnel related principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, such as in a public speaking situation, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.
NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, determine time, weight, and measurements, perform basic algebraic calculations, and interpret statistical data.
FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment which may include standard measuring devices.
MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using fire, rescue, and medical equipment, office equipment and to operate motor vehicles.
MANUAL DEXTERITY: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, firefighting, rescue, and medical equipment, office equipment including extinguisher, pumper, hand/power tools, chain saw, generator, vent fans, ladders, hoses, breathing apparatus, protective clothing, emergency medical supplies, ropes, forcible entry and rescue tools, two-way radio, computer, printer, typewriter, copy and facsimile machines, telephone, motor vehicles, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting motion or turning motion while coordinating opposite hand with different activities. Must have average levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
COLOR DIFFERENTIATION: Requires the ability to discern color.
INTERPERSONAL TEMPERMENT: Requires the ability to deal with and relate to people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be able to adapt to and perform under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency.
PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk, express, or exchange ideas by means of spoken words and/or hear and perceive nature of sounds by ear.
The City of Tuscaloosa offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time permanent employees that includes retirement, vacation and illness leave, paid holidays, medical and dental insurance, flexible spending account, life insurance, and other supplemental insurances and deferred retirement saving plans.
For a more detailed overview of our benefits package, please visit the Employee Benefits Summary within our website or contact the Human Resource Department at (205) 248-5230.
