Fire Chief

The Fire Chief performs difficult managerial and public safety work directing Fire Services for the County. An employee in this class plans, organizes and directs the activities of the fire service. Work involves budget preparation and administration; staff hiring, motivation, leadership, safety, assignment and training; equipment, facilities and technology procurement and maintenance oversight; development and implementation of policies and procedures; regulatory management and compliance for the department; and coordinating effectively with various community public safety agencies, volunteer groups, and state and federal agency officials. Work involves a broad scope of public contacts, a variety of technical and management knowledge, and considerable independent initiative and judgment including in emergency conditions. Work is supervised by the County Manager and is evaluated through conferences, results of work, reports, and public feedback.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the fire services department and staff; evaluates response times, protocols, staffing levels, apparatus effectiveness, water supply, mutual aid, and other components of service delivery for efficiency, effectiveness, and long range needs; performs community risk analysis and plans for implementing needed changes.
• Researches, recommends, and obtains needed equipment and technology; insures proper purchasing procedures are followed.

• Hires, trains, orients, motivates, leads, coaches, mentors, and inspires staff directly and through command staff; develops staffing schedules for full-time and part-time staff (excluding paid volunteer staff).
• Develops and recommends operating and capital budget requests; handles purchasing of equipment, technology, materials, and supplies; monitors and administers the approved budget; participates in plans, designs, construction management of facilities; oversees maintenance of facilities.
• Provides liaison services between the department, the hospital, 911 staff, law enforcement, and other public safety agencies, both paid and volunteer.
• Responds to complaints, questions, and information about the services; investigates and evaluates issues; responds to major medical emergency incidents.
• Assures the maintenance and completion of records, reports, and other information required in the fire services field.
• Coordinates and monitors the maintenance of emergency vehicles, equipment, and materials.
• Assures compliance with laws, rules, and regulations such as OSHA, FCC, third party standards, local ordinances and federal or state legislation.
• Develops methods for evaluation of programs and systems designed to help with better resource management.
• Attends conferences, training classes, and meetings; and reads literature to remain current with new trends and development in the fields.
• Serves on a variety of committees for the County.
• Responsible for conducting fire origin and cause investigations and enforcement of county ordinances and fire code enforcement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of local government operations, policies and plans, and modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to fire suppression and other related services.
• Knowledge of public management practices including planning, budgeting, purchasing, personnel, and related supervisory principles and practices including leadership, motivation, communication, collaborative conflict resolution, performance coaching and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the application of information technology to the work.
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory issues related to managing people and fire service.
• Skill in public speaking, conflict resolution, and customer service excellence.
• Ability to interpret, explain and apply a wide variety of policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to prepare reports and make effective public presentations.
• Ability to analyze situations and services and react quickly, effectively, and professionally in emergency situations.
• Ability to use sound judgment and determine best options and decisions for handling emergency matters.
• Ability to plan and organize work to meet deadlines and governmental requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement agencies, volunteer fire services, public officials, hospitals, physicians, schools and general public.
• Ability to plan, supervise, monitor, and direct a department.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms
• Ability to meet and deal with employees and the public in an effective and courteous manner.
• Ability to get along with others, and work effectively with the public and co-workers.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including shift work.
• Ability to multi-task and work within deadlines.
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters.
• Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and accounting purposes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is heavy work which requires exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to lift objects, including the human body. Tasks may require the following abilities: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Requires mental acuity including the ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, the ability to express ideas by means of the spoken word and have the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, perform accounting functions, operate a computer terminal, operate a motor vehicle, do extensive reading and use measurement devices.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work environment involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress which require a range of safety precautions; work demands considerable heavy effort that is intense in nature. The employee is subject to hazards in fire services work including working in both inside and outside environmental conditions, extreme temperatures, hazardous fumes, dusts, odors, mists, and gases and working in close quarters. Work may expose the employee to human blood or body fluids and thus the job is subject to the OSHA requirements on blood borne pathogens.