This position is responsible for the administrative oversight, visioning, leadership, planning, budgeting, coordinating and management of the Fire Department. This position directs and administers the overall operations, programs, maintenance, development, and promotion of the Department, to include its systems, resources, programs, and responsibilities.
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.
1. Responsible for fostering a culture of innovation; provides leadership in the delivery of superior services to City residents and businesses.
2. Provides overall supervision, leadership, and direction for command staff; ensures competent performance. Assigns areas of accountability and delegates authority to subordinate supervisory personnel.
3. Provides professional guidance, training and policy interpretation for all divisions. Provides guidance to managers in resolving/improving performance standards. Assists command staff as necessary. Maintains knowledge of all department activity.
4. Exercises authority over all department staff including hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination of individual employees within established City policies.
5. Oversees the effective and efficient administration of the Fire Department directly, and through the efforts of the Assistant Fire Chief and through subordinate supervisors and staff.
6. Evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department. Establishes and reviews operating guidelines and policies to develop improvements in department operations.
7. Evaluates department training needs, staffing needs, budget resources, and management of personnel to achieve department wide program objectives.
8. Approves training plans and programs for the Department.
9. Develops and administers immediate and long-range budgets. Ensures the department operates within the annual budget and directs the annual budget process for the department. Monitors expenditures and revenues. Forecasts spending, staffing and revenue levels and recommends equipment purchases. Researches, applies for and administers grants.
10. Recommends and plans long range goals, objectives, organizational structure and overall direction for the Department. Monitors, reviews and communicates the implementation phases of the department's strategic plans to ensure long-range goals are met. Ensures the programs and objectives of the Department are developed and maintained in accordance with the objectives of the City Council.
11. Analyzes fire problems and develops plans and techniques to provide fire protection, rescue, emergency medical and hazardous materials response services.
12. Gives general supervision to the enforcement of fire prevention laws and ordinances including safety regulations for commercial and public occupancies including places of assembly, business, educational and institutional facilities, industrial (hazardous) occupancies, residential properties and structures which could pose a fire or life safety risk.
13. Develops and maintains liaison with various governmental agencies, community groups and the general public.
14. Directs and manages the Assistant Chief to ensure the flow of information into and from the department through a wide variety of reports and documents is maintained.
15. Serves as spokesperson for the department to media sources. Approves news releases specific to the Department.
16. Address civic organizations and other groups regarding the activities and programs of the Fire Department to explain and promote public understanding of its work and to promote good community relations.
17. Attends advisory meetings with department heads, elected officials, employees, and representatives from other Fire/EMS agencies.
18. Meets and plans with local emergency management personnel to maintain preparedness for natural and manmade disasters within the community.
19. Represents the Department in major initiatives or as assigned.
20. Other duties as assigned.
•Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Emergency Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
•Master’s degree preferred.
•Executive Fire Officer Certification or National Fire Academy Certification preferred.
•Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in fire suppression or emergency services.
•Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible administration and supervisory experience at the rank of Battalion Chief or higher.
•Current Paramedic licensure in the State of Missouri or if a non-Missouri EMT/Paramedic license is held, completing the licensing process with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is required.
•Current Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor, and Fire Inspector Certification or equivalent from another state or reciprocity is required.
•Must have a valid Motor Vehicle Operators license.
•Missouri Certification as a Fire Apparatus Driver Operator or equivalent from another state or reciprocity is required.
•Must successfully pass all Assessments, Pre-Employment Testing, and Post-Offer Testing. Failure to pass these will result in the employment offer being revoked.
REQUIRED JOB COMPETENCIES
1.Knowledge of principles, practices, and leadership over rescue, emergency medical service, hazardous materials spill and release mitigation, water rescue, high-angle rescue, below grade rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, and vehicle extrication.
2.Knowledge of fire administration including organization, staffing, financing, collective bargaining, equipment management and maintenance, records and reports.
3.The application of modern fire prevention and suppression techniques and methods.
4.Skill in the evaluation of tactical and operational requirements of situation involving large, destructive fires.
5.Knowledge of EMS operations, EMS billing, Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Mandates, and HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
6.Knowledge of management and supervisory principles and practices, including program planning, contract requirements, budgeting, direction, coordination, and evaluation.
7.Knowledge of principles, procedures, and techniques of labor contracts and negotiations.
8.Knowledge of the City and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, State, and Federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
9.Knowledge of principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.
10.Ability to effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
11.Skill in analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives and recommending methods, procedures and techniques for resolution of issues.
12.Ability to research and analyze detailed information and make appropriate recommendations.
13.Ability to develop department goals and objectives.
14.Ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate projects and programs.
15.Ability to develop, interpret and implement regulations, policies, procedures, written instructions, general correspondence, and other department specific documents.
16.Ability to prepare, recommend and monitor an operating budget, including line item budgeting.
17.Knowledge of administrative policies and procedures of the City.
18.Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
19.Ability to interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
20.Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
21.Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
22.Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
23.Knowledge of management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time-off, and maintaining personnel records.
24.Ability to adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
25.Ability to instruct and train in methods and procedures.
26.Ability to organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
27.Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
28.Knowledge of computer software including word processing, spreadsheet and database applications consistent for this position.
29.Ability to perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
30.Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively in English in both written and verbal form.
31.Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
32.Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
33.Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.
34.Ability to communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
35.Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
36.Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
37.Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
38.Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of Freedom of Information Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
39.Ability to work the allocated hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.
PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law. Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.
•This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
•Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
•Work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions.
•Work may require working in dangerous, life threatening situations.
•Work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision.
•Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly.
•Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
•Work may require wearing specialized personal protective equipment.
•Work is occasionally exposed moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; hazardous materials, and risk of vibration.