ICFPD Job Description for new Fire Chief Position

Job Description

Job Title: Fire Chief

Summary:  Plans, directs, and coordinates activities of a fire department, including fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical services, disaster planning, and hazardous material mitigation by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate supervisors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned. 

Develops, plans, and implements fire department goals, objectives, rules, regulations, and work methods that comply with Federal, State, and local laws and in response to assessment of community needs.

Establishes, within policy guidelines and budgetary constraints, appropriate service and staffing levels.

Coordinates, administers, and monitors fire and emergency response activities, personnel, and programs.

Supervises and participates in the development and administration of the fire department budget.

Directs the selection, supervision, training, development, and discipline of department personnel.

Evaluates fire prevention and fire control policies by keeping abreast of new methods and conducting studies of departmental operations.

Assumes personal command or provides supervision and mentoring of personnel acting as Incident Command at multiple alarm incidents.

Responds to emergency incidents within Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District and, as requested through mutual aid or auto-aid agreements, to emergencies in other districts.  Provides direct fire suppression activities, Emergency Medical Services treatment and transport to the level of certification, disaster mitigation, and hazardous material suppression.

Coordinates mutual fire protection plans, emergency responses, and other department activities with surrounding jurisdictions, other departments, and organizations.

Confers with officials and community groups and conducts public relations campaigns to present need for changes in laws and policies and to encourage fire prevention.

Directs investigations into causes of fires and inspections of buildings for fire hazards.

Makes final interpretation of fire and building regulations, ordinances, codes, and applicable laws to ensure compliance and consistency.

Coordinates and prepares a variety of plans, reports, presentations, and records.

Participates in employee relations activities related to the fire department, including providing advice and assistance for management negotiations.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: Analytical - Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.

Design - Generates creative solutions.

 Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others. Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.

Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Inspires respect and trust; Accepts feedback from others; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates; Gives appropriate recognition to others; Displays passion and optimism; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.

Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self-available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.

Quality Management - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.

Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures.

Diversity - Promotes a harassment-free environment.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality. Quantity - Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions ; Uses equipment and materials properly.                                              

Qualifications:

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree (B. A. or B.S.) from an accredited four-year college or university; or three to five years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Ability:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Has ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Has ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Math Ability:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Has ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability:

Has ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Certificates and Licenses:

State of Colorado Firefighter II, Hazardous-Materials Operations Level, EMT-B; Shall complete and successfully certify as a State of Colorado Paramedic within 18 months of employment and maintain such certifications throughout employment.  Completion of ICS 700, 800, 100, and 200.  Completion of ICS 300 and 400 within 24 months of employment.   Progress toward NWCG Engine Boss within 24 months of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manages nine subordinate supervisors who supervise a total of 40 employees in the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather); work near moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; outdoor weather conditions; risk of radiation and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to work in high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold (non-weather); extreme heat (non-weather) and risk of electrical shock.

 The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus while performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit.