Assistant Fire Chief

General Description

The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with state and federal law, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor or Human Resources.

Essential Functions

The following duties are essential for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Assist in the development, creation, and management of fire department policy, operational procedures, and standard operating guidelines.
• Coordinate, instruct, delegate, direct, and supervise the work of subordinate officers (including Battalion Chiefs, Lieutenants, and outside contractors).
• Assist the Fire Chief in planning, coordinating, administering, and directing the department budget and long-range planning. Establish goals for the department and personnel.
• Assume command at emergency incidents. Implement an incident management system. Assign, direct, and supervise firefighting, medical care, life safety, and property conservation activities. Ensure the safe operation of fire personnel, equipment, and apparatus.
• Participate as the assigned on-call Duty Chief. Respond to working structure fires, medical emergencies, or other calls for service requiring a Chief Officer response. Respond to requests and support the on-duty officers and staff.
• Develop and coordinate fire prevention programs.
• Identify corrective actions necessary to bring properties into compliance with applicable fire codes, laws, regulations, and standards. Conduct fire code compliance follow-ups to ensure that corrective actions have been taken in cases where violations were found. Review reports of fire inspections, fire code violations, and corrective recommendations offered.
• Review plans for new or remodeled buildings to ensure the structures meet with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards.
• Inspect and test fire protection and/or fire detection systems to verify that such systems are installed in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards. Conduct acceptance testing of newly installed fire protection systems.
• Capable of performing the requisite skills detailed in the Battalion Chief job description.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned for community public education, public relations and general promotion of an environment of public safety within the community.
• Develop and assist in training, motivating and evaluating assigned personnel; work with subordinate personnel to correct deficiencies.
• Assume the duties of the Fire Chief in their absence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Fire administration including organization, staffing, financing, collective bargaining, equipment management and maintenance, records and reports.
• Principles and practices of effective, respectful employee supervision.
• The City, Department, and Division’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Principles and practices of fiscal and project management and techniques utilizing strategic short to long-range planning principles.
• Principles and practices of technical rescue operations, emergency medical service, hazardous materials spill and release mitigation, vehicle extrication, and disaster management.
• Principles and practices of fire prevention and suppression.
• Principles and practices of emergency medical, health, and rescue techniques and methods.
• Laws, codes, and ordinances pertaining to fire safety, building construction, electrical installation, and the storage or handling of hazardous materials.
• Care, use, and maintenance of equipment and tools utilized in the performance of department functions.
• The geography of the City, including the street system, hydrant locations and water supply, and the layout and location of public utilities.
• Strategies for all types of fire such as commercial, residential, vehicle, vegetation, and flammable/combustible liquids.
• Emergency response records management systems, communications equipment, fire computer applications, and incident reporting procedures.
• Community fire and safety education programs, design, and implementation.
• Standard office practices and procedures including business English, business document format, spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, filing and math.
• Computer software including GIS, word processing, spreadsheet, database applications, accounting and specialized software consistent for this position.

• Presenting educational topics to diverse groups.
• The evaluation and implementation of tactical and operational requirements of situations involving large, destructive fires.
• Researching and understanding complex written materials; maintaining accurate internal records.
• Operating fire apparatus and pumping equipment; hydraulic, electric, and pneumatic rescue/stabilization equipment.
• Operating ladders, hose lines, two-way radios, cameras, atmospheric and chemical sampling equipment.
• Hazardous Materials identification and emergency response protocols, Federal, and State regulations.
• The operation of motorized vehicles under adverse conditions.
• Operation of all apparatus and equipment to effectively perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Operation of office equipment to effectively perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Developing, interpreting and implementing regulations, policies, procedures, written instructions, general correspondence, and other department-specific documents.
• Applying problem solving, logic and reasoning to determine solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Interpret and administer labor contracts and deal effectively with unions.
• Instruct, train, and mentor in methods and procedures related to the organization.
• Oversee the work of staff including coordinating, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work; hiring, training, counseling, and disciplining staff; managing time-off and maintaining personnel records.
• Prioritize and plan for efficient use of resources, and monitors progress against objectives.
• Convey complex information clearly. Anticipate the information others will need.
• Influence the behavior of others through persuasion and encouragement. Manage conflict or other sensitive issues tactfully and effectively.
• Work in extremely stressful situations, day and night, which result from fire and other emergencies.
• Work in extreme conditions, including heights, super-heated and smoke-filled buildings, toxic atmospheres, cramped and difficult to enter spaces, areas of low visibility, and extreme weather conditions, while wearing heavy protective clothing and using heavy equipment.
• Wear and use an N95 respirator and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Direct and command people in such a manner as to obtain maximum cooperation.
• Understand and obey traffic laws and regulations and statutes governing the operation of emergency vehicles.
• Provide testimony in court proceedings.
• Remain calm in a crisis.
• Think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to and take control of stressful situations.
• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective, and reasonable course of action.
• Make accurate and independent decisions.
• Organize, schedule, prioritize and perform duties with limited supervision.
• Observe, follow oral and written instructions, and complete assignments accurately and within deadlines.
• Use appropriate language, style and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with business representatives, elected officials, department heads, the public, and other City employees with courtesy and tact.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the public.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding information read or heard.
• Utilize a computer and required software.
• Work the required hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.

Minimum Requirements & Physical Requirements

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Fire Science or related field.

Minimum Experience: Ten years fire service experience, including five years experience in a supervisory/command position performing fire and/or EMS service responsibilities.

A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Minimum Certifications:

• Firefighter II
• Fire Inspector I or the ability to obtain within two years of hire
• Fire Officer II or ability to obtain within two years of hire
• National Registry or State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification; EMT-Paramedic certification preferred.

• Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Work is performed in dangerous situations under an inordinate amount of stress.
• Work is performed in an environment in which the employee is subject to potential personal danger.
• This work requires the continuous exertion of up to 100 pounds of lifting/moving or force and continuous push/pull of up to 100 pounds or more while performing essential functions of the job.
• Work regularly requires the ability to stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and speak and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Acceptable verbal and conversation skills to effectively communicate with others in English.
• Ability to read and write English and interpret documents such as safety rules, material safety data sheets, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and so forth.
• Work may include outdoors in seasonal weather extremes.
• Exposures could include toxic chemicals, seasonal temperature extremes, and other possible unknown hazardous materials.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound decisions and following directions.
• May require interactions with persons who are hostile or aggressive, posing threatening conditions.