Assistant Fire Chief - Prevention

Summary of Position

Position Overview

Under the general direction of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs provide leadership and supervision of assigned sworn staff and oversee assigned fire department and code enforcement functions. The Assistant Chiefs work to ensure effective and efficient delivery of fire department and code enforcement services within the context of goals and objectives outlined by the department.

The Assistant Chiefs directly supervise the Battalion Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Inspectors and Firefighters to ensure the efficient and effective job duties are executed, including supporting emergency fire response functions and operations, community risk reduction, inspections, development of new buildings, code enforcement, policy development and implementation, recruitment, community engagement, investigations, and strategic planning to ensure belonging of employees and community members under guidance of the City’s Welcome Statement.

The Assistant Chief assumes the role of Fire Chief in absence of Fire Chief and directs emergency response personnel on large incidents.

Expected Hours of Work

This job operates primarily in a Public Safety office environment. Emergency calls are responded to 24 hours/day, year-round. Scheduled hours of staff will reflect those needs, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform these essential functions:

• Plan, direct and supervise personnel, operations, and activities for its assigned division.
• Prioritize community engagement efforts to develop and maintain trusting relationships with community members, residents, business owners, developers, etc.
• Assume the role of the highest-ranking officer in the Fire Department on a rotational basis, exercising full authority and autonomy in the absence of the Fire Chief including but not limited to; command and direct all firefighting activities, personally or through subordinate officers.
• Review work schedules, activity reports, accomplishments, organization, and functioning of the division under their command, and institute changes which affect economy, efficiency, quality of operations within their scope of authority.
• Work with human resources to recruit, hire, train, and evaluate personnel with decision-making authority.
• Manage performance of assigned personnel, including work with human resources to complete performance reviews, manage discipline, and conduct performance improvement measures.
• Serve as Fire Code Official for the City enforcing fire code, city county, state and federal laws and ordinances.
• Manages assigned programs and initiatives within division.
• Assist the Fire Chief with development and implementation of Department policies and procedures to meet state and federal code and standards for training, fire response, fire code, and investigations.
• Informs the Fire Chief of related developments within their assigned division.
• Perform administrative functions within assigned division including development and allocation of department budget and preparing administrative reports.
• Analyze data and track trends to increase efficiency within assigned division.
• Identify training opportunities and create comprehensive training programs consistent with City policies and all licensing and statutory requirements.
• Supervise completion of training for assigned personnel and ensure training records are maintained for all department employees.
• Oversight of all internal and external prevention initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Fire Chief and Human Resources to investigate and resolve employee relation union and non-union complaints and employee performance issues.
• Define and clearly delegate work assignments to personnel, including sharing expectations of procedures, service required, and standards of performance expected. Maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, other employees, elected officials, general public, and external stakeholders.
• Supervise proper maintenance and acquisition of department facilities and equipment related to operations within division.
• Design and implement programs for fire prevention and fire investigation activities, including providing technical training to inspection staff and to the general fire department members to ensure code enforcement codes and ordinance compliance.

Represent the Fire Department on community committees and plan, develop, and participate in community outreach initiatives.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does have employee supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Valid Minnesota Class D Driver’s License with a good driving record.
• Ability to respond to calls as a Golden Valley Firefighter.
• Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science, Public, or Business Administration, related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• MBFTE Firefighter License.
• Certified by the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) as an Emergency Medical Technician.
• MFSCB Certifications: Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Operations, Fire Officer I, and Fire Instructor I.
• MFSCB Certifications: Fire Apparatus Operator (or ability to complete within six months of hire): Fire Apparatus Operator, Fire Inspector II
• Minimum of four years of experience as a supervisor.
• Minimum of three years of experience developing and supervising fire prevention and fire investigation programs.
• Ability to complete the essential duties and responsibilities of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Executive Leadership, Fire Administration, Public or Business Administration, or related field.
• State certified Emergency Manager.
• Completion of the National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program.
• Certified by the Minnesota State Firefighter Certification Board as Plans Examiner I.
• Certification in fire alarm and/or fire sprinklers to NICET Level II.
• Experience developing and administering public education and community outreach initiatives.
• MFSCB Certifications: Fire Instructor II, Officer II, Public Fire Educator I, Youth Firesetter Prevention/Intervention Specialist, Fire Investigator certifications.

Competencies

• Communication
• Customer Focus
• Teamwork
• Positive Attitude
• Hard Work
• Equity
• Inclusion
• Leadership
• Decision-Making
• Ethical
• Organized
• Problem Solving

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment varies considerably depending on the circumstances; however, work is primarily office environments with some work performed managing responders on a large emergency incident which may occur in the outdoor environment or in environments with limited visibility. Noise level in the work environment is variable and the ability to work in constant noise and distractions are required.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Regularly read and interpret documents and other written material.
• Regularly communicate and exchange information with others in person, over the telephone, portable radio, and using written communication methods.
• Frequently remain in a stationary position and regularly move within the building to attend meetings and access files and office machinery.
• Frequently ascend/descend ladders/stairs.
• Frequently traverse around the community, accident sites, fires, or other emergency site-locations.
• Regularly perform firefighting operations while wearing protective gear (weighing approximately 25 pounds) and Self-Contained Breathing apparatus (weighing approximately 35 pounds).
• Regularly operate computers and other office equipment, such as a copy machine, printer, and telephone, as well as equipment/tools consistently found in firefighting services.
• Occasionally move or transport items weighing up to 100 pounds.

EEO Statement

The City of Golden Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.

I understand that this job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Golden Valley and me and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

City contribution toward insurance benefits and 100% holiday pay and paid leave accruals.