Fire Captain (FT) LATERAL & PROMOTIONAL

Position Summary

The Brooklyn Park Fire Department is actively welcoming both internal and external applications for the Fire Captain position. The City of Brooklyn Park may start candidates at any step within the pay range based on experience, recognizing the valuable skills and expertise that seasoned fire service professionals bring to the role.

Under the general direction of the Battalion Chief, the Fire Captain supervises firefighting companies in the suppression of fires, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and public education activities. This position oversees the maintenance of fire stations, equipment, apparatus, and related work as required; coordinates the scheduling of personnel, equipment, training, and work activity; coordinates line functions within administrative policy and does related work as required.

The Brooklyn Park Fire Department, established in 1957, is a full-service public safety agency serving the city’s 27-square-mile area. The department operates four fire stations staffed 24- hours a day on a three-shift rotation, providing emergency response with three engine companies, one ladder company, and one Battalion Chief. With 57 sworn and 2 non-sworn personnel, the department responded to nearly 9,000 calls for service in 2025, with approximately 72% EMS/rescue and 28% fire calls. Guided by our core values of Service, Trust, Excellence, and Professionalism, we take pride in delivering high-quality services to our community.

Important Notes:

• Preference may be given to candidates with full-time operational experience who are currently employed by a career fire department.
• This position is a non-exempt, full-time, benefited, union position (Download PDF reader). The IAFF union is currently in contract negotiations for the 2026-2027 contract. Captains are normally assigned to a 2,912 (annual) hour shift.
• Certification and Credential Requirements - To help us evaluate candidates' education, experience and skills, we require all certifications and credentials to be submitted with the initial application.
• Resume Requested - To help us evaluate candidates' education, experience and skills, we are asking all candidates to attach a resume to their application to be considered for this position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises single or multiple unit/company responses to emergency fire, rescue, medical, hazardous material, or other incidents.
• Develops and delivers department training activities to maintain and enhance emergency response, leadership, and command skills.
• Fills incident management roles as necessary, as assigned, and/or as required/outlined by department policies or procedures at fire, medical, hazmat and other call types.
• Supervises firefighters through the chain of command; maintains standards; coordinates activities; allocates personnel; manages employee issues; recommends and/or carries out employee discipline as outlined in City and Department rules, regulations and administrative policies.
• Responsible for the general oversight of the fire station, apparatus, and equipment. Maintains the fire station to assure that it is compliant with state building and fire codes as well as OSHA and other regulations.
• Reviews the work of staff for completeness and accuracy; evaluates and makes recommendations as appropriate; offers advice and assistance as needed.
• Maintains discipline and develops documentation pertaining to employee performance; provides performance feedback and prepares performance reviews for assigned staff; counsels assigned staff on performance, training and personal development needs.
• Assists with pre-planning activities of multiple dwelling units, commercial, industrial, public places of assembly, and high-risk occupancies.
• Checks equipment to assure proper maintenance has been performed. Reports and/or schedules required maintenance as needed/required. Reacts accordingly to requests made by firefighters as to the condition of equipment.
• Prepares a variety of documents, including incident reports, schedules, directives, work orders, memos, and correspondence. Assure proper reports are complete and accurate prior to submitting them to the appropriate office.
• Manages multiple interdepartmental programs.
• Ensures all fires are investigated in accordance with Minnesota Statute § 299F.04. Investigates assigned fires to determine the cause, origin, and circumstances around the event. Obtain and maintain investigator training to the minimum level of IAAI-FIT.
• Responds to emergency incidents and performs assigned firefighting and emergency medical tasks in accordance with department, city, and state standards.
  • Engages in fire rescue and suppression operations include pulling hoses lines, securing hydrants, and overhauling fire scenes. Executing search and rescue and water pumping operations effectively. Executing rescue operations to include but not limited to vehicle crashes, extrications, entrapment, water rescue, elevator operations and any/all other rescue operations.
  • Applies EMT level skills proficiencies, responding to medical emergencies by administrating CPR, providing wound care, taking vital signs, and other treatments as identified.
  • Assist ambulance personnel as needed, administering appropriate medication, and expertly utilizing medical equipment and tools to ensure patient well-being and safety.
  • Completes all required reports utilizing assigned computerized record and reporting programs per department and city policy.
  • Participates in the exchange of information between off-going and on-coming shifts and in crew meetings, as necessary.
  • Provides excellent service to the community and promotes a positive, professional image of the department at all times.
  • Develops and maintains positive, effective working relationships with all department employees, city employees, other agencies, and the community.
  • Serves as an incident commander in the absence of a chief officer, making informed decisions on all scenes. Provide accurate scene size ups and initial operations decisions and communicate effectively and clearly over the radio to ensure coordinated and efficient response.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Education
Requires specialized training beyond high school or equivalent.

Experience
Three (3) years of full-time experience as a firefighter or higher rank in a combination or full-time fire department. Full time experience to be considered 2080+ hours worked annually in an emergency response capacity which includes fire and medical operations.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid unrestricted driver's license or the ability to obtain a Minnesota driver's license per state requirements.
• Licensed by the State of Minnesota as a firefighter, or the ability obtain licensing at the time of appointment (Minnesota Statute 299N).
• Certified by the NREMT as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic.
• IFSAC and/or ProBoard certified as Fire Instructor I and Fire Officer I.
• IFSAC and/or ProBoard certified as Fire Inspector I or First Responder Inspector within 1 year of hire.

• Blue Card Incident Command Certification.
• IAAI Fire Investigator Certification.
• NIMS-IS 0200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents.
• NIMS-IS 0800: National Response Framework, An Introduction.
• IFSAC and/or ProBoard certified in HazMat Operations.

• fire department organizational structure, techniques, and processes.
• fire suppression principles, methods, techniques, and practices.
• purpose and use of various tools, equipment and apparatus used in fire suppression.
• first aid, CPR and other related EMT techniques.
• fire prevention topics and inspection activities.
• street names and locations within the department service areas.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS).
• understanding of the department rules, policies, and procedures as it pertains to the operation of the department and the city rules and regulations.
• Microsoft Word/Excel and the department’s records management system.

• Skills and abilities to apply firefighting techniques and procedures.
• Skills in operating and directing various firefighting apparatus and equipment.

• set clear goals and expectations, delegate tasks effectively, and monitor team performance to ensure alignment with department and organizational objectives.
• work under pressure in environments that are less than comfortable.
• communicate well through written and verbal means.
• follow and enforce city and department rules and regulations, administrative policies and operational procedures.
• work in the Incident Management System during emergency operations.
• read, draft and comprehend simple instructions, routine correspondence, reports, and memos.
• work and be productive in a team environment.

• Five (5) or more years of full-time experience as a captain or higher rank in a full-time fire department.

• Front-line supervisory experience.
• Associates degree in fire science, fire protection systems, public administration/management, public safety, higher education, or related field.
• Certifications in the following:
  • IFSAC and/or ProBoard certified as Fire Instructor II, Fire Officer II
  • IFSAC and/or ProBoard certified Fire Apparatus Operator
  • Certified by the NREMT as a Paramedic
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both in verbal and written formats including effective public speaking and presentation skills and technique.
• Proven ability and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive workplace related to racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and comfort with supporting the city’s strategic objectives for advancing racial equity.
• Ability to provide a level of customer service that meets or exceeds customer expectation and satisfaction.
• Embrace and engage in cultural shift toward Continuous Improvement.
• Proven ability to model and reinforce the department’s STEP Values of Service, Trust, Excellence, and Professionalism, through conduct both on and off duty.
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao, Vietnamese or American Sign Language (ASL) language(s).

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

• Core business hours are set by departments based on operational needs. Alternative schedules can be arranged, but must comply with the City’s Alternative Work Arrangement policy.
• Possible exposure to hazardous equipment, hazardous contaminants, hot or very cold temperatures.
• Regular exposure to hazardous situations and conditions.
• Required to drive a vehicle, walk, speak intelligibly, hear, stand, frequently sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, firmly grasp, reach with hands and arms, push, pull, twist, lift, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and perform repetitive motions.
• Requires the regular lifting/moving 25-50 pounds, occasionally more than one hundred pounds, may be required to life/drag a victim or equipment.
• Must have specific vision abilities required by this job to include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be physically capable of completing a physical ability test on an ongoing basis.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment, which weighs approximately twenty-five pounds, and also wearing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which weighs approximately twenty-five pounds.

Brooklyn Park is a thriving northwestern suburb of Minneapolis and the sixth largest city in the state with over 80,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. As the 11th fastest growing city in Minnesota, the city has become even more vibrant because of our remarkable racial and cultural diversity. Approximately 64 percent of our residents are people of color, 22 percent are foreign-born, and more than a quarter speak a language other than English at home.

Our Vision, Values, and Goals

Additional Information

Department/Division Fire Department/Fire Operations. Position to be assigned to a shift.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $36.57- $42.39 (2,912 work schedule), depending on qualifications.

We welcome applications from all individuals, including (but not limited to): people of all abilities, persons of color, Veterans, LGBTQ+ and women. If you need these materials in an alternate format or if you have a disability-related need and need assistance with the application process, please contact Human Resources at either 763-493-8016 or via e-mail at humanresources@brooklynpark.org.