Fire Chief

General Statement of Duties

Performs difficult management public safety and administrative work in directing the activities and staff of the City's Fire Department in emergency response, fire prevention and education.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class plans, organizes, and leads a variety of departmental activities to include firefighting, rescue, fire inspection, training, public education, emergency medical response, hazardous materials response, emergency management response, and fire prevention in protecting the lives and property of the citizens. Work includes establishing a vision of excellence in customer service and emergency response readiness and long range planning for programming, facilities, staff, and equipment needs. The Chief manages the department staff, prepares and monitors the budget, plans and evaluates work operations, and directs the hiring, training and performance of personnel. The Chief evaluates the need for new equipment, technology, apparatus, stations, water supply, and programs, and ensures a program of fire prevention, inspections, and fire investigations. The employee may attend major incident response and may take command at the site; consequently, skills must be maintained in the use of firefighting and fire equipment operation. The employee is subject to hazards associated with firefighting including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as exposure to high heat, exposure to chemicals, and in the proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and working in high places. Employee may be exposed to atmospheric conditions and blood borne pathogens, may be required to wear a respirator, and may be required to work in close quarters. Considerable judgment and expertise is required in directing departmental activities especially in training and in setting and monitoring work standards. Work is performed under the general administrative supervision of the City Manager and is evaluated through observation, conferences, and written reports concerning the quality and effectiveness of fire and rescue work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks

Plans, organizes, and directs departmental operations and establishes overall departmental policies on fire prevention and suppression, rescue, emergency medical response and related matters; develops short and long-range goals for the department.

Manages full and part-time staff to assure effective firefighting operations and to maintain sufficient level of preparedness, operational readiness and training.

Analyzes personnel, property, and operations of the department; implements action on such information in order to improve departmental operations; regulates and balances workload; reviews work objectives and expectations.

Prepares budget projections of anticipated expenditures and needs; assigns personnel and equipment; evaluates the need for the repair of existing or the purchase of new apparatus and requisitions equipment and supplies; ensures proper maintenance of facilities and equipment.

Participates with City Management and other federal, state, and local officials in planning for long range needs for stations, apparatus, equipment and staffing and in planning for all types of emergency response; may coordinate construction of facilities with architects, contractors and others.

Ensures the development of new or the modification of existing policies, standard operating procedures, and/or guidelines.

Performs the hiring, promotion, discipline, and evaluation of departmental employees; ensures high levels of training, motivation, performance, and effective supervisory practices of subordinates.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships, agreements and protocol for administering contract and mutual aid agreements.

Works with local and state officials in emergency operations planning, emergency medical response coordination, hazard mitigation planning, and related programs; participates with other agencies in various training and security activities; prepares and maintains City emergency management and response plans.

Prepares and reviews a variety of operational and administrative reports.

Performs or oversees emergency management planning for response, mitigation, and recovery.

Ensures necessary and accurate records and data are established and maintained for reporting and management decision making.

Develops intergovernmental relationships with local, county, state, and federal agencies; attends meetings to represent the City.

Additional Job Duties

Performs related duties as required.