Fire Chief FLSA Status: Exempt

General Definition of Work

Performs complex protective service work planning, directing and supervising the overall operations of the Fire Department, coordinating all emergency operations, handling personnel and public information matters, ensuring that all laws, regulations and procedures are followed, maintaining appropriate records and files, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the City Manager. Departmental supervision is exercised over all personnel within the department.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required and are not necessarily actual functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

Performs duties in accordance with the City's keys to excellent customer service; acts as team or group leader in the implementation of adopted City outcomes and goals.

Plans, organizes and directs all department activities including administration, suppression, emergency medical, hazardous materials, code enforcement, fire prevention and fire investigation.

Enforces, reviews plans and inspects businesses and industrial occupancies for compliance with fire code.

Responds to all serious fires, explosions, disasters, hazardous materials incidents and medical emergencies; assumes command of the situation.

Plans for emergency management and mitigation during natural and manmade disasters, including Homeland Security issues.

Investigates any fire code violation within the jurisdiction; participates in pre-incident analysis.

Prepares budget estimates and supervises and controls the expenditure of all departmental funds; requisitions and purchases necessary supplies and equipment for the department; develops specifications.

Formulates orders and regulations governing departmental activities; prescribes work methods and procedures; adjusts departmental policies and methods to meet new situations or to improve existing operations.

Supervises and participates in training members of the department in methods, procedures and duties.

Enforces departmental rules and regulations and takes appropriate disciplinary action; counsels employees in regards to personal problems, career development, motivation and problem solving.

Receives and responds to internal and external inquiries and complaints; reviews activities and develops reports of departmental activities.

Investigates fire scenes for cause and origin determination, evidence collection, etc.; makes court appearances as an expert witness as necessary.

Attends meetings and serves on committees, boards and agencies related to promoting fire prevention and improving fire suppression and emergency services; participates in city-wide planning sessions.

Recruits and selects department personnel; assigns, directs, inspects and evaluates the work of staff; rewards, transfers, promotes, suspends and terminates staff; oversees and participates in department training; coaches, counsels and disciplines staff; develops staff schedules.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of fire administration, including organization, staffing, financing, equipment management and maintenance, records and reports; comprehensive knowledge of modern firefighting techniques and equipment; comprehensive knowledge of the geography of the City; comprehensive knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to the control and prevention of fire; ability to plan, layout and review the activities of a fire department and to maintain discipline; ability to exercise sound judgment in emergencies; ability to analyze the effectiveness of a firefighting organization and to institute improvements; ability to prepare and review reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, associates, government agency representatives, consultants and the general public.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree with coursework in fire science, or related field and extensive experience of an increasingly responsible nature in firefighting with considerable administrative responsibility, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and exposure to extreme heat (non-weather); work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).

Special Requirements

Possession of Firefighter Level II, Instructor II, Fire Officer II, and Hazmat Technician certifications.

Must meet and maintain all minimum state and local training and education requirements for the position.

Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.