Shenandoah County Fire and Rescue is accepting applications for the position of Deputy Fire Chief. The current vacancy is to fill the Deputy Chief of Training position, but a Deputy Chief may be assigned to any of the positions listed in the job description below. The Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Chief performs difficult, complex, and administrative work supervising the work of others in career emergency response capacity; develops and coordinates training activities for fire and rescue career and volunteer staff; performs complex and detailed work in the fields of code enforcement, fire investigations, plan review, and emergency management; performs related tasks as required. This position can serve as the Deputy Chief of Operations or the Deputy Chief of Training, or the Deputy Chief Fire Marshal, or other assigned positions at the discretion of the Fire Chief. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Fire Chief.
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Responds to fire, emergency medical incidents and other emergencies as necessary. Assumes formal command when circumstances require.
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Serves as Department of Fire and Rescue Safety Officer.
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Supervises and directs the essential functions of career field staff.
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Ensures adequate staffing in stations that have career staff.
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Develops apparatus specifications for department’s emergency response apparatus.
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Serves as the department apparatus fleet manager.
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Assists with the preparation of Fire Operation’s annual operating and capital budgets.
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Evaluates and completes human resource documentation for Fire/EMS personnel as necessary.
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Meets formally and informally with volunteers to coordinate service delivery.
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Contributes significantly to the development of policies, plans, objectives, and procedures by facilitating problem identification and resolution.
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Ensures compliance with OSHA, NIOSH, and NFPA safety standards and recommendations.
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Functions as part of the Emergency Operations Center staff. Serves as coordinator for ESF (Emergency Support Function) 4 – Firefighting during Emergency Operations Center activations, serves support to ESF 2 – Communications and ESF – 9 Search and Rescue.
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Serves as the County’s Fire/EMS training program manager working with volunteers and career personnel to identify training needs, facilitate training programs, career development, and evaluate program effectiveness.
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Works with local, state, and federal agencies to schedule training activities and secures resources to facilitate instruction – to include: classrooms, training materials, curriculum, equipment, apparatus, and instructors.
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Serves in an incident overhead / command function when needed for field operations. Assists with operations during fire, EMS, and other emergency incidents as necessary.
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Assists Fire Chief with training budget preparation and special projects as assigned.
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Oversees the procurement, enhancement, maintenance, and upkeep of county-owned training assets to include: facilities, apparatus, props, and equipment.
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Supervises the delivery of instruction by part-time, contract, and state-assigned instructors / faculty.
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Serves as program manager for the delivery of emergency medical services, and department liaison for the Operational Medical Director. Assists the Designated Officer for infectious disease control as requested.
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Serves as the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Coordinator of all county agencies for scheduling field internships, mentorships, recertification, and release procedures for EMS providers. Provides and supervises ALS intervention(s) as needed and requested by field units.
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Manages and develops programs for reporting and documenting fire inspections and fire investigations.
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Maintains files and records, prepares reports.
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Serves as the Fire Code Official. Enforces the Statewide Fire Prevention Code, Code of Virginia, and the Code of Shenandoah County related to fire.
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Inspects buildings for compliance with the fire prevention code.
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Answers inquiries and responds to complaints from the public regarding fire prevention codes and public safety concerns.
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Reviews plans/drawings of fire protection systems and site plans to ensure code compliance.
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Serves as a law enforcement officer and conducts cause and origin investigations of fires and explosions, environmental crimes, and hazardous materials releases.
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Obtains warrants and issues summons; assists and coordinates with law enforcement agencies.
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Prepares legal actions and court cases.
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Supervises part-time or temporary staff assigned to fire inspections, fire investigations, public education, and emergency management.
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Assumes command, command staff, or general staff position when circumstances require.
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Serves as an on-call Duty Officer on a rotating basis.
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Serves as the Hazmat Coordinator responsible for coordinating and managing Hazmat responses, mitigation, and enforcement.
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Works with local, state, and federal agencies in response, preparedness, and mitigation efforts.
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Assists the Fire Chief with preparation and development of Fire Marshal Budget.
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Oversees the procurement, enhancement, maintenance, and up-keep of all Fire Marshal physical assets.
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Serves as the Acting Fire & Rescue Chief in the absence of the Fire & Rescue Chief.
Additional Duties
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Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
Requires a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Emergency Management, or related field. Considerable experience of a progressively responsible nature in the fire and emergency medical services and emergency management procedures. Considerable experience in the development, management, and delivery of fire training programs. Considerable experience and training in fire prevention, inspection and investigation. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Licenses or Certifications:
Operations
Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver’s license. Certifications required: EMT-B; Fire Instructor III, Fire Officer III; ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800; Hazardous Material Operations; Incident Safety Officer.
Preferred certifications may include: , EMT-Intermediate or higher, Fire Officer IV, VDFP Train-the-Trainer Certifications for Firefighter I and II, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, and completion of FEMA’s Professional Development Series certification in Emergency Management.
Training
Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver’s license. Certifications required: EMT-B, Fire Instructor III, Fire Officer III; ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800; Hazardous Material Operations; Incident Safety Officer.
Preferred certifications may include: VAOEMS Education Coordinator or equivalent, EMT-Intermediate or higher, Fire Officer IV, VDFP Train-the-Trainer Certifications for Firefighter I and II, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, and completion of FEMA’s Professional Development Series certification in Emergency Management.
Fire Marshal
Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver’s license. Certifications required: EMT-B; Fire Instructor III, Fire Officer III; ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800; Hazardous Material Operations; Incident Safety Officer.
Preferred certifications may include:
1031, 1033, Basic Law Enforcement Certification, EMT-Intermediate or higher, Fire Officer IV, VDFP Train-the-Trainer Certifications for Firefighter I and II, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, and completion of FEMA’s Professional Development Series certification in Emergency Management.
Special Requirements:
Residency in Shenandoah County is preferred. However, the county may consider a mutually agreeable distance and/or response time to Shenandoah County for those living in adjoining counties.
May not serve as an administrative or operational officer in a Shenandoah County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. Work beyond normal shifts may be required at times.
Successful completion of annual physical exam, and agency specific physical ability test.
This position is considered essential. Essential personnel must be available in case of inclement weather and other emergencies.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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Knowledge of standard office practices, procedures, equipment and techniques.
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Knowledge of business English, spelling and arithmetic.
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Knowledge of the organization and functions of the department and of general administrative policies and practices.
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Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of programs for the purposes of creating and formatting documents, graphs, presentations, databases and spreadsheets.
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Knowledge of Fire and Rescue administration and service delivery, firefighting, emergency medical services and hazardous materials incident response.
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Knowledge of the Incident Command System.
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Knowledge of the issues that impact service delivery in a combination system.
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Knowledge of the Principles of Emergency Management.
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Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing in a highly interactive team-oriented work environment.
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Ability to think and act quickly in stressful situations.
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Ability to make decisions regarding appropriate response procedures in situations threatening life, property, or the environment.
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Ability to work with volunteer and career staff regarding emergency services and human resource management.
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Ability to provide written and oral reports and presentations.
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Ability to keep office records and to prepare accurate reports from file sources.
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Ability to perform and organize work independently.
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Ability to prepare effective correspondence on routine matters and to perform routine office management details without referral to supervisor.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.
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Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance at work.
Physical Demands
This is heavy work requiring the exertion of up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; work requires climbing, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for depth perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, use of measuring devices, operation of machines, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.
Mental Demands
Employee is expected to perform job duties while enduring environments that are physically and mentally stressful, up to an including environments immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH); function as part of a team in an IDLH environment; operate in a variety of shifts to potentially include 8, 12, and 24-hours durations and in potentially sleep deprived conditions; process complex emotional situations involving loss of property, human suffering, and/or death; perform complex cognitive functions and analytical skills while in an IDHL environment and under stressful conditions; control their emotions and exercise sound judgement and decision making skills while in an IDLH and under stressful conditions.
Work Environment
The worker is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, disasters, hazards, oils, and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. The worker may be placed in stressful and hazardous situations. The worker may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
The anticipated hiring pay range for this FLSA non-exempt position is $72,405.19 to $83,265.97, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and internal equity. The County offers an excellent benefits package, including Virginia Retirement System, health and dental insurance, vacation and sick leave, and holidays. The successful candidate must pass a pre-employment, post-offer drug screening and background check.
The County application and position description are available at www.shenandoahcountyva.gov/jobs, or in the Office of the County Administrator, 600 North Main Street, Suite 102, Woodstock, VA 22664, 540-459-6165. Qualified applicants should submit a complete application, cover letter, and resume in person or by mail to the attention of Shenandoah County Human Resources, 600 North Main Street, Suite 102, Woodstock, Virginia 22664. Applications may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].
This position is opened until filled with first review of applications on
Monday, July 6, 2026.
Shenandoah County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
