JOB SUMMARY
This position is responsible, managerial, professional, administrative, technical, and supervisory position assisting the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee in directing all activities of the Fire Department. The District Chief shall be the number three rated officer; and as such, shall be the officer in charge of all Fire Department operations during the absence of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee. During normal or emergency scene operations, the District Chief oversees activities of Fire Department personnel through direct or delegated supervision, ensuring that established policies, procedures and programs are planned and implemented in accordance with directives of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee. Responsibilities involve assisting the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee in planning, organizing and directing Fire Department personnel. The District Chief must be familiar with the causes and methods of extinguishing every type of fire. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee; however, in the absence of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee, work is performed with considerable independence, but may be subject to executive direction.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
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On a daily basis, will assist the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee in any and all Fire Department duties assigned to him by the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee.
- Shall be the person who sees that all instructions or orders issued by/from the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee are carried out to their fullest extent.
- Practices and enforces Departmental/Divisional Policies and Procedures and the City’s Policies and Procedures.
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Assists the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee in the administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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May be assigned by the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee to special departmental projects for coordination, research, development, and/or implementation.
- Attends training seminars and classes inside and outside the Department to improve firefighting and emergency medical services knowledge and skills, managerial and personnel skills, and other appropriate administrative subjects.
- Shall be skilled in answering business, information or emergency telephone calls. Shall have the ability not only to understand and follow oral and written orders, but must be able to issue oral or written orders in a precise and fair manner.
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Shall immediately bring to the attention of the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee any problems that not normally considered day to day.
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Shall be furnished with a Fire Department owned emergency vehicle while on duty which will allow the District Chief to carry out assigned duties and responsibilities. The vehicle shall be used for the purpose of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the District Chief anywhere in the City and neighboring areas. Traveling outside the County area will require the permission of the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, and/or City Manager.
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Shall be the person in charge of the emergency scene until relieved of command by an authorized higher ranking officer. Shall be skilled in fire-fighting work; in combating, extinguishing and preventing fires.
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Shall be the person the firefighter goes to after having been briefed by his station lieutenant for information or assistance in the carrying out of his or her responsibilities.
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Supervises, through the lieutenants, all shift personnel involved in fire suppression and emergency response activities, including the inspection of personnel on a daily basis. Knowledge of the practices and techniques used in effective supervision in order to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinates; to resolve conflicts; to maintain discipline; and training.
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Coordinates assigned areas of specialized responsibility. (Communications and Safety, Disaster Management and Special Operations Group (SOG), or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD).
- Assigns and schedules, with the use of a computer, shift personnel according to minimum staff policy, to ensure that each station is properly staffed to meet the needs of the Department’s service areas. Approves manpower, and updates periodically, for all Operations Division personnel for accuracy and compliance with established work schedules and hours.
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Responsible for scheduling employee vacation leave, sick leave, division leave, public relations and education activities, training, and other related personnel activities and maintains the appropriate records to document all personnel activities.
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Shall oversee the duties and responsibilities of the station lieutenants to be certain all normal and emergency daily activities are carried out.
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Shall be the Department officer making recommendations to the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee on necessary items to keep the Department functioning as a responsive fire/rescue operation. Investigates and resolves problems with broken or missing equipment, materials, and supplies; assists with yearly inventory. Shall be the Department Inventory Officer, keeping the inventories current at all times. Shall keep informed as to personnel, property, and operations of the department through personal observations. May recommend action on such information in order to improve departmental operations.
- Responsible for improving and maintaining the proficiency of all shift personnel in all phases of their positions by ensuring that they receive the proper training, guidance, and counseling as necessary; ensures that all personnel are informed of department and City policies, procedures, rules, regulations, related activities, and expectations.
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On an annual basis, objectively and consistently evaluates assigned employees for efficiency and effectiveness utilizing the city’s established Employee Performance Appraisal System and related procedures.
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Responsible for recommending to the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee in the hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination of employees. May participate in labor contract negotiations on behalf of management.
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Along with the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee, may conduct internal investigations, may coordinate or participate in Departmental/Divisional hearings or operational reviews such as disciplinary, EEO, and tactical critiques, recommends and/or administers disciplines. Shall keep the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee fully informed of employee problems and shall not deny any employee's request to discuss pertinent information or problems with the Fire Chief and/or Assistant Chief or designee.
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Shall be the initial officer who works with the shift lieutenants in employee relations.
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Shall be fully trained and qualified for duties of protecting life and property by fire fighting and rescue activities.
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Shall have the best interest of the City and firefighters in mind at all times, even to his own discomfort.
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Shall perform related work as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
An Associate’s Degree in Fire Technology/Administration, and at least five (5) years of management and supervisory experience, and progressively responsible experience in the fire service. Ability to oversee operations in a responsible nature in the extinguishing of fire and prevention of fire damage is required.
Required Certifications upon appointment: State of Florida Certificate of Compliance, Florida Paramedic, AS degree in Fire Technology/Administration, State of Florida Fire Officer One certification. NIMS 1-100, I-200, 1-300, I400, I-700, I-800.
Additional Required Certifications or ability to obtain within one (1) year:
State of Florida Instructor 1
S-130/190; Wildland Firefighter
Additional Preferred Courses:
Fire Officer II
BLS Instructor
ACLS Instructor
NFA or State of Florida Incident Safety Officer
ICS/NIMS
S-330; Strike Team/Task Force Leader
State of Florida Hazardous Materials Technician
Special Qualifications
For positions requiring the operation of City vehicles, must possess a valid current Florida driver's license, or be able to acquire one within 45 days of hire. Maintain the aforementioned certifications during employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Although the District Chief's work consists mainly of administrative tasks, there are times that require the District Chief to be in the same type of environmental conditions and perform many of the same physical actions that are required of his or her officers. Therefore, the District Chief must be able to pass a Fit-for-Duty physical annually. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
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The District Chief may be required to do: light, medium and heavy lifting [lifting up to one hundred twenty five (125) pounds and carrying one hundred (100) feet].
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Reaching above shoulder or below ankles.
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Use of all fingers, both hands and feet.
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Climbing ladders with hands or feet and be able to carry another person down a ladder during training or rescue operations.
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Both eyes required with good near, far and color and depth perception.
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Good hearing without hearing aid.
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Pulling or pushing straight of hand over hand.
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Walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, bending, balancing, smelling, tasting, stooping, jumping, running, walking, and throwing.
- Driving cars, vans, and pick-ups. Driving and operating fire engines, aerial apparatus, tanker trucks, etc.
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Using work tool such as, but not limited to, axes, pike poles, hammers, jacks, winches, rescue extraction equipment, fire hoses, exhaust fans, chain saws, self-contained breathing apparatus, etc.
