The Fire Chief is responsible for the organization and direction of the volunteer fire department. The Chief performs a variety of technical, administrative, and supervisory work in planning, organizing, directing and implementing fire prevention, suppression and emergency medical services to prevent or minimize the loss of life, property or injury by fire and emergency medical conditions. This position requires an experienced, dedicated, and qualified individual.
1. Develop, refine and implement all firefighting policies and procedures in accordance with municipal ordinances, state law, and federal laws and regulations. Main activities:
o Establish appropriate firefighting techniques
o Plan firefighting strategies
o Liaise with the County Fire Committee
o Ensure firefighting policies and procedures are strictly adhered to
2. Recruit, train and direct the activities of volunteer firefighters in order to ensure that trained firefighters are available in the event of a fire. Main activities:
o Recruit and orient volunteer firefighters
o Ensure a high level of morale among firefighters
o Facilitate the training of volunteer firefighters
o Evaluate the performance of firefighters
o Discipline and/or dismiss firefighters if necessary
o Track employee and volunteer training to ensure all local, state and federal guidelines are met. Organize ongoing training and drills to maintain and enhance firefighting and emergency response skills. This will include in-house training as well as interagency training with other departments.
o Handles grievances, maintains departmental discipline and the conduct and general behavior of assigned personnel.
3. Inspect firefighting equipment in order to ensure appropriate equipment is available as required. Main activities:
o Inspect the fire trucks on a regular basis
o Inspect firefighting equipment and apparatus on a regular basis to ensure operational readiness
o Make recommendations on the replacement and/or repair of equipment
o Maintain an inventory of all equipment and assets
4. Takes command in the event of a fire or other emergency situation, in order to ensure a safe, effective and controlled response. Main activities:
o Respond promptly and efficiently to fire alarms, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, emergency tree removal from roadways and other emergency calls.
o Ensure effective command and control techniques are in place at the scene of the fire.
o Make all decisions and direct all activities at the scene concerning the appropriate response to and methods fighting a fire.
o Ensure that firefighters are responding in a safe and appropriate manner
o Investigate the cause of fire once it has been extinguished
o Perform fire suppression activities, including advancing hoses, operating fire pumps, and extinguishing fires.
o Provide basic life support and first aid to victims at the scene of an emergency.
o Conduct search and rescue operations in burning buildings, accident sites, and other emergency situations. This may include overland ground searching for missing children or other persons.
o Inspects buildings and other properties for fire hazards, as needed, and enforces fire prevention ordinances.
o Make inspections of places of business and city buildings to ensure compliance with regulations
5. Complete administrative tasks as required. Main activities:
o Coordinates and directs the preparation and implementation of the annual budget for the fire department.
o Controls the expenditure of departmental appropriations
o Implement fire prevention education and awareness programs
o Complete necessary reports and documentation related to emergency incidents and departmental activities. This includes working with insurance companies and the State Fire Marshals office.
o Collaborate with other emergency response agencies and community organizations.
o Prepares and submits monthly reports to the City Manager regarding the departments’ activities and prepares a variety of other reports as appropriate including the annual report of activities.
6. Perform other related duties as required. May include:
o Educate the public on fire prevention and safety measures and strive to foster positive community relations through community outreach programs. This also includes community service contributions made by working at October in Orlinda and the Orlinda Christmas event.
o Meets with elected or appointed officials, other fire and EMS officials, community and business representatives, and the public on all aspects of the departments’ activities.
o Attend conferences, meetings and trainings to keep abreast of current trends in the field and represent the fire department in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings.
o Performs the duties of command personnel as needed and fulfills obligations during duty.
o Perform basic grounds, building and equipment maintenance at the fire hall and other city properties, as needed.
Education and Experience:
o Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
o Have 2 years prior firefighting experience at a Fire Department recognized by the TN Fire Marshall’s office.
o Meet TCA Title 4-24-112 and TN Firefighting Training Standards to be a legally certified firefighter in the State of Tennessee at time of hire. Must have or complete Firefighter I certification and Fire Chief orientation within one year of taking the position. Must have or complete Firefighter II and Fire Officer I within three years of taking the position. Must have and maintain an Emergency Medical Responder certification.
Other:
o Have a valid Tennessee driver’s license.
o Live within a 10 mile radius of fire hall.
o Must successfully pass a background check and drug screen.
o Thorough knowledge of modern fire suppression and prevention and emergency medical services principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
o Working knowledge of first aid and resuscitation techniques and their application as demonstrated through the State E.M.R. Certification.
o Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, departmental standard operating procedures and regulations.
o Skilled in the operation of tools and equipment.
o Ability to train and supervise subordinate personnel.
o Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition.
o Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
o Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
o Ability to effectively give and receive verbal and written instructions.
o Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors and the public.
o Basic computer skills and knowledge of word, excel and outlook.
o Knowledge of command and control techniques
o Knowledge of fire investigation and evidence gathering techniques
o Knowledge of firefighting training programs
o Knowledge of training techniques and methods
o Knowledge of firefighting public education and awareness programs
o Knowledge of public safety theories and methods
o Knowledge of volunteer training, development and recognition
o Leadership skills including the ability to take full command at the scene of a fire
o Analytical and problem solving skills
o Decision making skills
o Effective verbal and listening communications skills
o Ability to deal effectively with people in difficult situations
o Effective written communications skills including the ability to prepare reports and business documents and correspondence
o Effective public relations and public speaking skills
o Research and program development skills
o Time and stress management skills
o Fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone.
o Work is performed primarily in office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations.
o The fire chief may be involved in physically draining and exhausting activities, which may include taking command of a fire scene, participating in emergency response situations and being involved in physically dangerous situations.
o The fire chief will have to carry heavy firefighting equipment while climbing ladders and going through buildings.
o The fire chief will be exposed to water in extreme weather conditions.
o The fire chief will be exposed to noxious smoke and fumes as a result of fire.
o The fire chief will have to manage a number of people and projects at one time, and may be interrupted frequently to meet the needs and requests of residents.
o The fire chief will be exposed to environments that are dangerous, busy, noisy and will need excellent organizational and time and stress management skills to complete the required tasks.
o The fire chief will be exposed to smoke and fire that will adversely affect each of the senses including smell, touch, taste, hearing and sight.
o The fire chief will require extreme levels of concentration during a firefighting situation.
o The fire chief will experience very high levels of mental and emotional stress caused by the requirement to fight fires in an effective manner, the requirement to maintain absolute control in dangerous and hectic situations and by the possibility of loss of life, injury and property.
This position is a full time, forty hour per week position. Set office hours are expected. It is an exempt position and not eligible for overtime.
Annual salary is $53,000 plus a $7,000 insurance stipend plus a $300 phone allowance plus $20 per run made after office hours.
Eleven paid holidays including: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.
Vacation time is accrued at the rate of 8 hours per month for a total of 12 days per year. Use of vacation time must be requested in advance and approved by the City Manager. Sick time is accrued at the rate of 8 hours per month for a total of 12 days per year. This position does not include employer paid or offered health insurance or retirement benefits. A stipend to assist with the purchase of health insurance and cell phone charges may be provided.
Pay: $53,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
