Deputy Fire Chief

The Town of Hope Mills is recruiting for a Deputy Fire Chief.ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Manage all activities and operations associated with administrative services, community risk reduction strategies, all-hazard preparedness/mitigation and recovery efforts and emergency response services within the Fire Department. • Assist in the development and administration of the department budget; direct the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; direct the monitoring of and approve expenditures; direct and implement adjustments as necessary. • Provide responsible staff assistance to the Fire Chief; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence to the Fire Chief, assume responsibility in absence of the Fire Chief; represent the Fire Department to other departments, outside agencies and the community. • Manage and participate in writing vehicle and equipment specifications; supervise bid and purchase processes. • Manage and participate in the development and implementation of short and long-term goals to establish cost effective operations; establish objectives, policies and priorities for assigned department services; recommend, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommend and administer standard operating policies and procedures. • Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement and review with Fire Chief; implement improvements. • Ensure the professional and technical development of direct reports; select, train, motivate and evaluate Fire Department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures; prepare performance appraisals of assigned staff. • Plan, direct, coordinate and review the work plan for assigned services within the Fire Department; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor work flow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures. • Assists or directly participates in the departmental in-service training of personnel including oversight of the training and deployment of the fire department special operations team. Conduct a variety of organizational studies, investigations and operational studies; recommend modifications to assigned programs, policies and procedures as appropriate. • Respond to multiple alarm fires; direct fire suppression operations as appropriate. • Coordinate the contiguous Fire Department agreements and develop contracts for automatic and mutual assistance programs where appropriate.Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible command and supervisory experience as a ranked officer in a municipal career fire service. Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fire science, public administration, business administration or a related field. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: Knowledge of: • Policies and procedures of fire and emergency management. • Management principles and practices necessary to plan, analyze, develop, and evaluate local and regional programs, administrative policies, organizational structures, and all-risk injury and life safety practices. • Operation, maintenance and uses of modern firefighting apparatus and equipment. • Operational characteristics, services and activities of comprehensive fire suppression and prevention programs and emergency medical services. • Technical and administrative aspects of fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services. • Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations. • Uniform Fire and Building Code. • Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and related software and equipment. • The geography of the town and surrounding area. • Specialized communications equipment. • Building construction techniques and the consequence of each type on fire suppression and prevention activities. • Safe work practices and procedures. • English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation. • Advanced principles and practices of budget preparation and administration. • Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation. • Business letter writing and report preparation. Ability to: • Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for the Fire Department. • Interpret and apply federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations. • Define problem areas; direct the collection, interpretation, and evaluation of data and development of sound solutions to technical and administrative fire and emergency management problems. • Communicate effectively through oral presentations, written reports, and discussions with executive level staff, and other federal, state, and local agencies, department, groups, and individuals. • Work under stress and use good judgment in emergency situations. • Deal tactfully and persuasively with others in controversial situations. • Tactfully respond to requests and inquiries from the general public. • Develop, implement and administer goals, objectives and procedures for providing effective and efficient fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency medical services. • Operate specialized emergency communications equipment. • Safely operate department vehicles, apparatus and other emergency equipment. • Prepare and administer a complex budget. • Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, and project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals. • Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques. • Prepare clear and concise reports. • Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of supervisory, technical and clerical personnel; delegate authority and responsibility. • Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff. • Work irregular hours including weekends, holidays and extended hours in emergency, disaster or other situations influenced by workload or staffing difficulties. • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.LICENSING & CERTIFICATIONS Required: Possession of an appropriate driver’s license and ability to maintain insurability; NIMS 400, NC Fire Officer III certification, NC Fire Chief 101 certification (to be obtained within two years of date of hire for out of state applicants). Preferred: National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program Graduate and Chief Fire Officer Designation by the Center for Professional Credentialing. TOOLS / EQUIPMENT USED • Computer and other standard office equipment. • Equipment used in emergency response and operations. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: • making observations • communicating with others • reading and writing • assessing the situation at an incident scene • operating assigned equipment. Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of: • writing, reading and comprehending • communicating orally • reasoning/analyzing; making sound decisions during stressful situations • evaluating financial data and information • performing calculations • demonstrating intellectual capabilities. Effectively handle a work environment and conditions which involve: • working closely with others • exposure to computer screens • technical and administrative aspects of fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, and emergency medical services • natural and man-made disasters. Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following: • directing/participating in fire suppression activities • sitting for extended periods of time • running, walking, crouching or crawling during emergency operations • moving equipment and injured/deceased persons • climbing stairs/ladders • performing life-saving and rescue procedures • maintain firefighter certification • operating assigned equipment.