Sun Prairie Fire Department

Position Description

Fire Chief (Regular Full-Time)

Department: Fire

Location: SPFD Station #1 (Admin. Office)

Immediate Supervisor: Sun Prairie Fire Company Inc.Revision Date: 02April 2015

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

I. GENERAL PURPOSE. The position provides for the administration, management, supervision and development of the Fire Department and the resources of the Department through prevention, planning, organizing, directing and measuring outcomes to minimize the loss of life and property byfire, natural disasters and other emergency situations. Administers and directs the departments’ fire services provided to the City of Sun Prairie and Towns of Bristol, Sun Prairie and Burke. Ensures that policies and procedures for a fiscally responsible, adequate and timely response to emergency incidents are developed and implemented to ensure 24/7 coverage.

II. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: EXTENT. This position is responsible for the supervision of two (2) career Lieutenants, six (6) career employees and LTE firefighters; three (3) Assistant Fire Chiefs, three (3) Captains and three (3) Lieutenants; and approximately fifty (50) volunteer/paid on call members.

III. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

A. Illustrative Listing.

Primary Duties

1.Cooperates and coordinates with all fire districtgovernmental units in the enforcement of codes/ordinances, and the correction and/or removal of hazards.

2.Administers the expenditure of departmental appropriations pursuant to the annual budgets and directives of the Fire Advisory Committee.

3.Develops and implements policies and procedures governing both the emergency and non-emergency operations of the department.

4.Directs, supervises, and participates in employee recruitment, testing, and hiring and develops promotional guidelines.

5.Develops, maintains and supervises, in conjunction with the Training Officers, a program for the training of members toward the attainment of short term and long term goals in technical proficiency.

6.Develops, implements, supervises and maintains a program for the physical training of members which reflects essential requirements for accomplishment of the mission.

7.Developsa program for the regular care, maintenance and modernization of apparatus, equipment, fire station buildings, grounds and supplies.

8.Assist with the coordination and development of mutual aid agreements and MABAS Division 115 participation.

9.Ensures:

  1. Accurate accounting of hours worked by staff as well as leave time accrued and consumed.
  2. Employee performance is continually improved through a variety of means including the involvement of employees in the development of the department and annual reviews.
  3. Prepares performance appraisals for personnel reporting directly to the Chief.
  1. Handles grievances, maintains Departmental discipline and the conduct and general behavior of personnel.

11.Meets with elected or appointed officials, other Fire/EMS officials, community and business representatives and the public on all aspects of the Departments' activities.

12.Plans departmental operation with respect to equipment, apparatus, and personnel; supervises the implementation of such plans.

13.Prepares and submits a variety of reports to the Fire Advisory Committee, City Council and Towns regarding the Departments' activities as appropriate or requested.

14.Delegates and/or serves as a member of the City of Sun Prairie’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) to review new development plans in regards to fire service delivery needs.

15.Assists in the planning and presenting of programs to the community on fire safety and fire prevention programs

16.Providesfiscally sound and effective fire suppression services, extrication and rescue services, hazardous material incident response services and fire prevention inspection and education services. Analyze activities and make changes as required to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

17.Assumes responsibility for emergency operations (incident command) on calls attended, which includes firefighting, hazardous material response, natural or man-made disasters and mass casualties.

18.Ensures a management team is available to respond twenty-four (24) hours a day.

19.Responds to citizen requests and complaints concerning fire department programs and facilities. Reviews reports and records of department activities and operations and take appropriate actions when required to ensure correctness.

  1. Attends all City Council, Towns or committee meetings that consider fire budget, department or personnel matters.
  2. Meets regularly with the Fire Advisory Committee.

22.Will operate in accordance with all local ordinances, state statues, and administrative codes.

23.Serves as a member of the City of Sun Prairie’s Emergency Management Team (EMT) and participates in emergency government and planning at the local and county level.

Supervises:

a.Administration of the department by budget preparation, long range planning for staffing and service levels,and maintaining an effective system of reports and records.

b.Investigation of fires and analyzes findings to determine cause and origin and ensures cases of incendiary fires are referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Secondary Duties

  1. Fill in as required or directed to cover staff absences and to ensure coverage of fire district requirements are met.
  2. Attends and represents the Fire Department in a variety of local, county, state, civic, business and other meetings.
  3. Coordinates activities with other supervisors or other district departments and exchanges information with officers in other Fire/EMS departments.
  4. Maintains contact with the public, department officers and other Fire District officials in the performance of Fire department activities.
  5. Will seek educational opportunities to keep abreast of current trends in the field i.e.: conferences, classes, training, seminars on relevant subject matter.
  6. Will attend fire drills and meetings as required.
  7. Will respond to fire calls as required.
  8. Will assist in the development and writing of grants.
  9. Performs other duties, as required or assigned.

IV. DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.

A. Candidates may qualify with a combination of education, training, and experience with at least ten years of increasing responsibilities in the fire service with at least 5 years of company officer, supervisory/command position, and division officer or higher. Associate Degree required or ability to obtain within two (2) years. Bachelor degree or Executive Fire Officer Certification preferred.

B. Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  1. Comprehensiveknowledge of:
  2. Modern fire department administration and disaster management.
  3. Principles and practices of modern fire prevention and suppression techniques, rescue, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
  4. Applicable laws, codes, ordinances and departmental standard operating guidelines and regulations pertaining to building construction and fire codes.
  5. Explosives, hazardous properties and potentials of chemicals, liquids and gases and the combustion qualities of materials used in construction.
  6. Teaching aids and training methods with the ability to organize and supervise drill sessions and instruct personnel.
  7. Skill in proper and safe operation of:
  8. Personal computer and related hardware, communications equipment, to include, but not limited to, radio, pager, personal computer, telephone, cellular telephone and fax machine and standard Fire apparatus and equipment.
  9. Ability to:
  10. Effectively give and receive verbal and written instructions.
  11. Establish and maintain effective working relations with the department personnel, community elected and appointed officials, media and the general public.
  12. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
  13. Exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
  14. Express ideas clearly, orally and in writing to groups and individuals.
  15. Delegate authority to appropriate staff subordinates, monitoring adherence to established fire policies and departmental procedures.
  16. Maintain discipline among subordinates in the department in a fair and equitable manner.
  17. Meet department physical standards.
  18. Meet requirements established by all applicable Fire District Ordinances.
  19. Perform position analysis and effectively evaluate employee performance.
  20. Perform work requiring good physical condition.
  21. Ability to calculate figures and apply mathematical concepts.
  22. Plan, coordinate and supervise duty assignments of the fire department.
  23. Speak, read and write the English language.
  24. In selecting, assigning, training, evaluating and supervising subordinate personnel.
  25. Write clear and concise reports, memos, letters, and other communications and to effectively communicate orally using modern office equipment.

V. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.

  1. U. S. citizen.
  2. Preferred/Desired: Graduate or current participant of the Executive Fire Officer Program administered at the National Fire Academy.
  3. Chief Fire Officer Designation is desired.
  4. State of Wisconsin IFSAC certified Firefighter I & II, Driver/Operator Pumper and Aerial, Fire Instructor, Fire Inspector or equivalent.
  5. State of Wisconsin Fire Officer I Certificate – possess, or ability to obtain within one (1) year of date of appointment
  6. State of Wisconsin Fire Officer II certificate – possess, or ability to obtain within two (2) years of date of appointment
  7. Valid Wisconsin Driver’s Licensewithout record of suspension or revocation in any state – possess, or ability to obtain by date of appointment and maintain throughout employment.
  8. No Felony convictions or disqualifying criminal history.
  9. No grooming habits that would interfere or impede the ability to wear personal protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus.
  10. Must successfully complete all physical and psychological testing requirements.
  11. Incident Command System CourseCertificates – possess through ICS 100-400, 700 and 800, or ability to obtain by date of appointment.
  12. Attend, annually, a minimum of 48 hours of training,or continuing education outside of the regular department training.
  13. Ability to obtain and maintain the certifications required to drive and operate current and future Fire Department apparatus.
  14. Maintain set office hours and be available after hours as required.
  15. Obtain and maintain residency within the Fire District within one year of employment.

VI. WORKING CONDITIONS. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job and is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, working conditions, responsibilities or requirements.

  1. Spends extensive time outside exposed to the elements
  2. Tolerates extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing duties. Must perform physically demanding work in hot (up to 400 degrees F), humid (up to 100%) atmospheres while wearing equipment that significantly impairs body-cooling mechanisms.
  3. Lifting or carrying 50 pounds or more than 100 pounds with assistance.
  4. Must be able to hear and have correctable vision
  5. Experiences frequent transition from hot to cold and from humid to dry atmospheres.
  6. Works in wet, icy, or muddy areas.
  7. Performs a variety of tasks on slippery, hazardous surfaces such as on rooftops or from ladders.
  8. Works in areas where sustaining traumatic or thermal injuries is possible.
  9. Faces exposure to carcinogenic dusts such as asbestos, toxic substances such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, or organic solvents either through inhalation or skin contact.
  10. Faces exposure to infectious agents such as hepatitis B or HIV.
  11. Possibility of falling objects; working at heights; explosives; exposure to radioactive substance, electrical shocks, and infection.
  12. Operates in environments of high noise, poor visibility, limited mobility, and in enclosed or confined spaces.
  13. Ability to focus for long periods of time on projects.

IX. AUTHENTICATION. The signatures below indicate that the foregoing has been approved by the governing body.

Approved: ______

Sun Prairie Fire Department President Date

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