Fire Chief - South Tongass

Job Description

Leads the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, serving the South Tongass Service Area with career and volunteer personnel. Plans, directs, and evaluates fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), rescue, fire prevention, and training consistent with Borough and Service Area Board policy. Serves as incident commander at emergency scenes and represents the department to the Service Area Board, the Borough, the public, and partner agencies. Will work extended and irregular hours and is subject to emergency call out at any time.

Examples of Duties

Supervise all Service Area personnel, career staff and volunteers. Plan, assign, and monitor work directly or through subordinate officers, and complete or approve performance evaluations.

Recruit, train, equip, and retain volunteer firefighters and EMTs, and develop programs that support volunteer participation.

Set short- and long-range department goals consistent with direction from the Service Area Board of Directors and the Borough Manager’s office, and report on department performance.

Prepare and manage the department budget, plan for apparatus, equipment, and facility replacement, and pursue and administer grant funding.

Ensure training meets State of Alaska certification requirements, applicable NFPA standards, and Borough requirements, and maintain training and certification records.

Direct emergency operations using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System. Assume command from first-arriving officers, delegate authority to qualified officers as needed, and perform firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical tasks.

Promote firefighter health and safety, including exposure reduction, behavioral health, and physical fitness.

Head fire prevention, community risk reduction, and public education programs.

Coordinate fire cause investigations with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and law enforcement, and prepare incident and after-action reports, including required state and federal incident reporting.

Serve as Emergency Management Coordinator for the Service Area and maintain mutual aid and working relationships with Borough departments, other fire and EMS agencies, and state and federal partners.

Oversee maintenance of apparatus, equipment, and facilities.

Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and Borough policies.

Instruct staff and volunteers within the Chief’s certifications, attend evening and weekend meetings, give public presentations, and perform other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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Work is performed in an office and in the field, including emergency scenes with exposure to fire, smoke, hazardous materials, heights, and severe weather.

Must be able to perform firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical tasks, including wearing protective gear and SCBA, operating power saws and extrication tools, driving emergency vehicles, performing CPR, and moving patients.

Must be able to walk, climb, and crawl over rough terrain and debris; stand, stoop, kneel, and climb ladders; and lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds.

Requires vision, hearing, and manual dexterity sufficient to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

Eight years of experience with a recognized fire department, including four years of supervisory fire or EMS experience. Additional supervisory experience with administrative responsibilities may be substituted.

Experience leading and coordinating both volunteer and career personnel.

Knowledge of fire service and EMS management, fire prevention and suppression, incident command, budgeting, and local government operations.

Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with the service area board, the public, and other agencies, including in complex or adversarial situations.

Ability to make sound decisions quickly under hazardous and stressful conditions.

Thorough understanding of the layout and hazards of the service area, or ability to gain it quickly. Stations are not staffed after hours, so the Chief must be available to respond as needed.

Must pass a background check as required by the Borough.

Requirements

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

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Valid State of Alaska driver’s license, or ability to obtain within 30-days, with a driving record acceptable to the Borough’s insurance carrier.

State of Alaska EMT I certification at hire, or National Registry EMT certification with Alaska reciprocity obtained within six (6) months.

Firefighter I certification, Firefighter II certification preferred.

Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) certification within one (1) year of hire.

NIMS ICS-100, 200, 700, and 800 within six (6) months of hire, and ICS-300 and 400 within one (1) year.

Preferred: State of Alaska Fire Officer certification or equivalent, and Fire Instructor certification. Must be obtained within one (1) year.

EDUCATION

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High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate or bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency services administration, public administration, or a related field strongly preferred.

Preferred: completion of National Fire Academy leadership or management coursework, including the Executive Fire Officer Program, or Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Any combination of related education and/or related experience will be considered if the candidate possesses the demonstrated ability.