FIRE CHIEF

 

DEFINITION


 Under  direction  of a designated member of the  local  governing
 body,  has  charge  of  the  fire department.  Manages  all  fire
 department operations to ensure their timely, thorough, and cost-
 effective preparation conduct; does related work.

 NOTE: The  examples  of  work  for  this  title   are   for
 illustrative purposes only.  A particular position using  this
 title   may  not  perform  all  duties  listed  in  this   job
 specification.  Conversely, all duties performed  on  the  job
 may not be listed.

 
EXAMPLES OF WORK:


 Write  memos and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) to officers
 to inform, instruct, or direct their activities.

 Ensures  all  departmental, county, state and federal  rules  and
 regulations are followed at fire scene.

 Reviews  department training programs to ensure  compliance  with
 applicable regulations.

 Reports  to fires as determined by need, e.g., indicated in  pre-
 planning  Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs)  or  upon  request
 from incident commander.

 Reviews and approves the final written form of Standard Operating
 Guidelines (SOGs) and departmental regulations.

 Authorizes training courses for department staff..

 Monitors monthly reports of sick time, vacation and overtime  use
 so that budget allocation may be checked for compliance.

 Terminates  or  recommends termination of  employees  based  upon
 violations   of   departmental,   county,   state,   or   federal
 regulations.

 Discusses  pertinent  matters with  various  union  officials  to
 promote harmonious relationship within the Department.

 Recommends major disciplinary actions of uniformed personnel  for
 violations   of   departmental,   county,   state,   or   federal
 regulations.

 Refers  personal problems of fire department personnel to  proper
 resources for guidance/treatment.

 Ensures offender's supervisor reviews Fire Department violations.

 Reviews  all  monthly reports (overtime, apparatus,  drills,  and
 fuel) to initiate appropriate follow-up.

 Provides   information   on  equipment  that   requires   capital
 expenditures for budget consideration.

 Ensures  that all staff violations of Fire Department  rules  and
 regulations are documented.

 Assists   business  manager  or  municipal  fiscal   officer   in
 development of the fire department budget.

 Provides equipment replacement schedule for budget consideration.

 Approves expenditures for both budgeted and non-budgeted items.

 Approves specifications for new equipment.

 Reviews  bid  returns from potential vendors for compliance  with
 specifications, and makes recommendations.

 Ensures  that discrepancies in background checks for  prospective
 new firefighters are investigated.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the
 agency, office, or related units.

 REQUIREMENTS:

      EDUCATION:

      Graduation  from  high school, vocational  high  school,  or
 possession of an approved high school equivalency certificate.

      EXPERIENCE:

      For  first  and  second class cities or other  jurisdictions
 with a population of over 30,000 residents:

      Fives (5) years of experience, three (3) years of which were
 in  supervision of fireground suppression activities and two  (2)
 years  of which must include managerial experience such as budget
 preparation and policy or procedure development.

      For all other jurisdictions:

      Five  (5)  years  of  supervisory experience  involving  the
 extinguishing of fires.

      CERTIFICATION

      In  accordance  with NJAC 5:73-1.6(b), 8  &  (d),  effective
 February  17, 2000, applicants for this position must  possess  a
 valid Incident Management Level 1 certification issued by the New
 Jersey Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs.

      AGE:

      Not  less  than  18 nor more than 35 years  of  age  at  the
 announced  closing date for filing applications for the position.
 In  determining  maximum age eligibility of  veterans,  the  time
 spent in active military service during the periods specified  in
 Civil  Service Law and Rules will be deducted from  the  attained
 age.

      NOTE: Age requirement does not apply in those jurisdictions
 whose  members  are  not enrolled in the Police  &  Fire  Pension
 System.

      NOTE: When an applicant has reached his/her 35th birthday,
 (s)he  is  considered to be over 35 years old.   Age  limits  are
 based  on  the  announced closing date for filing  Department  of
 Personnel applications.


      LICENSE:

      Appointees  will  be required to possess a driver's  license
 valid  in  New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle,  rather
 than  employee  mobility, is necessary to perform  the  essential
 duties of the position.

      MEDICAL EXAMINATION

      As   a  prerequisite  for  appointment,  appointees  may  be
 required  to  pass a thorough medical and psychiatric examination
 to   be   administered   by   the   appointing   authority;   any
 psychological,  medical, or physical condition  or  defect  which
 would  prevent  efficient  performance  of  the  duties  of   the
 position,  cause  the appointee to be a hazard to himself/herself
 or  others,  or  become aggravated as a result of performance  of
 these duties, will be cause for rejection.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge  of  current  technical issues,  ideas  and  technology
 relating to the fire service.

 Knowledge   of  supervisory  techniques  that  support  effective
 individual and team performance in a variety of work situations.

 Knowledge   of  departmental  policy  regarding  corrective   and
 disciplinary action.

 Knowledge   of   National  Fire  Protection  Association   (NFPA)
 standards, including Life Safety Code.

 Knowledge of HAZMAT (e.g., hazardous materials and their effects,
 SOGs  relating to HAZMAT, hazardous materials placards,  symbols,
 names, and labels, etc.)

 Knowledge  of  Incident Command System (ICS),  including  current
 legislation.

 Knowledge of procedures to establish line item budgets.

 Knowledge of fire suppression & incident management (e.g.,  size-
 up  factors,  standardized building marking  warning  signals  as
 adopted   by  NFPA/IFSTA/Community  Affairs,  fireground  safety,
 proper  sequence  of fire attack, sensor cues that  indicate  the
 effectiveness  of  a fire attack, SOGs relating  to  ventilation,
 types and uses of extinguishing agents, search and rescue, etc.)

 Knowledge of fire behavior and characteristics (e.g., fire spread
 and    growth    --   radiation,   convection   and   conduction;
 characteristics of burning material; effects of fire or water  on
 utilities; characteristics of smoke -- color, intensity,  volume,
 odor, etc.)

 Knowledge of building construction (e.g., collapse potential  and
 characteristics, the results of water weight and fire  damage  on
 walls,  floors,  roof,  shelving, equipment,  merchandise,  etc.,
 structure  design, construction, and construction  materials  and
 their effect on fire behavior, safety considerations dealing with
 structure  design, construction, and construction  materials  and
 their effect on fire, fire load, etc.)

 Ability to draw conclusions from a body of facts.

 Ability  to  be flexible and change one's position,  decision  or
 compromise based upon new information.

 Ability  to  interpret  written  reports  (e.g.,  NJUFC  reports,
 Division reports, etc.).

 Ability  to interview individuals to obtain accurate and complete
 information.

 Ability   to  document  activities,  events  in  writing   (e.g.,
 Department report, journal).

 Ability  to evaluate incidents which might lead to discipline  or
 additional training.

 Ability  to  understand financial information (e.g.,  statements,
 reports, contractual agreements).

 Ability to draft policy and procedure statements.

 Ability to recognize subordinates' performance deficiencies.

 Ability to prioritize activities and assignments.

 Ability to recognize subordinates' performance capabilities.

 Ability to delegate.

 Ability to set administrative goals for department.

 Ability to give constructive criticism in a positive manner.

 Ability to match assignments with abilities of subordinates.

 Ability to resolves disputes among subordinates, and between self
 and others.

 Ability to prepare line-item budget.

 Ability  to recognize when a subordinate or co-worker is behaving
 in an unusual (atypical) manner.

 Ability to set performance goals for subordinates.

 Ability   to   respond  in  a  sensitive  manner  to  emotionally
 distraught individuals.

 Ability  to give oral orders, instructions and directions clearly
 and concisely.

 Ability  to recognize hazardous or dangerous conditions, actions,
 or situations.

 Ability to formulate a plan of action in an emergency situation.

 Ability to recognize the significance of the sensory cues on  the
 fireground (e.g., smoke, flames, sounds, odors, etc.).

 Ability  to  anticipate  changing  circumstances  conditions  and
 outcomes in an emergency situation.

 Ability to make command decisions quickly.

 Ability to interact with citizens in a respectful manner.

 Ability  to  utilize  various types of electronic  and/or  manual
 recording and information systems used by the agency, office,  or
 related units.

 Ability  to  read, write, speak, understand, and  communicate  in
 English  sufficiently  to perform the duties  of  this  position.
 American  Sign  Language or Braille may  also  be  considered  as
 acceptable forms of communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
 as  they  can  perform the essential functions of the  job  after
 reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.   If
 the  accommodation  cannot be made because  it  would  cause  the
 employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

 CODES:  LG - 01837             CGS                 3/07/00

 This job specification is for local government use only.