You are reading the State of New Jersey Job Descriptions. This is not a Job Vacancy Announcement.

Job Specification

 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 and 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:

 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 Braillemay also be considered 
 as acceptable forms of communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long 
 as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without 
 reasonable accommodation.  If the accommodation cannot be 
 made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, 
 such persons may not be eligible.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
VariantState,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
01837LC N/A34-

This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

1/2/2018