Chief of FREM

Spotsylvania County; Virginia; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Spotsylvania County seeks a high-capacity leader to direct its Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management Department. The role directs emergency response operations, budget management, personnel supervision and policy development.

Requires extensive experience and advanced training in fire and public safety administration. The position involves coordinating county resources, working with public and private agencies, and leading both career and volunteer staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in fire science/administration/public safety.
• CPSE Chief Officer designation is preferred for the role.
• Master's degree from an accredited institution is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Supervises administrative matters in budget, accounting and staffing.
• Plans, directs and evaluates emergency response operations.
• Liaises with Board of Supervisors and external agencies.
• Oversees fire inspections, training and public education programs.
• Develops policies and procedures for department administration.
• Represents the department in public meetings and reports.

Skills

Budgeting

Emergency management

Fire administration

Public speaking

Leadership

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Science/Administration/Public Safety

CPSE Chief Officer designation

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Under minimal direct supervision, performs administrative and professional emergency services work in directing the activities of the County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management Department. Work involves planning, organizing and directing emergency response operations, including firefighting, emergency rescue and medical service, hazardous material response, and emergency services. Work also involves administrative duties which include personnel recruitment, purchase of equipment, monitoring and controlling expenditures, preparing budget estimates, and assigning and supervising departmental personnel and equipment. Employee must exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in all phases of work. Employee must also exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in contact with public officials and the general public.

This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work regardless of weather conditions and/or when general county offices are closed. Applicants must be available to work Sunday through Saturday as needed.

• Supervises all administrative matters in the Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management Department, including budget preparation, general ledger monitoring, scheduling and personnel matters.
• Plans, organizes, directs and evaluates County needs and emergency response operations including firefighting, emergency rescue and medical services, hazardous material response, emergency services, and fire prevention programs; develops andor approves and implements policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Serves as liaison between volunteer fire and rescue agencies and the Board of Supervisors.
• Evaluates needs for program facilities, equipment, and personnel.
• Develops and presents budget requests and formulates policy recommendations; requests adjustments in County budgetary allocations, as needed.
• Works with public and private agencies in coordinating community resources.
• Serves on the Public Safety Committee.
• Coordinates pre-fire planning.
• Serves as the Deputy Director of Emergency Management.
• Oversees fire inspections, investigations and public education programs.
• Plans and directs training in fire protection and emergency services for the County, which includes the career and volunteer workforces.
• Plans and supervises the programs of fire prevention and hazardous materials control through plan review and field inspections.
• Supervises and participates in the review of plans for proposed land and site uses to assure adherence to applicable codes and standards.
• Plans and supervises departmental record keeping, incident analysis and reports, and general internal management of the Department.
• Presents program goals, objectives and needs before local, state and federal agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Plans, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the work of Departmental employees.
• Formulates and writes policies, standard operating procedures, rules and regulations for the department.
• Attends seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lecture, etc., as appropriate to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and development in the fields of emergency response, firefighting, emergency rescue, etc.
• Gathers and analyzes data and prepares reports.
• Responds to the scene of emergencies and assumes command, as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science, Administration or Public Safety, supplemented by specialized training in firefighting and emergency response, and fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible command experience in firefighting and emergency response, including 5 years as a career chief officer in a career or combination department; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities. CPSE Chief Officer designation and Master's Degree preferred.

EMT-B and EVOC required.

Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Certification by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Fire Officer IV or by the National Fire Academy as an Executive Fire Officer; Certification by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Fire Instructor II.

ICS300 (Intermediate IIS), IC S400 (Advanced IIS), IS230 (Fundamentals of Emergency Management), and IS235 (Emergency Planning) required.

Must meet and maintain NFPA Medical Guidelines as a condition of employment.

• Knowledge of modern techniques and methods of fire and emergency response administration with special attention to fire prevention and firefighting principles, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods and equipment used in firefighting, fire prevention, rescue operations and hazardous material response.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and ordinances and of departmental policies, procedures and regulations.
• Knowledge of the operating characteristics and service requirements of firefighting equipment and apparatus.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of municipal fire department organization and administration.
• Knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
• Knowledge of the hazards involved in emergency response operations and of the applicable safety precautions.
• Knowledge of the current literature, trends and developments in the fields of firefighting, emergency rescue, and hazardous material response.
• Knowledge of street layout, buildings and the location of fire hydrants in the County.
• Knowledge of basic emergency medical procedures and techniques.
• Ability to plan, direct and coordinate the effective use of firefighting equipment, apparatus and personnel.
• Ability to plan, direct and coordinate the work of a large staff of professional and technical personnel.
• Ability to maintain discipline and respect of subordinates and to lead and command effectively.
• Ability to initiate, plan and carry out programs in fire administration, in service training and fire prevention.
• Ability to exercise initiative in meeting and resolving emergency situations.
• Ability to analyze situations quickly and correctly and adopt effective courses of action with regard to surroundings and circumstances.
• Ability to prepare and maintain routine work records and reports.
• Ability to train and instruct in modern firefighting and fire prevention principles, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to represent the department effectively in public, to enlist cooperation in its programs, and to present its programs effectively in public meetings.
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to exhibit physical strength and agility to perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions when required.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, charts, forms, permits, drawings, codes, regulations, etc.
• Ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats.
• Ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including emergency response codes, and fire, medical, legal, engineering, personnel, counseling, accounting, and public safety terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra, trigonometry, and geometry.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including various firefighting and emergency response equipment, audio-visual equipment, handgun, and common office equipment, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. The job is rated as Very Heavy Work. Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment and firefighting equipment. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as firefighting equipment and office equipment. Must have levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via a telephone or two-way radio.