Supervisory Fire Chief

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD seeks a Supervisory Fire Chief to oversee the Fire Protection and Emergency Response Program. The role leads daily fire and life safety operations, directs emergency responses, and advises on strategic safety initiatives across the organization.

The incumbent will exercise Incident Command authority, coordinate complex responses to medical, fire, and hazmat incidents, and ensure adherence to NFPA standards and federal

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level.
• Experience as a primary operational authority or program lead in fire and hazmat protection.
• Ability to plan, develop, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive fire/hazmat protection program.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System (ICS) and coordination of incident response.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational oversight and supervisory leadership for fire protection and response programs.
• Serve as lead official with Incident Command authority at emergency scenes.
• Direct responses and supervise staff during medical, fire, and hazmat incidents.
• Administer fire prevention programs and advise senior leadership on safety strategies.
• Enforce safety protocols, NFPA regulations, and federal mandates; report on program metrics.

Job description

Summary Provides operational oversight and supervisory management for the NIST Fire Protection and Emergency Response Program. Serves as a lead official in directing responses to emergency medical, fire, and hazardous materials incidents, ensuring tactical objectives are met.

Summary Provides operational oversight and supervisory management for the NIST Fire Protection and Emergency Response Program. Serves as a lead official in directing responses to emergency medical, fire, and hazardous materials incidents, ensuring tactical objectives are met.

Duties The Supervisory Fire Chief provides operational oversight and supervisory management for the NIST Fire Protection and Emergency Response Program. This position also: Operational & Supervisory Management: Provides operational oversight and supervisory leadership for the NIST Fire Protection and Emergency Response Program, managing daily fire and life safety operations. Emergency Response & Incident Command: Serves as a lead official and exercises assigned Incident Command authority at emergency scenes, directing responses and subordinate staff during medical, fire, and hazardous materials incidents. Program Administration & Strategic Advisory: Administers the NIST-wide fire prevention program and provides technical recommendations to senior leadership to protect research infrastructure and personnel. Compliance & Safety Enforcement: Implements and monitors comprehensive fire prevention programs by enforcing established safety protocols, NFPA regulations, and federal mandates. Program Evaluation & Reporting: Assesses daily operations and program effectiveness, reporting key findings and operational metrics to higher-level management.

Qualifications This position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 (ZA-2 at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as experience serving as a primary operational authority or program lead in fire and hazardous materials (hazmat) protection and prevention. This includes independently planning, developing, executing, and evaluating a comprehensive facility- or agency-wide fire and hazmat protection program; applying complex principles, standards, and regulatory procedures to mitigate fire and hazardous material risks; directing and coordinating incident response actions within an established Incident Command System (ICS) structure during complex emergency situations; and performing advanced fire emergency, suppression, and tactical functions in high-risk operational environments. IN ADDITION, the applicant MUST be able to meet the following selective placement factor (Screen out): Skill in providing basic life support and emergency medical care as evidenced by a valid Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, EMT-B certificate. To be considered for the position, applicants are required to provide the following certifications: 1. Certification in firefighter 2 2. Maryland Emergency Medical Technician -B Certification 3. Hazmat operations 4. Class B Driver's License/ Equivalent 5. Fire Inspector III 6. Fire Officer IV Resume should indicate the following trainings have been completed: HAZMAT Technichian HAZMAT Incident Commander training IICS 100 IICS 200 IICS 300 IICS 400 IS 700 IS 800 Must attach certification at time of application to be considered for the position. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration