Deputy Fire Chief of Fire Operations

City of Medford•Medford, OR

About The Position

The City of Medford seeks an experienced leader to oversee the Fire Department’s Operations Division, its largest division, and serve as a key member of the Fire Chief’s Executive Team. The Deputy Fire Chief provides operational leadership and oversight focused on emergency response, operational readiness, personnel development, safety, service delivery, and continuous improvement. The role directly supervises Battalion Chiefs and program managers, manages the division through its chain of command, and may serve as Acting Fire Chief when designated. The position directs daily staffing and deployment, operational training, EMS readiness, incident safety, response planning, regional coordination, and the development of operational procedures and performance standards. It evaluates response and service data, identifies improvements, manages assigned budget responsibilities, and advises the Fire Chief on service delivery, organizational needs, strategic priorities, and operational risks. The role also coordinates airport emergency-response planning, participates in labor/management matters, takes part in the duty-officer rotation, and performs assigned Emergency Operations Center duties. Work takes place in office and field settings, including fire stations, vehicles, training locations, and emergency scenes. The schedule is 9-80, consisting of nine-hour workdays with a three-day weekend every other week. The anticipated hiring range is $72.72 to $76.36 or $80.17 per hour, depending on the step and qualifications; the salary range includes six steps with the opportunity for annual movement. The role may qualify for up to 10% additional pay based on specified education and professional credentials.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Fifteen years of progressive responsible firefighting and fire department-related emergency medical service activities, including at least five years in a supervisory or leadership role and at least one year at the rank of Battalion Chief or equivalent.
A bachelor’s degree in Fire Suppression or EMS, or another applicable area of study, may substitute for four years of the overall experience requirement.
An associate’s degree in Fire Suppression or EMS may substitute for up to two years of the overall experience requirement.
Education substitutions do not reduce or replace the minimum five years of supervisory or leadership experience or the minimum one year at Battalion Chief or equivalent rank.
Valid, current Oregon Driver’s License and safe driving record.
Ability to obtain the following certifications within one year of appointment through DPSST, NFPA, or another nationally recognized organization: Firefighter II; NFPA Fire Officer IV; NFPA Instructor II; Advanced Wildland Firefighter Interface 1 (FFT1); NFPA Incident Safety Officer; and ICS 400.
Sound judgment in emergencies and daily management, including using operational data, identifying causes, evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions about staffing, deployment, readiness, and safety.
Ability to connect daily operations with long-term department direction and recommend sustainable improvements in response capability.
Ability to coach and develop supervisors and personnel, evaluate performance, and prepare personnel for greater responsibility.
Strong communication skills, including establishing consistent expectations and maintaining timely information exchange with department leadership, Administration, Training, and regional partners.
Ability to establish high standards for readiness, training, incident performance, and accountability and to use lessons learned and industry practices to improve services.
Ability to work cooperatively and productively in a team environment and interact effectively with others under job stress.
Ability to make timely decisions under pressure and interact with distressed or disruptive individuals.
Ability to perform office and field duties, including sitting, standing, walking, repetitive computer-related motions, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, balancing, walking on uneven terrain, and entering and exiting vehicles.
Sufficient manual dexterity to operate office equipment, radios, mobile computers, and assigned equipment; ability to drive a command vehicle.
Adequate hearing, visual acuity, and verbal communication skills to monitor incident conditions, interpret radio communications and warning signals, and communicate in noisy or distracting environments.
Ability to wear assigned protective equipment and sustain physical activity during extended emergency operations.
Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation, favorable driving record check, physical examination, clear drug screen, and professional reference check.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, which may qualify for 5% additional pay.
Associate degree in Fire Science, which may qualify for 2.5% additional pay.
FEMA Executive Fire Officer credential, which may qualify for 5% additional pay.
DPSST Fire Service Administrative Certificate or DPSST Fire Officer IV, which may qualify for 5% additional pay.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned Battalion Chiefs and program managers.
Manage Operations personnel through the established chain of command and establish consistent expectations across shifts.
Hold subordinate supervisors accountable for operational readiness, personnel performance, and implementation of Department policies and procedures.
Direct daily operational staffing, station coverage, company deployment, callbacks, overtime deployment, and resource movement within approved plans and delegated authority.
Lead operational components of standards of cover and community risk assessments; evaluate response performance, coverage, workload, and resource availability; recommend service-delivery improvements.
Perform incident command and other ICS assignments consistent with qualifications, policy, and assigned responsibilities.
Direct operational training through the assigned training Battalion Chief and specialty personnel; establish competencies, priorities, performance standards, and qualification requirements; evaluate training effectiveness.
Oversee emergency medical response readiness and performance in coordination with EMS personnel, medical direction, and regional partners.
Establish and reinforce incident safety practices and operational risk-management expectations; use reviews, after-action findings, training evaluations, and operational data to implement and evaluate corrective actions.
Define operational reporting and dispatch-performance requirements and use validated information to assess service delivery; collaborate with Administration on data quality, analytics, and technology support.
Develop, implement, and evaluate operational procedures, response plans, incident-management practices, and mutual and automatic aid arrangements.
Serve as the Department’s operational liaison to regional fire and EMS agencies and coordinate joint response practices and training.
Define operational communications, response procedures, and dispatch-performance needs in coordination with Administration and the dispatch agency.
Establish specifications, capability requirements, readiness standards, and replacement priorities for apparatus, equipment, protective gear, and training facilities; collaborate on funding, procurement, contracting, maintenance, and lifecycle planning.
Develop and justify Operations Division budget requests, monitor assigned expenditures, and evaluate staffing and service-delivery impacts; coordinate budget preparation, forecasting, financial reporting, and purchasing requirements.
Advise the Fire Chief on service delivery, organizational needs, strategic priorities, and operational risks; lead assigned initiatives and coordinate cross-divisional matters.
Refer department-wide policy, significant fiscal impacts, labor strategy, organizational changes, and unresolved cross-divisional issues to the Fire Chief.
Coordinate assigned airport emergency-response planning and serve as the Department’s operational liaison to airport personnel.
Assist with labor/management relations, including internal investigations of subordinates, collective bargaining agreement interpretation and administration, and confidential management-policy work related to collective bargaining.
Complete assigned duties and projects while working cooperatively toward team, department, and City goals; demonstrate engagement, accountability, coachability, and responsibility for performance.
Serve as Acting Fire Chief when designated, participate in the duty-officer rotation, and perform assigned Emergency Operations Center duties.
Pursue professional development, adapt to new techniques and technologies, incorporate feedback, maintain reliable attendance, and uphold City values and customer service expectations.
Foster diversity, integrity, trust, respect, teamwork, flexibility, cooperation, and effective communication.

Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental benefits for employee and family paid at 100% by the City, with an option to buy up to a lower-deductible plan.
City-paid life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance with a policy value of $50,000.
City-provided long-term disability insurance.
City-provided Health Reimbursement Account (HRA-VEBA) contributions.
Oregon Public Employee Retirement System lifetime pension, with the City paying both employer and employee contributions, including the employee’s 6% contribution.
Deferred Compensation retirement plan (Section 457 Plan).
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Employee Assistance Program.
City Wellness Program, with possible incentives of up to $200 annually for completing program milestones.
24/7 access to the City’s fully equipped fitness center.
$65 cell phone stipend.
City-issued vehicle.
Potential additional pay of up to 10% based on qualifying education and professional credentials.