Deputy Fire Chief

City of Concord•Concord, NH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Concord Fire Department is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader to serve as Deputy Fire Chief. The Deputy Fire Chief is a key member of the Department’s executive leadership team and assists in directing the administration, operations, personnel, and strategic direction of the Department. This recruitment is expected to have a primary emphasis on Professional Standards, including: Training and professional development, EMS quality assurance and continuous quality improvement, Personnel performance and investigations, Policy, accountability, and organizational improvement, Selected departmental technology and software systems, Data analysis and performance reporting. The Department uses a collaborative executive leadership model. While this vacancy is being recruited with a Professional Standards emphasis, specific responsibilities among the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chiefs may be adjusted based on organizational needs and the experience, strengths, and skill sets of the leadership team. Candidates should therefore consider the position broadly and are encouraged to apply based on the full range of their leadership experience. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to mentor personnel, manage complex organizational issues, and contribute effectively as part of an executive team. Experience in training, EMS, professional standards, personnel management, quality improvement, technology, or related areas is highly desirable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science/Protection, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field, with five years of experience at a level equivalent to Company Officer, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
A valid New Hampshire Driver’s License and Firefighter Level II certification are required.
Knowledge of: The principles and practices of sound management and motivational techniques.
Knowledge of: Fire protection techniques, practices, and methods.
Knowledge of: Budget preparation and administration.
Knowledge of: Staffing of a medium-sized fire department for the delivery of optimum service.
Knowledge of: Personnel practices and applicable legal considerations as they pertain to department employees.
Knowledge of: All pertinent local, state, and federal laws and city ordinances.
Knowledge of: Contemporary methods of fire protection, prevention, suppression, and Emergency Medical Services.
Knowledge of: Pending changes in technology that would improve the department's effectiveness.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of emergency medicine, fire alarm, fire prevention, fire communications, hazardous material, and technical rescue.
Knowledge of: State and federal laws pertaining to fire department operations and liability issues.
Knowledge of: Grant procurement techniques.
Knowledge of: Demographics and cultural diversity of the citizenry in order to effectively respond to or direct the response to situations involving cultural diversity.
Knowledge of: Sound labor management principles.
Knowledge of: Performance evaluation practices and procedures.
Skill in: Conflict resolution.
Skill in: Interpersonal relations.
Skill in: Operation of equipment as assigned.
Skill in: Effective written and oral communications.
Skill in: Understanding the work of subordinates in order to effectively answer questions and resolve concerns.
Skill in: Reading, comprehending, and explaining all pertinent local, state, and federal laws and city ordinances.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Lead and delegate work to subordinates and enable commanding officers to resolve division problems and conflicts whenever possible.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Direct and lead the work of a division within the fire department.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Exercise sound judgment in determining the course of action needed to effectively stabilize emergency situations.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Prepare and administer the division's budget.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Read, comprehend, and explain policies, procedures, and practices.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Safely operate emergency vehicles and their equipment, especially under stressful and/or dangerous conditions.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Analyze situations, both emergency and routine, efficiently and accurately, in order to objectively stabilize situations and to determine best courses of action.
Mental and Physical Abilities to: Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports and to check the reports of subordinates.
The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands or arms, talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
While performing essential functions of the job, the employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move 100 pounds.
The employee is required to use distance vision, color vision, and depth perception to accomplish job responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Fire and/or EMT Instructor certification
National Registry Paramedic certification

Responsibilities

Plans, directs, controls, and manages the activities of a division within the Fire Department.
Supervises and directs the work of uniformed and civilian fire department personnel; writes, reviews, and approves performance evaluations; evaluates and recommends training requests; monitors performance through direct observation or reports of activities.
Manages the Fire Department’s training curriculum and professional development.
Manages the Fire Department’s Quality Assurance (QA) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) programs.
Oversees development of employee Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
Monitors the activities of all personnel; counsels employees to resolve problems; issues disciplinary actions, including letters of reprimand and oral reprimands; recommends other appropriate forms of discipline; reviews performance evaluations completed by subordinate personnel.
Conducts personnel investigations (non-discrimination related) and authors findings report; recommends appropriate level of discipline in collaboration with the City Solicitor’s Office and the Human Resources Department.
Acts as a member of the city’s negotiating team to represent management in collective bargaining negotiations.
Plans, allocates, coordinates, and monitors departmental resources to ensure efficient and economical operations.
Performs the duties of the Fire Chief in his or her absence.
Performs other related duties as assigned.