Fire Chief

City of Onalaska•Onalaska, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Onalaska is seeking to hire a Fire Chief. Under the direction of the Mayor, this position directs, sets goals and objectives, and oversees all department operations. This position holds the highest-level management position within the Fire Department and is ultimately responsible for the complete control, operation, and representation of the City’s fire department and its employees. The Chief is responsible for managing the physical facilities and equipment; promoting fire prevention; developing and improving the City firefighting and emergency medical response; improving the City firefighting forces with methods and techniques of firefighting and fire prevention; supervising departmental activities; formulating and enforcing department rules of conduct and policies; coordinating department activities with outside agencies; preparing and justifying departmental budgets; making recommendations for hiring, promotions, commendations, and discipline; and making major changes in procedures and organization. The Chief also provides information to the Common Council, business groups, service organizations, special committees, and representing both the City and the department to the general public, governmental agencies, news media, etc. This position is appointed by the Police and Fire Commission and supervises all employees hired by the Police and Fire Commission that serve as employees of the Onalaska Fire Department. Essential Job Functions: Oversees all activities of the department for adherence to established policies and work methods; assures enforcement of statutes, fire codes and local ordinances. Plans, reviews, and coordinates departmental activities with the Mayor, City Administrator, Department Heads, the Police and Fire Commission, and other appointed and elected officials. Supervises the day-to-day activities of fire department officers and staff; evaluates and monitors fire department policies and procedures and the institution of an appropriate chain of command. Performs or directs the performance of tasks related to fiscal, personnel, property, records management, and other administrative tasks. Participates on the City of Onalaska Plan Review Team to assure projects are planned and completed in accordance with the Fire Code. Facilitates occupancy inspections and fire detection and prevention inspections within the response areas of the Onalaska Fire Department. Develops and projects a good public image of the department and its employees with the general public, other firefighter/EMS agencies, governmental officials, and the news media. Monitors the planning, organization, and conduct of activities related to the provision of emergency medical services and disaster management, and conduct of fire suppression activities, including readiness planning for man-made or natural disasters in the City of Onalaska and neighboring municipalities. Monitors the planning, organization, and conduct of departmental activities related to the inspection of properties for fire hazards and code enforcement, arson prevention and investigation, fire prevention and community education. Responsible for the recruitment and retention of firefighter/EMS personnel; evaluates, schedules, trains personnel, administers discipline and grievance processes within the Fire Department. Monitors the planning, organization, conduct, and evaluation of departmental training activities of personnel; reviews programs of instruction designed to equip department personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the tasks they are assigned. Represents the fire department at meetings and hearings conducted by other governmental bodies and agencies on matters directly related to the department's operations; acts as a liaison with other organizations and groups on matters related to the department's operations. Develops rules of conduct, policies, mission statements, goals and objectives and work procedures to be followed by members of the department based on trends in city government, firefighter/EMS requirements and city growth patterns. Serves as legal custodian of fire department records; maintains appropriate records and prepares reports; supervises and assures maintenance of departmental equipment. Prepares, reviews, approves, and submits the fire department's budget for consideration by the Mayor and Common Council; and supervises expenditures of departmental appropriations. Attends meetings of the City Common Council, as well as meetings of the Police and Fire Commission and other committees of jurisdiction. Develops and annually reviews the department's long-range plan for capital improvements, including the acquisition of capital equipment and fiscal requirements associated with such a plan. Develops, coordinates, and annually reviews assistance agreements entered into with other jurisdictions. Serves as Director of the City’s Emergency Management Team; develops, coordinates, reviews, trains staff tasked with Emergency Operation Center (EOC) duties ensuring the EOC is operational at any given time. Obtain Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700, 800 (on-line) within 1 year of hire and 300 (in-person) certification within a reasonable time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service or a closely related field.
Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the fire service, including five (5) years of supervisory experience and five (5) years’ experience/training in emergency management; or equivalent combination of work experience.
Valid driver’s license with good driving record.
Establish and maintain residence at a distance not greater than 15 miles from the nearest corporate boundary of the City, per ordinance.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field desired.
Related course work at the National Fire Academy (e.g. Executive Fire Officer program) preferred.
Wisconsin or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Fire Officer II or III, and WI or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Fire Instructor II or III preferred.

Responsibilities

Directs, sets goals and objectives, and oversees all department operations.
Manages the physical facilities and equipment.
Promotes fire prevention.
Develops and improves the City firefighting and emergency medical response.
Supervises departmental activities.
Formulates and enforces department rules of conduct and policies.
Coordinates department activities with outside agencies.
Prepares and justifies departmental budgets.
Makes recommendations for hiring, promotions, commendations, and discipline.
Makes major changes in procedures and organization.
Provides information to the Common Council, business groups, service organizations, special committees, and represents both the City and the department to the general public, governmental agencies, news media, etc.
Oversees all activities of the department for adherence to established policies and work methods.
Assures enforcement of statutes, fire codes and local ordinances.
Plans, reviews, and coordinates departmental activities with the Mayor, City Administrator, Department Heads, the Police and Fire Commission, and other appointed and elected officials.
Supervises the day-to-day activities of fire department officers and staff.
Evaluates and monitors fire department policies and procedures and the institution of an appropriate chain of command.
Performs or directs the performance of tasks related to fiscal, personnel, property, records management, and other administrative tasks.
Participates on the City of Onalaska Plan Review Team to assure projects are planned and completed in accordance with the Fire Code.
Facilitates occupancy inspections and fire detection and prevention inspections within the response areas of the Onalaska Fire Department.
Develops and projects a good public image of the department and its employees with the general public, other firefighter/EMS agencies, governmental officials, and the news media.
Monitors the planning, organization, and conduct of activities related to the provision of emergency medical services and disaster management, and conduct of fire suppression activities, including readiness planning for man-made or natural disasters in the City of Onalaska and neighboring municipalities.
Monitors the planning, organization, and conduct of departmental activities related to the inspection of properties for fire hazards and code enforcement, arson prevention and investigation, fire prevention and community education.
Responsible for the recruitment and retention of firefighter/EMS personnel; evaluates, schedules, trains personnel, administers discipline and grievance processes within the Fire Department.
Monitors the planning, organization, conduct, and evaluation of departmental training activities of personnel; reviews programs of instruction designed to equip department personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the tasks they are assigned.
Represents the fire department at meetings and hearings conducted by other governmental bodies and agencies on matters directly related to the department's operations.
Acts as a liaison with other organizations and groups on matters related to the department's operations.
Develops rules of conduct, policies, mission statements, goals and objectives and work procedures to be followed by members of the department based on trends in city government, firefighter/EMS requirements and city growth patterns.
Serves as legal custodian of fire department records.
Maintains appropriate records and prepares reports.
Supervises and assures maintenance of departmental equipment.
Prepares, reviews, approves, and submits the fire department's budget for consideration by the Mayor and Common Council.
Supervises expenditures of departmental appropriations.
Attends meetings of the City Common Council, as well as meetings of the Police and Fire Commission and other committees of jurisdiction.
Develops and annually reviews the department's long-range plan for capital improvements, including the acquisition of capital equipment and fiscal requirements associated with such a plan.
Develops, coordinates, and annually reviews assistance agreements entered into with other jurisdictions.
Serves as Director of the City’s Emergency Management Team.
Develops, coordinates, reviews, trains staff tasked with Emergency Operation Center (EOC) duties ensuring the EOC is operational at any given time.
Obtain Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700, 800 (on-line) within 1 year of hire and 300 (in-person) certification within a reasonable time.

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Wisconsin Retirement System (pension plan)
Vision insurance
Flexible spending
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Deferred compensation
Pet insurance
Critical illness insurance
Cancer insurance
Accident insurance
Paid sick leave
Paid holidays
Paid vacation
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Qualifying employer under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Federal Program