Fire Chief

Veterans Health Administration • Tomah, WI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Fire Chief is based at the Tomah VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin, and performs administrative and supervisory work to operate and maintain a fully trained, responsive fire department on the medical center grounds. The department provides firefighting, emergency and first-responder services, hazardous-materials response, and decontamination. The Chief plans, directs, trains, and supervises department personnel and fire-protection services, and may also perform firefighting and first-responder duties.

The position manages department training, staffing, operating procedures, schedules, equipment assignments, and personnel matters. It also oversees hazardous-materials response readiness and the installation ambulance service, including implementation and training requirements for the installation's EMT program. The Fire Chief helps protect campus residents who may be unable to protect themselves during a fire or other emergency.

This is a full-time position with a 56-hour workweek: 40 hours during the administrative period and 16 hours during non-administrative hours. Compressed or flexible scheduling and virtual work are not authorized. The position is subject to overtime call-back and mandatory overtime to meet minimum crew staffing requirements. The work involves strenuous firefighting duties and exposure to heat, smoke, dust, unsafe atmospheres, and varied weather conditions.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at GS-9 for applicants subject to the GS-11 time-in-grade requirement.
• Hold Fire Officer IV certification in accordance with NFPA 1021.
• Hold Fire Inspector II certification in accordance with NFPA 1031.
• Hold Hazardous Materials Incident Commander certification in accordance with NFPA 472.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 in the federal service, involving relevant fire-department operations, supervision, scheduling, training, inspections, equipment maintenance, reporting, and personnel or performance matters.
• Maintain sufficient physical fitness and stamina for strenuous firefighting work, including wearing approximately 75 pounds of protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Complete one hour of physical activity per day, an annual Fire Department Physical Agility Test, and an annual firefighter physical with Employee Health.
• Be able to work in unsafe buildings and atmospheres, perform strenuous work carrying heavy equipment and victims, and maintain alertness and emotional stability under stressful conditions where injury or death may be present.
• Selected applicants must complete pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including a background/security investigation and drug testing when applicable.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period as applicable.
• The position has no educational substitution at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial and refresher training in firefighting, medical self-help, safety, and evacuation procedures.
• Ensure firefighters are trained in driving, equipment operation, firefighting positions, and the qualifications needed for their current roles and advancement.
• Direct on-the-job training and cross-training for department employees.
• Assign work to subordinates and develop, prepare, and implement standard operating guidelines for department operations.
• Determine shift requirements, prepare schedules, and assign duties and equipment for scheduled hours, standby duty, and hazardous operations.
• Explain work requirements, methods, and procedures; provide special instructions and answer technical questions.
• Plan, organize, direct, train, and supervise Fire Department personnel and fire-protection services; perform firefighting and first-responder tasks as required.
• Assist with hazardous-materials spill response and maintain department readiness for hazardous-materials incidents.
• Manage the installation ambulance service and implementation and training requirements for the installation EMT program.
• Help protect campus residents who may be unable to protect themselves during a fire or emergency.
• Initiate personnel action requests for anticipated vacancies, workload increases, promotions, reassignments, and other personnel status changes.
• Resolve employee complaints by contacting higher levels of supervision, the service, or other organizations.
• Implement personnel-management programs and procedures, including equal-employment-opportunity plans, career-development and training plans, and time, leave, and overtime policies.
• Oversee and coordinate day-to-day Engine Company work, schedules, daily logs, and records of department work.
• Perform timekeeper duties for payroll; prepare and submit reports and review crew reports for accuracy and completeness.
• Establish operating procedures and training guidance covering firefighting and prevention techniques.
• Schedule and coordinate inspections, tests, maintenance, and minor repairs of department equipment and facility fire-suppression and detection equipment.
• Review subordinate work, recommend improvements, and provide input to performance evaluations.
• Plan daily work, particularly training and fire inspections, and revise schedules to address unexpected changes and assignments.
• Report deficiencies, discrepancies, conflicts, and unusual situations and recommend solutions.
• Maintain physical fitness, complete required physical activity and agility testing, and complete annual firefighter physical examinations.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Prior qualifying federal or military service may be credited toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed