WABASH TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

FIRE CHIEF JOB DESCRIPTION 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE JOB 

The fire department (the “Department”) overseen by the Wabash Township Trustee (the “Trustee”) for  Wabash Township of Tippecanoe County, Indiana is seeking a Fire Chief.  The department currently has three paid staff and 20+ volunteers. 

The following profile of the ideal candidate largely applies and reflects the qualities and  characteristics important to the Trustee, and are essential to building a cohesive leadership team.  The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking professional, who can help guide the Department  with sound approaches to meet the service demands of today, while also possessing effective  leadership qualities that will enhance the Department’s ability to meet future needs. She/he will  be well-versed in industry best practices, including the contemporary use of data in operations,  performance management and measurement, and community risk assessment. 

Exceptional people skills and leadership traits are necessary to succeed as the Fire Chief of the  Department. The ideal candidate will be an inclusive and talented coach and mentor with a  history of inspiring others to excel and grow. She/he will have a track record of establishing high  standards and holding people accountable to well-articulated performance goals. A professional  history that reflects the willingness and ability to courageously take on difficult issues combined  with demonstrated success in creating an accountable culture that supports results and  sophisticated problem solving is strongly preferred. 

Members of the Department’s leadership team are expected to work collaboratively and  cooperatively with area departments and others in the fire service profession. The Fire Chief  shall have a strong fireground command experience along with in-depth familiarity of mutual aid  agreement and standard operating procedure processes are required. 

A strong administrator, She/he will have a track record of being a responsible steward of public  funds and resources. Superior analytical skills and a history of effective problem solving will be  expected. Experience with developing and overseeing budgets along with managing the financial  and administrative aspects of emergency management grants is required. 

The ideal candidate will serve as a credible ambassador of the Department to community groups,  professional associations, outside agencies, and State and Federal representatives. She/he will be  an extraordinary communicator and excellent writer in addition to having outstanding  interpersonal skills. The ability to connect with and serve customers in a solution-oriented  manner will also be carefully evaluated. Demonstrated success in working proactively and  effectively with the community will be an important feature of the candidates’ professional  histories.

The Fire Chief will direct and manage all fire fighting, fire prevention, fire service, rescue and  emergency medical service activities.

The WTVFD territory is approximately 50+ square miles with a population of approximately 30,000 people. The Fire Chief is responsible, through study and consultation with the Trustee, for  developing recommendations for the protection for life and property in the WTVFD and as  appropriate in any mutual or automatic aid agreement areas.  

Administrative duties include planning, directing, and controlling departmental activities  including but not limited to recruitment of personnel, purchase of equipment, control of  expenditures, preparation of budget estimates, and other assignment of personnel and equipment.  The Fire Chief collaborates with other media to address public safety concerns. The Fire Chief  works in consultation with the Trustee on policy and strategic/long range planning with  considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment and works independently  supervising the technical operation of the Department. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

  • Directs and oversees the activities of the WTVFD 
  • Manages and oversees all employees and volunteers of the Department to best ensure their safety,  wellbeing and good morale 
  • Plans, implements, and reviews departmental short and long-range goals ▪ Develops general policies for the administration of the Department 
  • Evaluates needs and makes recommendations for construction of fire stations and the  purchase of apparatus and equipment 
  • Prepares annual budgets and controls expenditures 
  • Establishes operational standards for the Department 
  • Attends conferences, seminars, and other educational forums on fire administration to keep  abreast of developments in the field 
  • Responds to alarms and directs activities at the scene of large fires or incidents 
  • Develops recommendations for the protection of life and property in the WTVFD and  conducts or oversees the public education process thereof 
  • Consults with the Trustee on problems relating to fire fighting,  emergency medical services, and other related services
  • Directs administrative functions including planning, personnel administration, equipment  purchasing, and all the allocation of resources 
  • Demonstrates a continuous effort to safely improve operations and decrease response  times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality  service to the WTVFD’s constituents 
  • Demonstrates a continuous effort to assist the Trustee to assure the prudent expenditure of  taxpayer funds in the pursuit of the protection of life and property in the WTVFD’s territory 
  • Demonstrates effective communication with the media 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

Knowledge of 

  • The principles, practices, methods, and equipment employed in modern fire fighting,  rescue, and first responder medical services
  • Fire hazards, fire prevention, and fire ground techniques 
  • Hazardous Material and Terrorism response standards 
  • The use of fire records and their application to fire prevention and fire protection  administration 
  • The standards and ratings practices of the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) and its  procedures as applied to the WTVFD 
  • Modern business planning, personnel, financial management and quality improvement  processes 
  • The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System  (ICS)

 

Ability to 

  • Direct and coordinate a multidisciplinary staff in fire fighting, fire prevention, fire service,  rescue, hazardous material and emergency medical services 
  • Inspire and perform supervisory responsibilities over both paid and volunteer fire personnel 
  • Lead and command effectively in emergency situations 
  • Maintain discipline and respect of both paid and volunteers fire personnel 
  • Communicate orally (English) and produce written documents with customers, clients, or the public in face-to-face, one-on-one  settings, in group settings, or using a telephone 
  • Observe, monitor, or compare data to determine compliance with prescribed operating  standards 
  • Proficiently utilize computers, e-mail, internet and modern communication systems 
  • Review or check the work products of others for conformance to standards 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

  • Indiana and/or National Certifications 
  • Indiana Department of State Health and Services Basic Emergency Medical Technician  Certification
  • This position requires the use of personal or WTVFD vehicles on the Department’s business. The individual must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely,  possess (or acquire) a valid Indiana driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record. 
  • Use of a personal vehicle for the Department’s business will be prohibited if the employee  is not authorized to drive a District vehicle or if the employee does not have personal  insurance coverage 
  • Perform other department related functions as assigned by the Trustee 
  • A residence within or closely adjacent to the WTVFD’s territory (1 hour drive) in order to be able to respond to any incident, which may require the attention of the Fire Chief, in a reasonably short timeframe.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING 

15 years of experience in fire and emergency medical service with progressive  supervisory experience to include five years of upper level public safety management in a paid position is preferred

Two years of relevant management or administrative experience; 

  • Successful completion of courses in: 
    • Firefighter I and II certification or IFSAC
    • Safety Officer certification or National Fire Academy or IFSAC
    • Fire Officer II certification
    • Strategies and Tactics certification
    • Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations Certification
    • Fire Instructor I
    • NIMS 300
    • EMT basic
    • Complete Fire Officer III and NIMS 400 within 12 months of hire
  • Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may  be substituted.

 

COMPENSATION 

Annual salary is dependent on prior experience and qualifications with a maximum compensation for 2021 of $62,607. Additional benefits available are health insurance, vacation accrual, and pension matching. 

CLOSING DATE 

5:00pm Monday Feb 1, 2020 to jennifer@wabashtrustee.com