The City of Pullman Fire Department is seeking a dedicated and experienced Fire Chief to lead our team in protecting lives, property, and the environment from fire and emergency incidents. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a commitment to community safety, and a passion for advancing fire service standards.
The Fire Chief performs administrative, managerial and supervisory work as the director of the Fire Department. As such, the Chief plans and directs, through subordinate supervisors, the short- and long-term programs and day-to-day activities of the department. The Fire Chief manages the department’s financial and human resources with the goal of keeping losses of property and lives due to fire and other emergencies at a minimum. The Fire Chief is also responsible for the external affairs of the department in conferring and coordinating with other city departments, other fire departments and community groups. Direct supervision is exercised over subordinate supervisors.
The Fire Chief reports to the City Administrator, who reviews work through discussions and reports of the status and results of program activities and the attainment of department administrative and financial goals and objectives.
SELECTION FACTORS:
(These factors will be the basis for selecting the most qualified applicants to be interviewed. Candidates selected for employment must satisfactorily demonstrate possession of these factors during a prescribed probationary period, and afterwards, for continued employment.)
Knowledge of:
- Management and supervisory principles and practices, including management by objectives;
- Principles, practices, procedures, and equipment used in fire suppression, inspection, prevention, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials response;
- Laws and codes in the field of suppression, prevention, inspection, investigation, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials;
- Labor management negotiation principles, practices and procedures;
- Fire based ALS/BLS transport services.
Ability to:
- Attend work on a regular and dependable basis;
- Plan, direct, coordinate, motivate, and evaluate the work of subordinate officers;
- Make risk assessment decisions on deployment of staff at emergency scenes;
- Assume incident command level responsibilities and coordinating firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services under complex emergency conditions;
- Investigate and resolve conflicts, personnel issues, citizen inquiries and departmental complaints;
- Managing staff, prioritizing multiple tasks and projects, and delegating tasks of authority;
- Develop and efficiently administer department objectives and budgets;
- Analyze organizational and operational problems and to implement effective improvements;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, other city department heads, city administrator, City Council, general public, community organizations, and officials of other agencies;
- Express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing;
- Reason and react quickly and calmly in emergency situations;
- Provide quality services in a cost-effective manner and to recommend improved methods of performing the work;
- Physically perform the essential functions of the job.
- Operate personal computers using standard or customized software and equipment specific to the needs of the department.
- Possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Persons applying for a position of this class should have any combination of the following experience and training.)
- Bachelor’s Degree* required in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Management or other related field.
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in fire suppression, fire prevention and the delivery of emergency medical services with the last five of which must be in a managerial/supervisory role equivalent to the rank of a Chief Officer in a fire protection agency.
- Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
- NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 or be able to complete within 1 year of employment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree* in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Administration or other related field.
- Graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program, or;
- Graduate of the International Fire Chief Association’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute; or,
- other applicable Executive Fire Officer program.
- Center for Public Safety Excellence Chief Fire Officer Designation
- Washington State EMT certification
BENEFITS
City Paid Benefits Include:
- Insurance plans as low as $0 for spouse & all dependents –Plans with deductibles as low as $200; high deductible plan includes employer sponsored contribution to Health savings account.
- Vision & Dental Insurance with no cost sharing for employee & all dependents
- $15,000 Basic Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
- Short Term Disability Insurance
- PERS Retirement
- Employee Assistance Program
Elective Benefits Include:
- Deferred Compensation
- Additional Life & Spouse Life Insurance
- Discounts on Parks & Rec Membership
- Discounts on Life Flight Membership