City of Kinston

Fire Chief

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Description

Performs difficult advanced protective services and administrative work directing fire suppression and related activities of the Department of Fire/Rescue, and related work as required. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the City Manager. Department supervision is exercised over all Department personnel.

Essential Functions

Planning, directing and supervising the operation of Department of Fire/Rescue; handling personnel matters; preparing and administering department budget; preparing and maintaining records and files; preparing reports.

The following functions are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Coordinates, supervises and directs fire suppression, rescue and emergency response activities.

Responds with and/or commands Department personnel during emergencies such as fires, hazardous material spills and releases, technical rescue incidents, vehicle accidents, dangerous and inclement weather, bomb threats, rescue assignments, automatic fire alarms, flooding, etc.

Supervises Department personnel through subordinate supervisors; assigns tasks; approves and monitors goals and objectives; conducts annual performance appraisals and maintains appropriate documentation on direct reports. Reviews and evaluates Department performance appraisals conducted by subordinate supervisors; reviews, approves and issues disciplinary actions for division.

Develops annual budget regarding overtime, apparatus and equipment needs, personnel requirements, training and development priorities, infrastructure issues, capital outlay, fleet maintenance and fuel projections, etc.

Approves budget requests based on established criteria; reviews past purchases by individual and unit.

Analyzes budget reports to track spending and identify areas requiring adjustments; ensures projections stay on target within approved fiscal percentage guidelines; predicts major or serious expenditures based on past and present equipment and apparatus spending reports; creates statistical spreadsheets depicting Departmental status regarding maintenance, fuel usage and fitness evaluations.

Reviews, verifies and forwards emergency response reports, training reports, maintenance reports, pump testing records, ladder testing records, arson reports, etc.

Composes and distributes memos of understanding regarding personnel assignments; disseminates departmental information during meetings and with written communiqués.

Receives and responds to inquiries, complaints and requests for service; meets with citizens, clients, vendors and contractors.

Participates in continuing training and instruction program by individual study of technical material and attendance at scheduled drills and classes.

Performs related tasks as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of the fire administration, equipment, management and maintenance; thorough knowledge of modern firefighting techniques and equipment; comprehensive knowledge of the geography of the City and street system; thorough knowledge of department policies and procedures; thorough knowledge of the fire and related codes including the enforcement of applicable codes; thorough knowledge of fire inspection and fire education programs and techniques; ability to prepare and maintain reports; ability to plan and direct the work of a large staff; ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written formats; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, associates, emergency services organization representatives, consultants, engineers and the general public.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree with coursework in fire science, or related field and extensive experience in fire suppression, prevention or training including considerable command and supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum 5 years’ experience preferred.

Special Requirements

Possession of Hazardous Materials Operations and Level I Inspector certifications. Completion of Fire Prevention and Municipal Fire Administration Schools desirable.

Must meet and maintain minimum training and experience requirements for position as established by the Department and the State of North Carolina.

Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.

Physical Demands

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, frequently using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. heavy traffic, large earth- moving equipment).