Fire Chief

Under the executive direction of the Town Manager, administers plans, supervises, and manages the activities of the Fire Department. Responsible for fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue, hazardous materials, and disaster management. Responsible for the supervision of subordinate staff as it relates to all the above. Provides highly responsible, complex administrative support to Town management staff and the Town Council. Performs related duties as assigned.

Works independently with considerable latitude for discretion and judgment under the broad guidance and general supervision of the Town Manager. Work is reviewed through conferences and reports relating to goals, objectives, and accomplishments to the Town Manager on service delivery and planning.

Exercises supervision over the entire departmental staff, either directly or through division supervisors. Supervision is primarily through the Battalion Chiefs and is disseminated down the levels of command. Direct supervision is exercised with department members as necessary.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provides effective, professional leadership, positioning the Fire Department to meet the community's current and future needs through appropriate technologies and services. Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamlining work processes, while working cooperatively and collaboratively to provide quality seamless customer service.
- Develops, administers, and monitors the department budget, controlling expenses and forecasting future needs. Ensures necessary state-of-the-art operational resources are in place to meet the department's mission; oversees the purchase, maintenance, and inventory control of all fire department facilities, apparatus, tools, and equipment.
- Develops and implements mutual aid and automatic aid response agreements, standard training and operating guidelines, and consolidated prevention, public education, fire cause investigation, and emergency response protocols.
- Develops presentations for interaction with people of all ages and backgrounds. Responds to emergency calls for assistance and provides fire protection, emergency medical treatment, rescue, and hazardous materials incident mitigation.
- Maintains positive relations through continuous dialogue with civic, community, and neighborhood groups, and community leaders; serves as director of emergency management for the town; as a member of the Town's top management team, assists in addressing town concerns.
- Develops standard operating guidelines; plans, organizes, directs, and controls emergency scene activities; provides strategic and tactical direction; coordinates emergency personnel and resource activities during an emergency event to minimize its destructive impact on life, limb, and property.
- Plans and supervises the enforcement of the fire prevention laws, such as safety regulations for public assemblies, programs for fire safety education of the public, the handling and storage of combustibles, the use of flammable liquids and explosives, and other hazardous materials.
- Initiates and advises on the development of fire code ordinances and regulations; reviews and authorizes Fire Marshal code review and compliance activities. Resolves disagreements between the Fire Marshal and developers, builders, and property owners.
- Reviews and participates as necessary in public fire and life safety education activities; maintains positive relations through continuous dialogue with civic/community/neighborhood groups and community leaders; develops presentations for interaction with people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Coordinates and oversees the establishment and accomplishment of organizational, departmental, and work group goals and objectives. Supervises the enforcement and adherence to policies, procedures, rules, and regulations for effective and efficient operation of department functions.
- Develops department rules and regulations; provides leadership, guidance, and direction; selects, trains, coaches, guides, and motivates personnel and volunteer staff; works with employees to correct deficiencies; makes decisions on promotions, demotions, and disciplinary action. Reviews personnel performance evaluations.
- Provides professional development to subordinates through training, coaching, mentoring, and counseling. Ensures certifications and professional performance standards are met. Resolves personnel problems and ensures effective interpersonal and organizational communication; monitors coordination of work schedules; establishes a vision for the Department to ensure the ongoing development of long-range goals and objectives.
- Attends meetings and serves on committees, boards, and agencies related to promoting fire prevention, improving fire suppression, and emergency medical services; keeps abreast of new developments in the field; facilitates departmental management/association meetings; attends community and neighborhood meetings to explain activities and functions of the Fire Department and establish favorable public relations.
- Appears before the public and news media, as appropriate, to explain emergency response operations or activities.
- Performs all other related duties, as assigned.

Education and Experience Required: Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, fire science, or closely related field, a Master's degree and/or Certified Fire Officer/Executive Fire Officer certification is preferred; plus ten (10) years of experience with five (5) years of increasing responsibility in a command and/or supervisory role in an organized fire department, including experience in managerial and administrative work key emphases on understanding and developing a departmental budget; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Required: Must have and maintain a valid Arizona Driver's License. Preferred: National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Certification, Hazardous Materials First Responder Certification (40-hours).

How To Apply: Complete the Town of Florence Application(s) below to submit a digitally signed copy to the Human Resources Department. Town of Florence Human Resources Department, 775 North Main Street, PO Box 2670, Florence, AZ 85132, Phone: (520) 868-7553, Fax: (520) 868-7571, hr@florenceaz.gov. Questions regarding recruitment may be directed to Human Resources at hr@florenceaz.gov. The Town of Florence is an EEO/ADA employer.

Salary: $124,572-$186,858