Deputy Fire Chief

POSITION OVERVIEW The Village of Matteson is seeking a dynamic, innovative, and highly qualified fire service professional to serve as Deputy Fire Chief. The Deputy Fire Chief is an executive command position reporting directly to the Fire Chief and serves as a key member of the Department’s leadership team. Under the general direction of the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief assists with the administration and operational leadership of the Matteson Fire Department; oversees day-to-day operational activities and assigned divisions; supports the Department’s mission, strategic objectives, and continuity of operations; and exercises command and administrative authority as delegated by the Fire Chief. The Deputy Fire Chief oversees and coordinates emergency operations, training, maintenance and support functions, personnel management, scheduling, community risk reduction, emergency preparedness, mutual aid, and other assigned programs. The Deputy Fire Chief researches, recommends, develops, implements, and enforces Department rules, policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines, and may serve as Acting Fire Chief in the absence of the Fire Chief. COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY The Deputy Fire Chief’s responsibilities extend beyond the normal administrative workday. Although primarily assigned to an administrative schedule, the Deputy Fire Chief is a senior command officer and is expected to maintain reasonable after-hours and on-call availability consistent with Department operational needs. The Deputy Fire Chief shall be prepared to respond, when required or directed, to significant emergencies, major or complex incidents, severe weather events, multiple-alarm incidents, MABAS activations, major mutual-aid incidents, community emergencies, and other circumstances requiring command-level leadership. When serving as Acting Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief assumes the command, administrative, and continuity-of-operations responsibilities delegated to the Fire Chief’s office. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS • Provides executive-level operational and administrative leadership and assists the Fire Chief in managing the overall operations of the Department. • Oversees the resources necessary to conduct emergency operations, training, safety, personnel scheduling, EMS, maintenance, support services, and other projects or divisions as assigned. • Provides leadership, direction, supervision, and accountability to Battalion Chiefs, Company Officers, and other assigned supervisors; establishes priorities, goals, objectives, and performance expectations and measures progress toward established goals. • Responsible for the supervision and command of fire, rescue, emergency medical, hazardous materials, technical rescue, and other emergency responses as assigned. Commands Department resources at emergency incidents within the Incident Command System. • Directs and coordinates the deployment of personnel and apparatus for emergency and non-emergency operations and assists in maintaining appropriate Department staffing and operational readiness. • Supports personnel management and employee development, including performance monitoring, coaching, mentoring, evaluation, succession planning, professional development, and corrective or disciplinary processes as assigned by the Fire Chief. • Provides oversight and coordination of Department training and professional development; instructs and participates in training involving fire suppression, incident command, rescue, safety, and other emergency operations. • Assists the Fire Chief with labor-management relations, interpretation and administration of applicable collective bargaining provisions, departmental policies, and personnel practices. • Assists in development and preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets; oversees assigned division budgets and monitors expenditures, resources, procurement, and fiscal performance throughout the year. • Participates in strategic and organizational planning, including staffing, apparatus, equipment, technology, facilities, capital improvement, and long-range Department needs. • Oversees or coordinates apparatus, equipment, technology, facilities, maintenance, and other logistical/support functions as assigned. • Coordinates and represents the Department with intergovernmental and regional partners concerning mutual aid, MABAS operations, emergency management, community risk reduction, fire safety, investigations, and other public-safety initiatives. • Provides oversight of grant identification, application, administration, compliance, and reporting as assigned. • Recommends, develops, implements, reviews, and enforces Department policies, rules, procedures, and Standard Operating Guidelines in coordination with the Fire Chief. • Coordinates and monitors public events, special projects, special details, community programs, and Department activities as assigned. • Maintains familiarity with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, industry practices, and emerging issues affecting fire and emergency medical services. • Conducts regular station and shift visits and maintains direct communication with Battalion Chiefs, Company Officers, firefighters/paramedics, and other Department personnel. • Serves as Acting Fire Chief when designated or in the Fire Chief’s absence and exercises the authority and responsibilities necessary to maintain continuity of Department operations. • Performs other duties and special assignments as directed by the Fire Chief. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES • Thorough knowledge of modern fire administration, organizational leadership, incident command, fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue operations, fire prevention, community risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and fire service safety. • Knowledge of municipal government operations, personnel management, labor-management relations, budgeting, capital planning, procurement, records management, and administrative practices. • Knowledge of NIMS/ICS, mutual-aid and MABAS operations, and command-level emergency management principles. • Knowledge of fire/EMS software, records-management systems, scheduling/payroll systems, billing or administrative information systems, and common office productivity applications. • Strong leadership, judgment, strategic planning, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to lead, supervise, coach, develop, and hold personnel accountable while maintaining effective professional relationships. • Ability to interpret, follow, administer, and execute Village and Department policies, rules, regulations, directives, labor agreements, and applicable laws. • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, establish priorities, manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and maintain continuity of operations. • Ability to collaborate effectively with Village Administration, other Village departments, elected and appointed officials, labor representatives, regional partners, advisory bodies, residents, and community stakeholders. • Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion, confidentiality, diplomacy, professionalism, and sound judgment when handling sensitive personnel, operational, and administrative matters. • Ability to maintain a professional appearance, consistent attendance, dependable availability, and appropriate advance notification of absences. MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS • Seven (7) years of progressively responsible fire/EMS experience, including at least three (3) years at the rank of Lieutenant or higher. • Associate degree in Fire Science, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of relevant education, certification, command training, and experience. • Illinois Advanced Fire Officer certification or Fire Officer II. • Illinois Advanced Firefighter or Firefighter III certification. • NIMS/ICS command-level training. • Valid driver’s license and ability to operate Department vehicles. HIGHLY DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Fire Service Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline. • Illinois Chief Fire Officer certification. • CPSE Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation. • Demonstrated experience in operations, TRT, training oversight, incident command, personnel management, and fire service administration. • Experience with labor-management relations and collective bargaining environments. • Municipal budgeting, capital improvement planning, purchasing, and apparatus/equipment procurement experience. • Grant development, administration, and compliance experience. • Experience managing a multi-station career fire/EMS organization. ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS • Work is performed in both office environments and at emergency incident scenes and other field locations. • Work may occur in demanding, hazardous, rapidly changing, and potentially life-threatening environments. • The position requires reasonable after-hours/on-call availability and the ability to report to significant emergencies and command-level incidents when required. • While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, climb, bend, reach, communicate, hear, use hands to operate equipment and computers, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. • Must be able to operate a motor vehicle and travel to Village facilities, emergency scenes, training, community events, and external meetings. • Must maintain a well-groomed, professional appearance appropriate to an executive command position and public contact. POSITION EXPECTATIONS The Deputy Fire Chief is expected to demonstrate integrity, accountability, professional judgment, initiative, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous organizational improvement. The position requires an individual prepared not only to assist in managing the Department’s current operations, but also to develop personnel, strengthen the organization, maintain operational readiness, and help advance the future mission of the Matteson Fire Department. Note: This job description identifies the principal duties and qualifications of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. The Village may assign additional responsibilities consistent with operational and organizational needs.