Battalion Chief - Fire Rescue

PURPOSE SUMMARY. The Battalion Chief position provides leadership, supervision, and management of personnel and departmental operations. Assignments may include operational or administrative responsibilities based on the needs of the department. Operational assignments include providing command, control, and supervision of fire, rescue, and EMS emergency operations and overseeing field personnel. Administrative assignments may include managing programs such as training, fire prevention, logistics, EMS, and other departmental functions. Battalion Chiefs are required to respond to emergency incidents and administer all aspects of assigned programs while ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of department services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES. This is a safety sensitive position. Duties applicable to all Battalion Chiefs: Supervise assigned personnel, including Captains, Lieutenants, Firefighter/EMTs, Firefighter/Paramedics, and volunteer personnel. Meet regularly with department personnel to discuss operations, resolve issues, address concerns, and communicate organizational priorities. Visit stations and work locations to build relationships, foster teamwork, and maintain awareness of operational needs. Convey clear expectations, mentor personnel, and support employee growth and professional development. Observe, document, and address employee performance and conduct; complete evaluations, counseling, and disciplinary actions in accordance with department policy. Communicate and clarify management directives, policies, procedures, bulletins, and other information to subordinate personnel. Interpret, develop, implement, and enforce departmental policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standard operating guidelines. Review and approve leave requests, staffing adjustments, and shift trades as authorized to ensure operational readiness. Review reports, records, and documentation prepared by staff for completeness, accuracy, and compliance. Complete reports, correspondence, administrative documentation, and other records required in the performance of assigned duties. Confer and coordinate with Battalion Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, partner agencies, and external stakeholders as necessary. Attend meetings, committees, training events, and other assignments as directed. Assist in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, strategic plans, and operational priorities. Participate in recruitment, selection, retention, orientation, and development of career and volunteer personnel. Participate in public education, community outreach, and stakeholder engagement activities. Serve as a liaison to volunteers, as assigned. Function within assigned budgets and ensure compliance with County purchasing, financial, and administrative policies. Analyze records, reports, and operational data to identify trends, opportunities, and service delivery improvements. Maintain confidentiality of personnel, patient, financial, collective bargaining, and other protected information. Fulfill the duties and responsibilities of subordinate positions when operationally necessary.

If assigned to Operational Battalion Chief (56-hour work week): Coordinate emergency response activities throughout the County. Respond to fires, emergency medical incidents, technical rescue incidents, hazardous materials incidents, wildland fires, and other emergencies. Direct and coordinate deployment of personnel, apparatus, and resources during emergency operations. Manage multi-agency emergency incidents and coordinate mutual aid and automatic aid responses. Establish and manage command posts, programs, groups, branches, and other ICS functions as required. Supervise fire suppression, rescue, salvage, overhaul, EMS, and special operations activities. Coordinate specialty team responses, including technical rescue, hazardous materials, and regional deployments as authorized. Monitor battalion staffing levels and resource availability to ensure operational readiness. Organize and monitor battalion programs and support systems related to staffing, response readiness, emergency operations, and records management. Coordinate training drills and operational readiness activities with assigned personnel. Provide oversight of station operations, apparatus readiness, equipment readiness, and personnel accountability. Participate in emergency planning, preparedness activities, disaster response, and large-scale incident management. May perform fire suppression, rescue, EMS, and special operations functions as necessary. Research, analyze, and prepare reports, recommendations, policies, procedures, strategic plans, and organizational assessments. Establish, assume, transfer, and manage Incident Command in accordance with the Incident Command System (ICS), directing personnel, apparatus, and resources as necessary to support emergency operations. Ensure compliance with operational policies, procedures, standards, and performance expectations.

If assigned to Administrative Battalion Chief (40-hour work week): Manage and oversee assigned programs including Training, Logistics, Prevention, EMS Response, Special Operations, Support Services, or other administrative functions. Develop, implement, evaluate, and manage program goals, objectives, programs, and performance measures. Plan, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate department training programs to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. Maintain personnel certification, credentialing, and training records. Oversee fleet management, apparatus replacement planning, facility maintenance, equipment maintenance, inventory control, and procurement activities. Coordinate capital improvement projects, grant-funded initiatives, and major equipment acquisitions. Manage fire prevention, inspections, investigations, code enforcement, public education, and community risk reduction programs as assigned. Oversee EMS system performance, quality improvement, clinical compliance, deployment planning, and regulatory requirements. Develop, administer, and monitor program budgets and expenditures. Coordinate activities with regulatory agencies, educational institutions, contractors, vendors, community organizations, and partner agencies. Manage assigned contracts, agreements, and vendor relationships. Direct special projects and organizational improvement initiatives as assigned. Provide administrative oversight and support to operational personnel and volunteer organizations. Coordinate department accreditation, compliance, reporting, and record management programs as assigned. Assume the role of Duty Chief when Operations Battalion Chiefs are committed to other incidents, unavailable, or when otherwise directed by the Fire Chief. Respond to emergency incidents as required and provide command, control, coordination, and support functions during emergency operations. Perform duties substantially similar to those assigned to Operations Battalion Chiefs during emergency incidents, planned events, disasters, staffing shortages, or other operational circumstances requiring command-level response.

Requirements: Associate's degree from accredited college or university (Bachelor's in Fire Science, Fire Administration, or EMS preferred); 7 years career fire/EMS experience with minimum 3 years in lead/management capacity; New Mexico Class E or Texas Class B driver's license; Current EMT-Basic or above; ICS 100, 200, 700, 800; ICS 300, 400 within 6 months; IFSAC or ProBoard Firefighter I and II; IFSAC or ProBoard Hazardous Materials A/O; IFSAC or ProBoard Fire Instructor I; IFSAC or ProBoard Fire Officer I and II; pass physical abilities test, background check, medical exam per NFPA 1582

Salary: $29.25 - $47.71 Hourly

Application Deadline: 2026-12-16