Fire Chief

Fire Chief

Haines Volunteer Fire Department

Haines Borough, Alaska

The Haines Borough is seeking a collaborative, civic-minded, and strong leader to become the Fire Chief for Haines, Alaska (population 2,500). This person must provide solid leadership, experience, stability, consistency and ingenuity throughout the organization.

Located in the northern section of the Alaska panhandle, the Haines Borough is known for its incredible beauty, hiking trails, fishing, boating, and bear and eagle habitat. We have an excellent school, award-winning library, museums, parks, ports and harbor, a ferry, air service, and a road system to cities throughout Alaska and Canada.

Mission of the Haines Volunteer Fire Department:
The Haines Volunteer Fire Department, through its members, is dedicated to protecting life and property through public safety education, fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical response.

Classification: Full-time, overtime exempt, salaried Starting salary: $85,000 - $100,000 annually, DOE

Hours: M-F 8-5 plus variable, including nights, holidays, and weekends for emergency calls or events

Benefits: Health insurance, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Supplemental Benefits System (SBS) in lieu of Social Security, Optional Deferred Compensation, generous personal leave and paid holidays.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Manages all operations and administrative duties of the Haines Volunteer Fire Department.

QUALIFICATIONS:

•  10 years fire experience with 5-year officer (preferably Chief) experience.
•  Alaska Firefighter 2 or equivalent.
•  Current Alaska EMT 2 or National Registry AEMT certification or higher.
•  Apparatus driving and operation skills.
•  Administrative experience including grant writing, working with budgets,working with other agencies and current technology.
•  Worked with and preferably supervised both paid and volunteer FirefightersEMS and SAR.
•  Teaching experience with the ability to plan and conduct training for Fire, EMS

and SAR.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Duties:

•  Manages the fire department with input from volunteers. This person must follow and enforce Bylaws, Policies and Procedures.
•  Fire Chief is a responding, not solely administrative chief.
•  Provides supervision and management of the administration Fire Department, including supervision of both borough employees and volunteers. Responsible for recruitment, retention, training, discipline and potential dispute resolution between companies.
•  Presides at all HVFD business meetings. Participates in Borough staff meetings as head of the Fire Department.
•  With input from the companies, appoints company officers; appoints standing committees.
•  Stays current with professional public safety standards, best practices, and procedures, NFPA, etc.
•  Enforces all Borough codes and federal and state regulations pertaining to the operation of the Department; and shall assist the proper authorities in any and all matters of investigation which relate to the department.
•  Negotiates fire service contracts and mutual aid agreements with Klehini Valley Fire Department, State of Alaska, US Coast Guard, USFS, etc. as appropriate.
•  Makes recommendations to the borough assembly regarding code changes.
•  Participates in community service programs and public relations efforts, such asassisting with community events, parades, 4th of July BBQ, and other activities.
•  Administer Fire Department budgets, grants, maintain required records and reports, and all other administrative responsibilities.
•  Fire Chief shall be responsible for all maintenance of all equipment, apparatus and inventories, ensuring that all equipment is in good condition and placed appropriately.
•  Fire Chief shall be responsible for the burn permit and other permits.
•  The Fire Chief shall perform all other fire and EMS duties as requested by the manager.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

•  Ability to work with and manage a mixed volunteer and paid fire department with a volunteer structure.
•  Ability to take the lead in recruitment and retention of volunteers.
•  Ability to work with Haines Borough management, staff, departments and outsideagencies.
•  Ability to respond to all types of emergency calls and often work under extremely stressful conditions.
•  Able to work with the community for fire & accident prevention.
•  Organizational skills with the ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.
•  Ability to operate computers, programs and other technical electronic equipment.
•  Ability to operate and oversee maintenance of all department trucks andequipment.
•  Demonstrated knowledge of professional fire operations, principles and practices, including NFPA, codes and laws.
•  Knowledge of administration and management principles and practices, including budgeting, fiscal control, program/project planning and development, and strategic planning.
•  Must communicate well with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language. Must understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions.
•  Knowledge of the principles and practices of employment supervision, including employee development, training, performance evaluations, and progressive discipline.
•  Knowledge of the principles and practices of all emergency management coordination.
•  Ability to maintain confidentiality.
•  Ability to maintain all certifications.Traits

•  Professionalism: Must demonstrate the Fire Department’s core values at all times.
•  Exceptional organizational abilities.
•  Ability to be balance both professional and volunteer firefighters.
•  Ability to work with multiple agencies.
•  Team player.
•  Mental fortitude.
•  Strong work ethic that reflects the same expectations of department personnel

both paid and volunteer.

Education & Experience:

•  Alaska FF 2 or higher.
•  EMT 2 or higher.
•  ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 minimum.
•  AKEMT 2 or National Registry AEMT or higher.
•  Apparatus Driver Operator training / certification.
•  Teaching skills.
•  HAZMAT Tech.
•  SAR Tech.
•  Ability to be licensed at a Level 2 fire extinguisher state certification.Licenses & Special Requirements:
  •  Must be at least 21 years of age.
  •  Must have, or be able to obtain, an Alaska Driver’s License within 90 days ofemployment.
  •  Ability to pass all required pre-employment testing, including but not limited to criminal background, history, and drug testing.
  •  Must be eligible to work in the US; requirements by federal law if hired, must complete the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).
  •  Psychological testing, evaluation of writing samples, and other job-related written or oral tests may be required.WORK CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:

•  Regularly required to talk and hear; use hands to handle tools; operate heavy equipment; reach with hands and arms; stand, sit, walk, climb, balance or crouch; move about to coordinate work; and climb stairs on a regular basis.
•  May involve prolonged periods of extreme activity during emergency response.
•  Occasionally required to handle and transport deceased persons.
•  Regularly lift and/or move up to fifty pounds and occasionally lift and/or move upto one hundred pounds.
•  Often working under high noise conditions.
•  Often required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions.To Apply:
  Submit a Haines Borough Application to: Haines Borough Clerk
  PO Box 1209
  Haines, AK 99827
  907-766-6400
  clerk@haines.ak.us

More information on Haines can be found at hainesalaska.gov