Assistant Fire Chief of Operations-West Columbia Fire Department

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Contact: Fire Chief Marquis Solomon
Phone: 803-791-4440
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Assistant Fire Chief – Operations (West Columbia Fire Department) Position hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, generally. May require additional hours due to staff training or emergency and fire suppression incidents. Job Duties including, but not limited to: • Manages and directs operations as assigned by the Fire Chief. Provides leadership and guidance to direct reports. Assists with goal setting and evaluates outcome. • Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue and emergency medical service programs necessary for the community’s protection. • Maintains compliance with departmental policies, operating guidelines, and special instructions from the Fire Chief. • Supervises directly or through managers and subordinate supervisors, all employees of the department; takes personal command of firefighting activities at major fires and/or other catastrophic emergencies that may occur. • Evaluates officers under his/her immediate supervision and collaborates with counterpart in the evaluation of personnel through indirect contact and project management. • Integrates dissimilar tasks, activities, and projects into effective individual unit, division, and department plans and operations to achieve organizational goals. • Manages and forecasts short- and long-range planning as assigned. • Coordinates and participates in outside activities that are beneficial to the Fire Department. Examples are: local and national fire chief’s organizations, local and national fire prevention groups, etc. • Assists and advises the Fire Chief in formulation and implementation of the fire department budget and monitors and approves purchasing and expenditures. • Directs the preparation and analysis of records and reports to secure efficient operations and to comply with city and state reporting requirements. • Directs the development of programs for the training, utilization and continued professional development of personnel. • Meets with other municipalities, County, State, or Federal agencies and/or businesses to handle issues affecting fire service. Cooperates with various city officials regarding fire safety and other relevant issues within their cities. • Addresses civic clubs, and other community groups regarding firefighting activities and fire prevention and emergency medical services to explain and promote public understanding. • Responds to fires, and other emergency scenes, and makes high-level strategic and tactical decisions as to methods of fighting fires and performing rescues, directs the work of all units in all matters concerning fire mitigation. • Responds to incidents that have a high profile and where questions from the governing body and/or news media are anticipated when requested by Fire Chief. • Responsible for assuming all duties, functions, responsibilities, and authority of the Fire Chief in his/her absence. • Manages the day-to-day operations of City fire companies and confers with Battalion Chiefs and Company Officers regarding administration of personnel. • Administers and coordinates all fire and EMS service activities; including special operations and suppression, emergency medical/rescue procedures and regulation, as well as business administration functions. Operational decisions will be data driven, utilizing performance measures, standards of cover and community risk. • Develops and maintains professional development requirements for the Operations Division. Oversees and administers special operations coordinators; including tech rescue and hazardous materials. Collaborates with the Asst. Chief Administration on annual curriculum development and skill evaluations to maintain and develop technicians to the risks associated with the mission. • Engages with the automatic/mutual aid response partners to develop, implement, and revise joint-agency response plans covering the greater metro-area, specifically associated with fire/rescue response, Mass Casualty, Haz­Mat, USAR, regional operability, Emergency Management System, and auto/mutual aid. • Coordinates with Local, State, and Federal Emergency Management representatives and fire department personnel on all revisions to the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and all related Annexes. Ensures fire department personnel has a working knowledge of EOC, & EOP expectations when activated. • In conjunction with peer Assistant Fire Chief, administers the department promotional processes. Coordinates eligibility, scheduling, and scoring. Provides necessary training to personnel participating in the promotional process. Participates in the design, implementation and scoring of the promotional process. • Collaborates with local EMS agency to execute Partnership Agreement and ensure effective responses for citizens. • Implements and evaluates risk management initiatives department wide based on performance measure indicators associated with injuries and accidents. • Performs the function of Fire Department liaison with other city departments, the media, and the public. • Conducts special studies and projects as requested. • Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors and any other persons or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals. Qualifications: Requires Associate’s Degree and specialized training in related field with emphasis in fire science/administration or public administration supplemented by eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressive experience and training in local government fire, rescue, and emergency medical operations; five (5) to seven (7) years of progressive fire service leadership experience; two (2) years of experience at the rank of Battalion Chief or senior fire service leadership preferred; must possess NFPA Firefighter II, NFPA Fire Officer III and National Registry EMT or Paramedic; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Must complete required coursework and maintain certifications as issued by the S.C. Fire Academy. Must possess a valid state driver’s license. Position closes November 19, 2023 at 11:59 pm