Association seeking Deputy Director

August 18, 2022

The South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association is seeking an individual to fulfill the role of Deputy Director. The Deputy Director will oversee all staff and daily operations of the Association and report to the Executive Director. The ideal candidate should have experience, training, and skills in budget administration, personnel management, office or systems operations management, and project leadership experience.

The position will remain open for applications until the position is filled.

Interested applicants should forward a resume and letter of interest to: 

Deputy Director Applications
c/o Joe H. Palmer
South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association
111 Westpark Blvd
Columbia, SC 29210

Position Description

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since, not every duty associated with this position may be described herein; employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.

Title: Deputy Director – South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association

Pay Range: $85,000-95,000                                           

FLSA Status: Exempt

SCSFA Mission:

The South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association was founded in 1905 to provide the state’s firefighters and fire departments with education, training, benefits, and representation. Our mission is to serve the membership as the leader in advocacy, benefits, education, and safety, while acting as the steward of the Firemen’s Insurance and Inspection Fund.

SCSFA Core Values:

The South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association expresses a reiteration of the values expressed in the Maltese cross points – representative of the profession which we serve – that are: sympathy, gallantry, perseverance, loyalty, dexterity, explicitness, observation, and tact. The Association feels that sharing of the qualities of our members greater enhances our collaboration and cooperation.

JOB SUMMARY

Provides leadership and management for the daily operations of the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association. Implements the policies of the Association as directed by the Executive Director and assures that the Association’s activities remain within the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association and within state and federal laws. Creates a strong work ethic environment, within the Association staff, that promotes the mission and values of the Association. Develops and administers policies as deemed appropriate by the Executive Director and maintains the integrity of all Association records, activities, services and promotes program opportunities to its membership. The incumbent performs related professional, administrative and supervisory work as required, and provides updated progress to the Executive Director and staff through professional communication, reports, various meetings, and conferences. Responds to scenes of natural or manmade disasters as a representative of the Association and serves as a liaison to the Executive Director. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:      

• Plans, organizes and directs all programs and activities of South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, ensuring compliance with state, federal and other program guidelines, laws and regulations;
• Supervises subordinate staff to include the Director of Operations and Director of Administration. Supervisory duties include instructing; assigning, reviewing, and planning work of others; maintaining standards; coordinating activities; selecting new employees; acting on employee problems; recommending and approving employee discipline and discharge. Reviews the work of subordinates for completeness and accuracy; evaluates and makes recommendations as appropriate; offers advice and assistance as needed;
• Provides for adequate staff training and development opportunities;
• Develops short- and long-range strategic plans to promote the development of the Association and coordinates those goals with the Executive Director and the Association Strategic Plan;
• Gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations;
• Provides administrative support to and coordinates with the Executive Director;
• Initiates, conducts and/or attends membership meetings to discuss related programs and projects to communicate support for such projects;
• Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns, complaints and requests for assistance regarding issues involving the Association;
• Prepares reports for submittal as required by the Executive Director;
• Performs general administrative work as required, including preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, reviewing mail and literature, conducting and attending meetings, etc.;
• Attends training, conferences, seminars, meetings, etc., to maintain awareness of legislation, trends and technology related to program planning and implementation;
• Communicates with members regarding the programs and services of the Association;
• Must be prepared to respond to disasters both natural and manmade as a representative of the Association and serve as a liaison, for services of the Association, to member departments in aiding in coordinating response of statewide resources and association benefits;
• Implements the policies of the Association as determined by the Executive Director;
• Works with all committees of the Association in formulating and modifying policy and procedures, to include periodic planning sessions and workshops;
• Develops an annual operating budget for the Association and administers that budget, with the approval of the Executive Director. Provides periodic budget reports to the Executive, and other appropriate, committees, and serves as the signatory on all checks as required for the Association;
• Strictly monitors the activities of the State Firemen’s Insurance and Inspection (or 1%) Fund, including the collection and disbursement of funds, activities of the Supervisory Committee, audits of individual accounts, and administration of all 1% audits and activities;
• Assures that all records required of the Association, by state statute and by any related auditing organizations, are maintained and accurate;
• Oversees the management of all special events as approved by the Executive Director such as SC Fire-Rescue Conference, Legislative functions, Quarterly meetings, and other training sessions as appropriate; and
• All other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in public or business administration or a related field is preferred; and/or 10 years’ experience in leading a comparably sized organization; and/or a clearly demonstrable combination of training and/or experience in a comparable position.
• A demonstrable work-related history of budgeting, recordkeeping, and interpersonal skills that will lead to excellence in relationships with members, staff, and elected officials.
• A basic knowledge of the programs and services of the SCSFA is desirable.
• Provision of a clear background check will be expected upon interview
• Must obtain/have and maintain a valid SC driver’s license
• Must reside within an hour of the SCSFA office

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic business mathematics involving variables and formulas;
• Ability to develop new approaches or methodologies to solve problems not previously encountered by analyzing, synthesizing or evaluating data or information using unconventional or untried methods;
• Ability to negotiate, exchange ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policy and programs or arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions, or solutions;
• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner;
• Ability to perform work involving the application of broad principles of professional management and leadership to solve new problems for which conventional solutions do not exist;
• Ability to read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports and legal documents; speaking before professional and civic groups, participating in panel discussions and speak professionally on a variety of subjects; writing complex articles, documents and reports; developing presentations for sophisticated audiences;
• Ability to perform advanced professional-level work methods and practices in the analysis, coordination, or interpretation of work of a professional, fiscal, legal, managerial or scientific nature and the ability for formulate important recommendations or make technical decisions that have an organization-wide impact. Requires sustained, intense concentration for accurate results and continuous exposure to sustained, unusual pressure; and
• Ability to make decisions, affecting the organization, related organizations, and major segments of the general membership; works in an evolving environment with emerging knowledge and technologies, competing priorities, and changing politics. Responsible for strategic planning, long-range goals and methodologies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is considered sedentary, involves walking or standing some of the time, and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations. The work may infrequently require participation and attendance to field exercises of emergency services and response to major emergency incidents as directed by the Association management.  The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: balancing, mental acuity, and speaking.

WORKING CONDITIONS:    

Office work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and involves decision making that could lead to major organizational consequences.