Deputy Fire Chief

JOB DESCRIPTION

General

Reporting to the Fire Chief, Protective Services, the Deputy Fire Chief is accountable for assisting in the effective planning, development, coordination, implementation, and delivery of fire and emergency response and management programs and services for the Town of Edson. The ideal candidate has knowledge in inspections and fire prevention programming, supplemented by a strong tactical firefighting background. The candidate will need to be a motivated self starter, who can react calmy and manage incidents of varying scale and complexity.

Primary Responsibilities and Authority

The position is focused on the following core scopes of work, supplemented by other common operational scopes.

• Acting Fire Chief, in the absence of the Fire Chief.
• Deputy Director of Emergency Management. Responsibility for emergency coordination internally and externally, training internal (ToE) staff, establishing and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders, and maintaining the municipal emergency management plan. This position would be expected to alternate or fill as required in the role of ECC Director, Incident Commander, and other positions in the ICS organizational chart.
• FireSmart Coordination. This role would oversee community wide wildfire mitigation efforts through vegetation management. This includes maintaining the community wildfire mitigation strategic plan, applying for grants through FRIAA and like organizations, and supervising temporary summer employees performing vegetation management work.
• Public Education. This role would coordinate and conduct public education initiatives such as school tours, seniors home visits, fire prevention week open house activities, and similar outward-facing initiatives.
• Inspections and Investigations. This position is responsible for conducting basic fire inspections and occupancy permit within the scope of SCO-Fire Group B. This position is also responsible for conducting basic fire investigations within the scope of SCO-Fire Group A.

Operations

• Respond to emergency incidents and function as incident command, group or division supervisor, and functional leader at emergency incidents for all hazards.
• Drive/operate and use heavy apparatus as needs are dictated by POC response.
• Serve as information officer/point of contact for media inquiries during incidents.
• Provide fire service instruction for NFPA certified/accredited, and non-NFPA certified/accredited training, within scope of own knowledge and specialty.
• Perform the role and responsibilities of 24hr duty officer, on a rotational basis.
• Fulfill the duties of Fire Chief for the municipality, in their absence.
• Assist the Fire Chief in developing strategic short and long-term plans for the provision of fire and emergency management programs and services within the framework of the Town’s Strategic Priorities and departmental business plans.
• Develop and coordinate training programs for paid-on-call firefighters ensuring high levels of competencies in the delivery of fire services.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute fire prevention and emergency management and awareness
• Assisting in preparing, coordinating, and managing the Fire Services’ operating and capital budgets, within approved spending limits.
• Conduct fire prevention inspections and fire investigations in accordance with the Quality Management Plan.
• Assist with the development of tender documents for the Fire Service’s operational and capital needs, including specifications, proposal requests, contract awards, and contract provisions.
• Evening and weekend work as required for emergency responses and Fire Department skill maintenance training programs.
• Develop and maintain building fire pre-plan inventories.
• Work in accordance with the Town of Edson Fire Services
• Work in collaboration with Mutual Aid
• Provide support to the Fire Chief, Protective Services, on matters pertaining to Departmental services including but not limited to Fire Services, Emergency Management, Fire Inspections, and Public Education.
• Work in collaboration with other departments as required, to ensure all departments’ needs are met and policies followed, and to ensure a coordinated approach when carrying out cooperative

Human Resources, Team Management, and Leadership

• Create a team environment that inspires hard work, dedication, and collaboration, resulting in a Fire Department with a high level of morale.
• Be responsible for maintaining a working environment that includes integrity, trust, and
• Provide clear expectations, coaching, evaluation, and feedback to a team of paid on-call firefighters building on strengths and including performance management and disciplinary actions when
• Train, mentor, coach, and encourage paid-on-call firefighters to help engage, motivate, and improve overall performance.
• Delegate sufficient authority to subordinates for them to carry out assigned
• Revise plans as necessary to cover revision of work schedules, shutdowns, irregular or special work assignments, rush periods, etc.
• Recommend to the Fire Chief, the organizational structure and staffing of the Fire Department functions.

Health & Safety

• Comply with all Town policies, work procedures, rules, safety instructions, and relevant directives in the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code.
• Participate in workplace safety initiatives.
• Conduct/participate in formal and informal worksite safety inspections and audits.
• Report all incidents, including near misses, to appropriate personnel.

Budgetary Authority & Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing annual operating and capital budgets that work towards the municipality’s strategic priorities for review by the Manager.
• Regular comparisons of expenditures against the budget and the progress of the strategic priorities.
• Approve payment of invoices as authorized by policy.
• Remain apprised of and account for additional funding such as grants, donations, and profits from the sale of Town services.

Policy Development/Administration

• Assist in establishing and maintaining suitable departmental procedures and policies, for areas under their control.
• Review existing and develop new programs and levels of service.
• Remain abreast of legislative and related changes affecting fire services and emergency management and industry best practices.
• Prepare reports and documents for the Fire Chief, Protective Services with respect to policies, programs, budget, and various other areas of the Fire Department as required.
• Attending Council or Committee meetings when required as well as representing the Town at external functions as directed by the Fire Chief.
• Coordinate with other managers/supervisors and departments when planning and decision-making interact with areas outside the Protective Services Department.
• Assume roles in the Town’s Emergency Management System in response to local and regional emergencies as may be required.
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Fire Chief, Protective Services.

Public Relations

• Establish and maintain positive, constructive relations with the public.
• Respond to the public’s concerns and complaints in a timely and tactful manner, and in accordance with Town policies and bylaws.

Qualifications

Core Competencies

• Sound and well-informed judgment, including managing emotions, under a variety of challenging
• Experience conducting fire inspections in a variety of occupancies.
• Manage incidents or emergencies decisively and effectively, with prompt communication with the Fire Chief, Protective Services, as necessary.
• Ability to execute strategy, and develop and implement new programs, procedures, services, and policies that address emerging needs, expectations, and operational priorities.
• Must possess the physical and mental ability to work in varied emergent
• Make quick assessments and give advice under public scrutiny, often without the opportunity for a considered review of an issue.
• High level of customer service to both internal and external
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral, and presentation) to deal effectively with a diverse range of audiences
• This position is both administrative and operational and is subject to an annual physical fitness assessment.

Working Conditions

• Requires availability for on-call emergency response standby.
• Requires operation of specialized emergency response equipment.
• Will experience exposure to hazardous environments and situations consistent with the provision of emergency response service.