4.5. SR 04-07-2014 City of
Elk Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.5
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent Aril 7, 2014 T.John Cunningham,Fire Chief
Item Description Reviewed by
Deputy Chief Position Description Lauren Wipper, Human Resource Representative
Reviewed by
Calvin Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve,by motion,the position description for the Deputy Chief of Operations.
Background/Discussion
Included in the 2014 budget is the creation of a supervisory position within the Fire Department to
oversee day-to-day emergency response operations and to serve as a deputy emergency management
director. The deputy chief of operations, as well as the creation of a new organizational structure within
the Fire Department,was recommended as part of the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan. The new organizational
structure is designed to enhance organizational efficiency, span-of-control, and to provide better
leadership/accountability throughout the department.
The attached position description was benchmarked against other similar management/command level
Fire Department positions,including what would be considered a "reasonable" residency requirement
based on response time,which is allowed by Minnesota statute. With the implementation of the duty
officer program,which is in place on nights and weekends, a ranking Fire Department on-call officer
responds directly to the scene upon a call being dispatched. As such,it is reasonable to expect that senior
exempt command staff positions would respond to significant events after-hours,which was the basis for
the response time requirement.
Pending Council approval, the position will be posted at a later date with the intent on a July 1 start date.
Financial Impact
This position is included in the 2014 budget,with a start date of July 1. It has been classified in pay grade
13.
Attachments
■ Position Description
P a w E A E U s r
NaA f RE]
City of Elk River
ity of C1 ,, Deputy Chief of Operations
River Position Description
Department: Immediate Supervisor:
Fire Fire Chief
Pay Grade: FLSA Status: Last Updated: (date)
13 Exempt 3/2014
Positions Supervised:
Fire Captain,Fire Lieutenant,Firefighter
Position Summary
The Deputy Chief of Operations performs a variety of supervisory,technical, and administrative
work in the supervision and administration of the fire department's Operations Division,including
overseeing and directing the operational firefighting force,and assisting in developing and
recommending departmental policy and planning activities. Provides command and/or
coordination of activities on emergency scenes as well as in the multi-station workplace
environment. Serves as a deputy director of emergency management.
Essential Functions
1. Performs fire suppression and emergency response activities.
A. Formulates response strategies in accordance with predetermined standards;
determines the nature of the incident and facilitates the plan of action; assigns staff
to specific tasks.
B. Fills incident management roles as necessary, as assigned, and/or as
required/outlined by department policies or procedures at fire,medical,hazardous
materials, technical rescue and/or large scale emergencies until relieved by a higher
command authority.
C. Performs structure and wild land fire suppression,ventilation,rescue, salvage,
overhaul, extrication, emergency medical support,hazardous materials response and
other emergency response functions.
D. Responds to hazardous material emergencies;identifies potential hazardous materials
situation; determines strategy for dealing with incident; follows evacuation
procedures,including the proper handling of contaminated patients; supports
mitigation and decontamination activities.
E. Performs rescue efforts and determines tactics to use while ensuring the safety of all
rescue personnel and observers;participates in search operations and enters
hazardous environments; administers appropriate techniques to accomplish rescue.
F. Manages, directs,leads, supervises and coordinates special programs, teams and
functions assigned under the operations division.
G. Assures the investigation of all fires as outlined by department policy and state
statute.
H. Maintains department in a continual state of readiness in order to effectively deal
with emergencies.
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2. Performs various supervisory and administrative duties.
A. Supervises employees through the chain of command; supervisory duties include
instructing, assigning, reviewing, and planning work of others;maintaining standards;
coordinating activities; allocating personnel;assists in the selection of new employees
and recommending employees for promotion;acting on employee problems;
recommending and/or carrying out employee discipline.
B. Reviews the work of employees for completeness and accuracy; evaluates and makes
recommendations as appropriate; offers advice and assistance as needed.
C. Conducts internal investigations and handles complaints of members of the public.
Maintains appropriate liaison relationship with human resources and other pertinent
departments and reports results to the Fire Chief.
D. Receives and reviews a variety of reports and documents,which may include incident
reports,personnel action forms, attendance records,maintenance reports, accident
and injury reports, training reports, expenditure reports,performance evaluations,
etc.
E. Prepares and/or processes a variety of documents,including incident reports,
schedules, directives,work orders,purchase orders,requisitions,performance
evaluations, budget documents,personnel action forms, statistical reports,
maintenance reports,inventory records, and various other records,reports,memos,
and correspondence.
F. Provides staff assistance to the Fire Chief;prepares and presents a variety of reports
and makes presentations verbally and in writing concerning activities of the
operations division to the City Council,public commissions, other governmental
agencies, or community groups.
G. Prepares the operations division's budget and makes recommendations for capital
improvement projects and purchases.
H. Researches and identifies new government, corporate, foundation, and private grant
opportunities;writes and manages grants.
3. Assists with strategic planning.
A. Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service
delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors work load, administrative
and support systems,and internal reporting relationships;identifies opportunities for
improvement and reviews with the Fire Chief; directs the implementation of
improvements, activities and programs within the operations division.
B. Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives and
initiatives for the department.
C. Participates in the department's short and long range planning processes.
4. Manages department's operational policies and procedures.
A. Assists in drafting and implementing policy and emergency response guidelines for
the operations division.
B. Monitors, evaluates, and makes recommendations on existing policies,guidelines and
programs;monitors performance of employees to ensure compliance with applicable
city and department policies,procedures and guidelines.
5. Assists with emergency management duties.
A. Serves as a deputy director of emergency management.
B. Assists with maintaining the city's Emergency Operations Plan.
C. Assists with maintaining the city's Emergency Resource Manual.
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D. Assists with the maintenance and monitoring of the city's emergency notification
systems.
E. Develops and cultivates relationships with other emergency response entities,private
sector partners and community leaders.
6. Manages department's technology needs.
A. Supervises the upkeep and maintenance of the department's records management
system.
B. Continuously evaluates the department's technology and computer needs,including
integrating with other systems and the sharing of information between other entities;
makes recommendations to the Fire Chief on future technology purchases.
7. Assists with fire prevention, education and code enforcement.
A. Works closely with the division of fire and building safety on identifying potential
hazards within the city.
B. Working with the Division of Fire&Building Safety and other public safety
partners, ensures that occupancy,pre-plan, contact and other information is current
and updated in the department's records management system.
8. Performs communications activities.
A. In the absence of, or directed by,the Fire Chief, serves as the department's public
information officer (PIO).
B. Represents the department and/or the Fire Chief at various meetings of boards,
community groups or public gatherings.
9. Performs other essential job duties.
A. Performs other duties as assigned.
B. Regular and timely work attendance.
C. Follows all safety procedures.
D. Follows all city and department policies,procedures and guidelines.
E. Participates in required training and maintains appropriate licenses.
F. Perform other related and assigned duties as required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
❑ Knowledge of the principles of municipal fire service administration including suppression,
rescue, and emergency management.
❑ Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration as applied to a
combination fire department,which consists of on-call and full-time firefighters.
❑ Knowledge of fire and rescue apparatus and equipment including the development of
specifications, maintenance policies and operational procedures.
❑ Knowledge of public education principles, methods,instructional techniques, and practices.
❑ Skilled in commanding emergency incidents, directing overall tactics and strategy including
fire suppression,rescue,hazardous materials and other related emergency incidents.
❑ Skill in written and oral communication, conflict resolution and group presentation.
❑ Skilled in organization and planning.
❑ Skilled in word processing, database management, spreadsheet applications,presentation
software, and general computer operation.
❑ Ability to make difficult decisions involving the safety of others and the protection of
property.
❑ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees,
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associates, officers, officials and the public.
❑ Ability to speak in front of large and small groups of all ages, both genders, and diverse
socio-economic backgrounds.
❑ Ability to prepare and implement budgets.
❑ Ability to prepare technical reports and present reports to the Fire Chief, city staff and/or
City Council.
❑ Ability to work independently and work a flexible schedule including evenings and
weekends.
Minimum Qualifications
❑ Graduation from a college or university with an associate's degree in fire science,public
administration,public safety or a closely related field.
❑ Seven years training and experience with a fire department, five years of which must have
been equivalent to fire captain or higher.
❑ Licensed by the State as a firefighter, or ability to obtain license at the time of appointment.
❑ Minnesota State certified NFPA 1001 Firefighter II,NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials
Operations,NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor I and NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I.
❑ Minnesota State certified NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor II and NFPA 1021 Fire Officer II
within two years of appointment.
❑ Minnesota State certified First Responder,Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) preferred.
❑ Completed the National Fire Academy's Incident Safety Officer program.
❑ Completed the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses: IS 100, IS
200, IS 700 and IS 800.
❑ Complete,within two years of appointment,IS 300 and IS 400.
❑ Must live within a 25 minute drive of any Elk River fire station within six months of
appointment.
❑ Valid Minnesota driver's license and good driving record.
Preferred Qualifications
❑ Graduation from a college or university with a bachelor's degree in fire science,public
administration,public safety or a closely related field.
❑ Certified emergency manager.
This Position Description is not intended to be all-inclusive. It is within the City of Elk River's discretion
to assign additional duties and responsibilities or remove duties and responsibilities at any time.
This Position Description does not constitute a Contract of Employment.
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