Assistant Fire Chief –Training

At the City of Plymouth, we all work together to add quality to life. This mission and our guiding values – CIVIC: customer focus, integrity, visionary, inclusion and connection – shape our work as we advance the City Council’s strategic priority to be a city of choice. We are seeking candidates who are eager to adopt and champion our mission and values.

The Assistant Fire Chief –Training position will plan, direct, manage and oversee training, professional development and quality improvement (QI) activities of the fire department to ensure staff are competent to execute responsibilities. Respond to calls for service and provide guidance and support as needed.

Lead, supervise and develop staff in a manner that inspires professionalism, strong inter- and intradepartmental communication, team building and alignment with city values.

• Foster a respectful workplace and champion a culture of belonging and inclusion.
• Provide effective management of day-to-day operations providing supervision, delegation, coaching and training.
• Ensure high performance and service standards are met, set division goals, provide motivation, recognition or course correction as needed.
• Work closely with department director to set strategy and provide leadership to advance city and department goals and objectives.
• Participate in professional organizations and implement best practices where appropriate.

Perform senior administrative, supervisory and leadership functions.

• Provide planning, project management, and administrative support to the fire chief. Assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan and the development of supporting operational objectives.
• Demonstrate, by example, the highest standard of conduct, performance, integrity, ethics, and public service.
• Participate in ongoing development and review of emergency procedures and Standard Operating Guidelines, ensuring effective and consistent implementation.
• Oversee department leadership in initiatives and events such as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), chaplain program, Public Safety Citizens Academy and others as assigned.
• Oversee tracking hours, generating reports and submission for grant and reimbursement programs.

Manage department-wide training and professional development.

• Develop and implement training programs covering areas such as fire suppression, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials, special operations, employee physical/mental health, safe work practices and officer/leadership development.
• Develop teaching outlines and lesson plans; determine content and duration of training programs and academies, some of which lead to certification and/or licensure of employees.
• Coordinate, oversee and direct the department’s recruitment, hiring, on-boarding and initial training/recruit program; develop and implement candidate evaluation and testing programs.
• Develop, maintain and supervise a pool of qualified instructors to assist with training programs.
• Plan, coordinate and safely execute live fire training programs.
• Oversee maintenance of local, state and federal licensing/certifications for the department.
• Oversee the maintenance of all training records.
• Manage department training facilities and ensure regulatory compliance and safety.
• Supervise staff in their performance of department and shift training.
• Coordinate training and mentoring of probationary firefighters and cadets.
• Liaison with regional recruit training academy Instruct at department training as needed.

Oversee quality improvement initiatives

• Plan, design, implement and maintain a continuous improvement (CI) and quality improvement (QI) program including utilization management and risk management.
• Educate staff about CI/QI initiatives, systems, and requirements, identify and problem solve issues.
• Create and disseminate after action reviews of serious or complex emergency calls. Responsible for submission and oversight of accident and injury reports.
• Serve as the department’s designated health and safety officer.
• Actively participate in wellness initiatives and represent the fire department on wellness committees.
• Responsible for the effective administration of annual medical evaluations.
• Assist with creation of grants to further improve the health and wellness of department members.
• Responsible for fitness center orientation and coordination of fitness equipment maintenance.

Participate as part of the city emergency management team and coordinate with the emergency management director to perform any of the following emergency management activities.

• Develop and maintain the city’s emergency operation plan, hazardous mitigation plan and others.
• Maintain and update emergency response plans and coordinate interdepartmental activities.
• Manage and maintain city owned emergency sirens in coordination with county partners.
• Participate in the emergency operations center during actual emergencies or disasters.

Perform emergency response and incident management activities.

• Fill incident management roles as necessary and provide senior-level incident support leadership.
• Perform, as necessary, fire suppression, ventilation, rescue, salvage, overhaul, extrication, emergency medical care, hazardous materials response and other emergency response functions.
• Respond to emergency call backs when off-duty.

Perform budgetary and financial management activities.

• Prepare the annual budget for the division and monitor expenditures.
• Provide management and execution oversight for all contracts awarded/retained.

Perform other essential job duties as assigned.Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration/management, public safety, higher education or related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Four (4) years progressive and related fire service experience, with training responsibilities.
• Emergency Medical Technician Certification
• Blue Card Certification, or ability to obtain immediately upon employment
• I.F.S.A.C or ProBoard Accredited (NFPA 1021) Officer I Certification
• I.F.S.A.C or ProBoard Accredited (NFPA 1041) Instructor I Certification
• I.F.S.A.C or ProBoard Accredited (NFPA 1041) Instructor II Certification, or ability to obtain within six months of employment
• NFPA 1041 Live Fire Instructor in Charge Certification, or ability to obtain within six months of employment
• IS-300 and IS-400 certification, or ability to obtain within one year of employment MN Emergency Manager Certification, or ability to obtain within two years of employment
• Blue Card Instructor Certification, or ability to obtain within two years of employment
• Valid Minnesota driver’s license with a good driving record
• Ability to perform all essential functions and requirements of a Plymouth Career Firefighter.
• Ability to be licensed by the State of Minnesota as a firefighter.
• Demonstrated ability to perform in accordance with the City of Plymouth’s CIVIC values (customer focus, integrity, visionary, inclusion and connection) and comfort with supporting and advancing the city council’s strategic priorities.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to use various software applications to enhance the work of the department.
• Ability to work a varied schedule to accommodate administrative and operational needs.
• Ability to respond to significant emergency events as required when off duty.
• Ability to maintain the physical and mental ability to perform the duties of a firefighter.

Desired Qualifications

• Additional related education or experience in a similarly sized organization

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Personal Protective Equipment

• Must be able to use an SCBA, which includes a demand valve-type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter mask, which requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads.
• While wearing protective ensembles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), a firefighter must be able to perform a variety of tasks including but not limited to:
  1. extensive crawling, lifting, carrying heavy objects, rescue operations, hose line operations, climbing and dismounting ladders.
  2. emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot or cold environments or in extreme weather for prolonged time periods. In emergency situations, work may involve considerable personal danger.
     
     

Vision, Hearing and Smell - Must meet DOT standard, which includes:

• 20/40 vision with or without corrective lenses
• Ability to distinguish red, green and amber
• Ability to hear a forced whisper at a minimum distance of five feet
• Must be able to identify the presence of smoke or chemicals by smell in accordance with NFPA 1582.9.5 and/or OSHA standards.
  
  

Lifting and Carrying - Must be able to perform the following while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA.

• Ground to Waist Level – 125 lbs.
• Waist to Shoulder Level – 50 lbs.
• Above Shoulders – 35 lbs.
  
  

Walking and/or Mobility - Must be able to perform the following while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA.

• Must be able to walk (forward, backwards, and laterally) and crawl while carrying or lifting.
• Must be able to ascend and descend stairs and ladders while carrying heavy loads.
• Must be able to balance and possess the ability to steady oneself and keep from falling when walking, standing, crouching, crawling on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.
• Must be able to work in confined spaces.
  
  

Must be capable of:

• Reaching (extending hands or arms in any direction).
• Handling (seizing, holding grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hands while carrying items of substantial weight (i.e., fans, rescue equipment, foam containers, ladders, and using axes, sledgehammers, hydrant wrenches, pulling ladder halyards or using rope to lift heavy items, dragging victims and hose lines).
• Fingering (picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers while manipulating items such as SCBA valves, apparatus controls, small monitoring equipment, alarm panel controls. Must be able to use rope and tie knots).
• Feeling (must be able to discriminate differences in items by feeling. Must be able to determine the difference between hot and cold by touch. Must be able to feel a patient’s pulse.)
  
  

Work Environment

• Work both indoors and outdoors.
• Work in extreme cold and/or extreme variations in temperature, where the temperature is sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort.
• Work in extreme heat and/or extreme variations in temperature, where the temperature is sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.
• Encounter wet conditions and high humidity where atmospheric conditions have a moisture content sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.
• Encounter noise and/or vibration exceeding 80 decibels, constant or intermittent, to cause marked distraction.
• Encounter a variety of physical hazards, including but not limited to, moving mechanical parts, electrical shock, working on high places, bodies of water, exposure to radiant energy, explosives, toxic chemicals, and biological agents.