Fire Division Chief - Fuels

Description

The City of South Lake Tahoe is recruiting for a Division Chief. This is a limited term, grant-funded, position through October 31, 2027.

Recruitment Process:

Applications Accepted: April 8 - May 9, 2024

Interview Panel: Mid-May

Department Interview: Mid to Late May

Under general direction of the Fire Chief, the Division Chief helps to coordinate, plan and supervise wildfire suppression, fuels management, prescribed fire activities, and training/education for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department. The Division Chief assists in the coordination and presentation of fuels management education programs for the public and performs related duties as required.

Identifying characteristics

The Fuels Division will also coordinate training and fire education to the public and any employees directly assigned to projects. There may also be a minor training component to the rest of the fire department when necessary. The fuels division is responsible for fuels management operational planning, organizing, and implementation: including thinning, slash and wood management, prescribed burning, forest stewardship plans, public speaking, and community education.

The training division is responsible for coordinating fire education and training programs assuring compliance with Fire Service Qualifications, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG), California Incident Command Certification System (CICCS) guidelines, in addition to numerous other state and federal regulatory agencies. This position is also responsible for recording and tracking training qualifications.

Examples of Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

FUELS

• Ensures all field-related efforts are implemented with attention to accuracy and safety, and that Hazard Mitigation activities adhere to established Best Management Practices.

• Coordinates financial aspects of the Department including preparation of grant requests, monitoring and reporting use of grant funds and preparing required reports to grantors, participates in the annual budgeting process for the Department, monitors the Department's financial performance on a monthly basis.

• Reviews contractor or consultant fieldwork for acceptance or revision.

• Monitors the maintenance of daily operations log by the field supervisors.

TRAINING

• Develops and administers educational/training programs to instruct Department personnel.

• Documents training to assure proficiency and regulatory compliance; submits monthly and quarterly training reports.

• Record and maintain files on all Department personnel dealing with education and training.

• Plans and delivers continuing education for all levels of personnel in accordance with National, State, and other professional requirements.

• Prepares budget for fire training; provides accurate estimates; monitors expenditures; applies cost saving techniques.

• Develops long range goals and methodologies for training/evaluation.

OVERALL

• Ensures that all requirements of the CTC grant funding this position are adhered to including but not limited to time keeping, record management, progress reports and personnel management. Will also confirm that all contracts are reviewed and approved.

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.

• Maintains work-area and equipment in a neat and working order, reflecting the professional nature of the effort and the City.

• Keeps Fire Chief apprised of project status, challenges, and opportunities.

• Develops, communicates, and enforces Department and City policies and procedures, and standard operating procedures.

• Attends meetings representing the programs and undertakes special projects as directed by the Fire Chief and/the City.

• Maintains accountability for safekeeping and maintenance of equipment and supplies.

• May need to interact with line personnel and Officers to aid in the coordination of efforts between the Fuels, Training, and Operations Divisions.

• Prepares and presents oral and written reports to both internal and external groups.

• Recommends policies and procedures, personnel actions, and other needed actions.

• As directed, responds to emergencies as part of a team or single resource.

• Develops and maintains effective relationships with personnel in partner agencies.

• Represents the City at various events, work with diverse partnerships, and be involved with various collaborative efforts.

• Participates in recommending the appointment of personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures; recommends employee terminations within the Fuels Division. Assigns, directs, and evaluates the work of subordinate personnel; monitors effective use of assigned personnel and recommends modification of staffing patterns based on consideration of mandated services, workload demand and good organizational planning; performs performance evaluations of supervised personnel.

• Investigates accidents and complaints and ensures adherence to department and city policies and procedures as well as performance standards.

• Provides liaison with other agencies as necessary; prepares presentation and speaks before City management, civic, business, and educational groups; acts as contact for media and the public as needed.

• Sets example to department personnel regarding safety, efficiency, morale, ethics, and discipline.

• Performs other duties as assigned including, but not limited to, special assignments, duties, and functions as determined by the Fire Chief or other staff within Fire Administration

Typical Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Forestry and fuels management, especially the principles, practices, and methods used in site evaluation and hazard reduction efforts.

• Fuels Management and Training programs.

• Fire Protection principles, especially as it relates to wildland fires in the urban interface.

• Wildland firefighting techniques, the wildland urban interface, aircraft and heavy equipment usage, sawyer operations, ignition techniques, safety considerations, and personnel supervision.

• The Incident Command System.

• IQS (Incident Qualification System) database and training record keeping.

• CICCS (California Incident Command Certification System).

• South Lake Tahoe Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

• Cooperative Agreements for fire response and project management.

• Federal, State and Local qualification requirements and/or guidelines.

• Computer operations and some current software packages (ex: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SASEM, Behave, IQS, etc).

ABILITY TO:

• Assume effective command at fire and emergency scenes; suppress fires and respond to emergency situations only when requested or directed by Operations and/or Fire Chief.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fire department and city staff, subordinates, other employees, the public, and outside agencies.

• Maintain a high degree of organization, coordination, and attention to detail when implementing fuel management and training sessions.

• Facilitate meetings and motivate people.

• Conduct and assist with planning of informative and effective educational and training programs, of which meet short-term and long-term goals of the City.

• Conduct public presentations and represent the department in a professional and customer service orientated manner when dealing with community groups, other agencies, officials, the media, and the general public.

• Establish the need for forest treatments and prepare Forest Stewardship plans.

• Make sound decisions and resolve conflicts.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

• An associate degree is required. A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university is highly desirable. Candidates will be expected to continue their advanced education.

Experience:

• Eight years of experience in fire service with five or more years of experience in forestry, fuels management, fire suppression, training/education or a related field.

• First-hand knowledge of, and experience with, forest health and wildland fire Strategic Planning, Land Use Planning, Public Preparedness, and Hazard Mitigation issues, processes, standards, and proven solutions.

• Experience developing and/or managing all elements of a robust training and educational program.

• Supervisory and/or Managerial experience is desired.

Licenses or Certificates:

• Possession of a California Class C FF Exempt or Class A or Class B Commercial driver's license, or equivalent.

• Possession of a Fire Officer Certificate.

• Possession of an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate or ability to obtain within one year of employment.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain a California Chief Officer Certificate.

• Possession of Executive Fire Officer Certification from the National Fire Academy or equivalent is desirable.

• Possession of a Federal, State, or equivalent instructor certification.

• Qualified, per National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG): Division/Group Supervisor or RXB2 (Prescribed Fire Burn Boss 2) is desired.

Supplemental Information

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Reactive emergency, natural or man-made disaster, and peace keeping environments with travel from site to site; the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions; occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation, and vibration; exposed to potentially hostile and life threatening environments; extensive public contact; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, the noise level is occasionally very loud due to sirens, firearm training, etc.; incumbents required to work various shifts, including evenings and weekends, and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; walk, stand, or sit for prolonged periods of time; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; occasionally climb and balance; regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights; frequently lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights; occasionally lift and/or move heavy weights; operate office equipment including use of computer keyboard; requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers; ability to speak and hear to exchange information; ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations; ability to operate and use specialized vehicles and equipment.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

FLSA Designation: Non-Exempt

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

The City of South Lake Tahoe is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All full-time, permanent City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.