Battalion Chief - Fire Marshal job in Mount Vernon

Battalion Chief – Fire Marshal

Description:

This position is responsible to plan, organize, and direct the activities of fire prevention, community education, fire cause investigations, and hazardous materials within the fire department. Responds to emergency incidents and fulfills the role of Incident Commander or other roles as assigned. Serves as the direct supervisor of the Fire Prevention Specialist, and other assigned personnel. Responsible for the routine and special performance evaluations of all assigned personnel. As a mid-level management position, it requires considerable independence and professional decision making, as well as self-discipline and self-motivation in carrying out the assignments.

This position requires frequent and routine contact with others within the Department, the public, and other agencies and requires good communications skills, the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, and teamwork.

This position is directly responsible to the fire chief and his/her authority extends down to the Company Officers, Firefighters and Fire Prevention Specialist.

Because this classification is directly involved with the activities of fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials incident response, and fire investigations, there is a high degree of exposure to physical hazards.

Essential Functions:

An employee in this classification performs the following duties, however, these examples do not include all the specific tasks in which an employee may be expected to perform.

1. Develops, implements, and manages a comprehensive fire prevention program that includes fire and life safety inspections of all commercial, industrial, institutional, multi-family, educational, and public assembly occupancies to insure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local fire and life safety laws and regulations.

2. Supervises, or conducts, fire cause investigations of fires under the jurisdiction of the City and its contract districts. Signs complaints and participates in arson investigations, testifies in court relating to fire investigations.

3. Develops and manages a comprehensive and effective community fire and life safety program; which includes public information, and public fire and life safety education.

4. Maintains SARA Title III and Community Right to Know requirements relating to hazardous materials. Working with the Fire Chief and other battalion chiefs, develops effective hazardous materials response plans.

5. Oversees the maintenance of all records necessary for the efficient and effective operation of fire and life safety inspections, fire prevention, hazardous materials management, and emergency planning programs. Works with City permitting for permit process.

6. Reviews building plans and fire protection inspection plans for compliance with fire and life safety regulations. As part of the City’s review committee, reviews subdivision/development plans in matters relating to the provision of fire protection services. Included in this are:
Fire and Life Safety features in new construction or remodels, fire alarm and protection systems, fireworks stands and displays, special events, processes that require Fire Department issued permits, zoning review, DNS review, SEPA review, master plan review, short plat review, long plat review, fill and grade review, new road review, PUD Waterline review, High Piled Storage Review, Hazardous Storage Review, LPG tank review, special event review, environmental site assessment review, pre-application review and meetings.

7. Makes recommendations concerning the updating of fire codes, community development codes, and building code regulations. Maintains and recommends updates to the Municipal Fire Code and ordinances.

8. Serves as the Fire Department liaison with the Washington State Fire Marshal, County Fire Marshal, Northwest Air Pollution Authority, Mount Vernon Police Department, and other investigative or regulatory agencies in matters relating to fire prevention, fire investigation.

9. Works with field Battalion Chiefs for the oversight of the daily activities of fire prevention and community education programs, including the fire company inspection program, and self-inspection program.

10. Performs inspections and plans reviews as needed. Inspections include but are not limited to:
New construction and tenant improvements, newly licensed businesses, hazardous facilities, public assemblies, health care and licensed care facilities, educational occupancies, storage tank decommissioning, retail fireworks stands and commercial displays, Tank Abandonment/Removal inspection with approval, monitor all fire protection systems for required inspections and confidence testing and the correction of identified deficiencies, maintain records relating to inspections and confidence testing of fire alarm and protection systems.

11. Initiates and signs complaints relating to fire code violations. Issues Infraction for fire code violations as needed. Testifies in court on matters relating to fire code violations.

12. Formulates, recommends, and manages the fire prevention budget.

13. Working with the Department Training Officer, develops and implements effective training relating to fire prevention inspections, code enforcement, plans review, community fire and life safety education, emergency planning, fire investigation, and hazardous materials response.

14. Assists in the development of Fire Department master plan, goals, objectives, and budget. Serves as an integral part of the Fire Department management team.

15. Develops and maintains effective working relationships with City staff, affiliated professionals, business owners, and the public. Participates, as a Fire Department representative, in local, county, regional, and state meetings and planning groups relating to fire prevention, community fire education, and fire investigation. Participates in department, city staff, planning commission, and other meetings as required.

16. Responds to emergency incidents as needed; may function as the incident commander or other ICS roles as required.

17. Conducts periodic performance evaluations of assigned personnel, makes effective recommendations for training needs. Enforces department rules and regulations and policies and procedures.

18. Performs other duties that may be required by the Fire Chief.

Equipment / Job Location:

Work is performed in an office, construction sites, fire ground, rescue, hazardous materials incident, and natural disaster environments. Duties and functions of this classification necessitate being outdoors in rugged terrain, adverse weather conditions, and within fire, or structurally, damaged buildings, and exposure to smoke, broken glass, and other debris.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Seven (7) years’ experience as a full-time paid structural firefighter in a municipal fire department, fire district, or federal military installation.
• Three (3) years’ experience as a Captain or a position of equivalent or higher authority.
• Associates Degree or 90 credit hours. An AA/AS degree in fire protection, fire prevention, or related degree is preferred.
• Must be IFSAC Fire Officer 2, or equivalent, certified.
• Must have International Code Conference Inspector 1 and Inspector 2 certifications or the ability to obtain within 120 calendar days of appointment.
• Must have International Code Conference Plan review certification or the ability to obtain within 12 months of appointment.
• Must have National Fire Academy plan review certifications in Fire Sprinkler Systems and Fire Alarm Systems or equivalent certification within 24 months of appointment.
• Must obtain IFSAC Fire Investigator certification with 16 months.

Knowledge and understanding of:
• Fire protection administration principles;
• Principles of general physics;
• Management and leadership skills;
• National Incident Management System in large scale incidents;
• Comprehensive fire prevention programs;
• Finance and budgeting procedures;
• Fire protection programs;
• Engineering principles of fire suppression and detection systems;
• Educational and performance standards of Washington, Instructor 1 certification is preferred.

Ability to:
• Apply fire protection administration principles;
• Apply management and leadership skills;
• Effectively function as the incident commander or other ICS management or liaison role in a large scale incident;
• Implement effective, comprehensive fire prevention program;
• Develop and management a fire prevention division budget;
• Develop and administer industrial fire protection programs;
• Review plans and inspect systems for compliance with adopted codes and standards;
• Principles and liabilities of public administration as they apply to fire protection;
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Understand and follow complex written and oral communication;
• Problem-solve, make quick decisions and use innovative methods and approaches to situations;
• Prepare and deliver platform speeches and perform other public speaking functions;
• Develop, implement, and present effective public relations programs for employees, community organizations, other agencies, and the general public;
• Operate numerous types of mid-sized vehicles, various kinds of gas powered equipment, common office equipment, computers, audio-visual aid equipment, and radios;
• Wear fire suppression protective equipment, fire investigative protective clothing, including respirator;
• Operate safety equipment utilized by firefighters and fire investigators;
• Operate fire investigative tools such as a camera and gas monitoring equipment;
• Apply the educational and performance standards of Washington, Instructor 1 certification is preferred.

To Apply:
Applications, with resumes, can be submitted on-line at www.mountvernonwa.gov/jobs. Applications must be received online no later than 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2020. If you have questions, please contact Human Resources Director Erin Keator at (360) 336-0638.
After the position has closed, letters will be emailed to all applicants with their status and Civil Service number. The letter will also contain the details of the testing process. All future correspondence will be electronic.

The City of Mount Vernon provides and enforces a drug free workplace and maintains a smoke free work environment. The City of Mount Vernon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.