Fire chief job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Fire chief in details. A complete job description concludes Fire chief key duties/responsibilities, Fire chief job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Fire chief duties:

1. On-scene incident commander during emergencies which occur on shift
2. Provides day-to-day supervision to Fire Inspectors
3. Changes work and work permits, pertaining to Fire Protection Systems
4. Partners with Shift Manager to ensure minimum staffing levels for emergency response, including firefighting, rescue team, and HazMat team
5. Reviews/approves rescue plans for confined space entry and working at height
6. Reviews/approves planned impairment of fire protection on shift (e.g., disabling fire hydrant)
7. Monitors and manages health of the fire water system
8. Creates/reviews/updates emergency response standard operating procedures, pre-plans
9. Leads efforts to determine/pinpoint sources of odor complaints; drive corrective actions
10. Plans/coordinates/directs on-shift training and drills for emergency response teams, operational teams, etc.

II. List of Fire chief qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent experience required
2. Firefighter I and Firefighter II Certifications by the IN State Firefighter Training Systems or equivalent (i.e. same type and level of certifications from an approved training institution example TEEX Leadership/Officer course)
3. Instructor I Certification by the IN State Firefighter Training Systems, or equivalent from an approved training institution
4. Strategy & Tactics certification by the IN State Firefighter Training Systems or equivalent (i.e. same type and level of certification from an approved training institution example TEEX Leadership/Officer course)
5. 5-years minimum of refinery/petrochemical experience
6. Emergency response leadership experience
7. Thorough knowledge in the application of applicable regulatory standards, such as OSHA/WISHA/NFPA

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.

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