Assistant Fire Chief

FLSA Status: Salaried - 40-hour work week or as otherwise directed by the Chief of Department

Position Overview

The Sycamore Township Fire Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Fire Chief.

The Assistant Fire Chief is a senior leadership position responsible for assisting the Fire Chief with the overall administration, operations, personnel management, and strategic direction of the Sycamore Township Fire Department. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, effective communication, and the ability to manage both emergency operations and the administrative responsibilities of a modern fire and EMS organization.

The Assistant Fire Chief may respond to emergency incidents, assume an appropriate role within the Incident Command System, evaluate departmental operations, and provide leadership and direction to department personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Fire Officer II
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible fire service experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory or command-level experience in a career or combination fire department.
• Completion of NIMS and ICs training appropriate for executive fire service leadership.
• Ohio Firefighter II Certification
• Ohio Paramedic Certification
• Ohio Fire Safety Inspector Certification
• Demonstrate proficiency in personnel leadership, budgeting, and incident command
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license

Preferred Qualifications

An associate degree or higher from an accredited institution in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Public Safety Management, Business Administration, or related field is highly preferred.

Completion of the Ohio Fire Executive Program or the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program is highly desired

Fire Officer III and IV

Primary Responsibilities

The Assistant Fire Chief will be responsible for, or directly supervise, a broad range of administrative and operational functions, including:

• Overseeing departmental operations involving fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, hazardous materials, fire prevention, and facilities/fleet maintenance
• Providing positive leadership, supervision, mentoring, and professional development for department personnel
• Assisting with hiring, promotional processes, employee training, discipline, and career development
• Promoting consistency, accountability, and effective communication between shifts
• Assisting with the development, implementation, interpretation, and enforcement of Department and Township policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and guidelines
• Maintaining knowledge and understanding of applicable Department policies and the collective bargaining agreement
• Assisting with personnel and labor-relations matters
• Coordinating departmental projects, programs, Areas of Responsibility, equipment inventories, and documentation
• Overseeing fire and EMS reporting, records, training documentation, and other administrative systems
• Assisting the Fire Chief with departmental strategic planning
• Developing, reviewing, and implementing service-delivery programs
• Maintaining professional relationships with neighboring fire departments, government agencies, and other community partners
• Serving as a liaison between the Department and Medical Director
• Responding to emergency incidents as necessary and functioning within the Incident Command System
• Evaluating emergency operations and recommending improvements to departmental responses and service delivery
• Serving as Acting Fire Chief when directed
• Serving in an on-call capacity for fires and other major emergencies when requested by the Fire Chief
• Performing special projects and other duties as assigned by the Fire Chief

The successful candidate should possess:

• Strong leadership and command presence
• Demonstrated fire, rescue, and EMS command experience
• The ability to make timely and effective decisions under emergency and managerial conditions
• Extensive knowledge of fire suppression, rescue, EMS, hazardous materials, training, and emergency incident operations
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An understanding of personnel management, employee relations, and human resource practices
• Strong organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills
• The ability to motivate, develop, and hold personnel accountable
• The ability to work cooperatively with Department personnel, Township administration, labor…