Battalion Chief - Administration & Support

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.

Position Summary:

The Battalion Chief - Administration & Support is a senior command officer responsible for leading Port Houston's fire training programs, fire prevention operations, and apparatus/equipment maintenance functions. This role ensures firefighter readiness, regulatory compliance, and emergency response capabilities meet the unique risks of a maritime/industrial port environment. Manages day-to-day administrative operations of the Port Houston Fire Department Fire Inspectors, Training Officers, and Fireboat Technicians, and other duties as assigned by the Fire Chief.

Ensures adequate preventative measures are being taken to minimize threat of harm to Port Houston, its users, tenants and visitors by supervising department training, inspections, and maintenance

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

Training & Workforce Readiness

• Develop and administers the annual Fire & Emergency Services training plan.
• Oversees drills, certifications, and skills assessments.
• Ensures compliance with NFPA, OSHA, USCG, and state requirements.
• Coordinates joint training with mutual-aid partners.
• Tracks training records and readiness metrics

Fire Prevention & Risk Reduction

• Supervises fire inspectors and supports Fire Marshal activities.
• Enforces fire codes, life-safety standards, and hazardous-material rules.
• Conducts high-hazard inspections.
• Oversees pre-incident planning and risk surveys.
• Reviews construction plans and tenant operations for compliance.

Apparatus, Equipment & Facility Maintenance

• Oversees maintenance and readiness of apparatus, marine vessels, SCBA, PPE, and communications.
• Manages maintenance schedules and documentation.
• Ensures readiness of fire stations and facilities.
• Coordinates procurement and asset lifecycle planning.

Leadership, Command & Administration

• Serves as Incident Commander or Operations Section Chief.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management.
• Supports hurricane and disaster readiness planning.
• Helps develop budgets, capital needs, and staffing plans.
• Answer emergency response calls for Houston Ship Channel and tributaries within Harris County which include marine firefighting and rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, structural firefighting, vehicle extrication, emergency medical treatment, and confined space rescue for large scale incidents requiring an expanded incident command system.
• May respond to emergency calls for technical rescue/medical assistance.
• Manage day-to-day operations of Port Houston Fire Department Fire Inspectors, Training Officers, and Fireboat Technicians.
• Implement strategic direction of the Fire Inspectors, Training Officers, and Fireboat Technicians, including providing proper leadership to ensure success of the department.
• Plan, organize, direct, and review operation, personnel, and activities of fire training, prevention, inspection, and fireboat maintenance.
• Review Training Officers, Fire Inspectors, and Fireboat Technician performance and effectiveness; formulates corrective actions to alleviate deficiencies
• Work as a part of a team with the other Battalion Chiefs and the Fire Chief in the recruitment, employment, and evaluation of personnel within the department
• Ensure all apparatus annual testing, (hose, pump and ladders) meet state requirements are completed on time, fireboats are taken to shipyard for annual inspections, maintenance and/or repair.
• Strategically direct the training and prevention personnel in any logistical matters that involve the acquisition of equipment and materials needed for accomplishing the fire department mission.
• Conduct or may delegate station joint inspections with Houston Fire department, United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Customs and Border Protection and other organizations as deemed necessary, to ensure all areas of the Port of Houston under their authority are maintained and operated within the limits of the authority of
  the Fire Department, in a safe and orderly manner.
• Understand and interpret policy, rules, regulations, guidelines, and the accurate dissemination of information, and any other communications of a departmental nature; attend Port Houston Operations and Safety meetings, CIMA meetings, Strategic Planning Meeting, Monthly Staff Meetings, Review of departmental SOG's, Written Directives, New Hire/Promotion meetings,
  Pre-Bid, CSP committees, outside fire departments, EMS coordination, vendors, LEPC
• Ensure…