TOWN OF WILTON Position Description Date: April 6, 2015 Revision Date: September 4, 2015 Revision Date: February 14, 2019 POSITION TITLE: UNION: DEPARTMENT: REPORTS TO: SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Chief of Fire Department None Fire Fire Commission and First Selectman All Uniformed Personnel, including the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, and Inspector, Apparatus Supervisor, and Administrative Secretary SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: This position performs highly responsible administrative, managerial, and technical work involving direction and leadership of the Town's Fire Department. Directs fire suppression, rescue, and emergency operations; oversees maintenance of equipment and apparatus, and coordination of operations of paid and volunteer fire personnel. Duties include policy formulation and recommendation, departmental planning, budget development and management, and personnel management, ensuring compliance with all applicable fire and life safety codes. JOB LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT USED: Work is performed both in the office and in the field. Field work often requires inspections of and work at sites accessible only by traversing rough terrain on foot. The position requires use and operation of a motor vehicle, fire apparatus and related equipment, all terrain vehicle, medical equipment, rescue tools, power tools, ladders, pumps, various size fire hose, self contained breathing apparatus, communications equipment, safety equipment, and standard office equipment, including desk-top and portable computers, copier, and various mobile communication devices. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Responsible for administration and leadership of Fire Department (consisting of operations, code enforcement, and administration divisions) and reports to Fire Commission on same;
Reports to the First Selectman, Town of Wilton and is a member of the Town s Operating Committee; Develops fire services policies and strategic plans, recommends policy to the Fire Commission, and implements approved Fire Department policy, including rescue and fire suppression, life safety policies, and emergency medical services; Plans for the implementation of efficient emergency and fire services; Plans for short and long term personnel and material resources and scheduling requirements to meet objectives; Directs the operations of the Department through and oversees the Deputy Chief and other staff; Administers the operations of the volunteers, including recruitment, with the assistance of supervisory personnel; Administers, oversees, and evaluates the effectiveness of such functions as: personnel management, budget expenditures, maintenance and repair of equipment, apparatus, two fire stations, maintenance of public and departmental records, and formulates policies and programs to alleviate any deficiencies; Maintains safety standards in accordance with applicable OSHA regulations; Through the Deputy Chief, directs staff professional development and in-service training of all Department paid and volunteer personnel; Conducts inspections of fire shifts and stations regularly, meeting with paid and volunteer personnel; Responds to fire alarms and other emergencies as incident commander, plans attack procedure, assigns personnel to effect proper fire control, suppression, and rescue operations, directs fire fighting attack, and makes technical fire command decisions at fire scenes; Directs the preparation of the annual Departmental budget and presents budget requests before the Fire Commission, the First Selectman, the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Finance; Directs and controls the expenditures of Departmental fund allocations within the constraints of approved budgets; 2
Maintains cooperative relationships with area towns and keeps current all mutual aid agreements; Submits required budgets and other reports as required; Attends meetings of appropriate Town boards, commissions, and other community organizations to represent the Department, answer questions and to present reports, plans, and recommendations; Confers with Town officials and the public to provide information and resolve problems; Serves on boards and committees as assigned; Coordinates activities of the Department with all appropriate local, State, and Federal agencies, and appropriate similar organizations; Participates in development and maintenance of the Town s Emergency Operations Plan and addenda and coordinates plan reviews with the State of Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security regional and state offices; Directs and participates in personnel actions such as hiring, termination, assignment, evaluation, and labor relations; promotes equal opportunity in hiring; oversees and ensures integrity of Department promotion processes; administers labor contracts, including grievances procedures; and provides discipline as necessary; Maintains a knowledge of developments in the field of emergency services, fire prevention, fire fighting operations and administration, and emergency management; and Performs related duties as required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS: Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration as applied to a municipal fire department which may consist of both paid and volunteer personnel; Ability to administer the activities of a municipal fire department, to exhibit necessary leadership qualities and skills to achieve successful execution of same, and to supervise and integrate the work of paid and volunteer fire personnel. Ability to recognize, interpret, and provide resolution for conflict involving personnel or property issues between paid and volunteer personnel; 3
Thorough knowledge of modern firefighting principles, practices and procedures, including knowledge of equipment used in firefighting activities together with the ability to operate and supervise the effective use of such equipment and apparatus; Thorough knowledge of the physical layout of the Town including the fire hydrants, water supply, and street system; Thorough knowledge of emergency medical principles, including skills in their application in the pre-hospital emergency medical services system; Thorough knowledge of hazardous materials and ability to safely and effectively command a hazardous materials incident; Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices involved in instructing and training members of the Fire Department and the ability to apply them to specific training programs and problems; Thorough knowledge of fire safety laws; Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of building construction; Ability to command a fire scene, including planning attack, directing paid and volunteer personnel in fire and rescue operations; Thorough knowledge of the budget processes and planning; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with property owners, news media, and the general public; Ability to express oneself clearly, concisely, orally and in writing; Ability to oversee Fire Department information and communications systems, serving both specific fire service and general public administration functions; Physical ability to reach and maneuver at fire or emergency scenes, including damaged structures, vehicles and wildland areas at which normal ingress, egress, stairways, elevators, etc. may be blocked, destroyed, or otherwise unusable; Ability to bend, stretch, reach, stoop, climb, and crawl into cramped and often hazardous spaces; and Ability to drive a motor vehicle in Connecticut and to operate specialized fire control equipment and standard office equipment. 4
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive fire service experience with a minimum of five (5) years in fire department senior command position at the rank of Captain or above in a career or combination department; Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Management, Public Administration, or related field required with Master s degree preferred; Fire Officer II and III, Fire Service Instructor I, and Fire Department Safety Officer certifications desirable; Must be trained as Hazardous Materials Incident Commander; Valid motor vehicle operator's license at time of appointment; and Connecticut EMT-B or National Registry EMT certification within one year of appointment. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: After an offer but prior to actual commencement of employment, the applicant must successfully complete the following: A physical examination conducted by a physician selected by the Town and at the Town's expense; A pre-employment controlled substances test; A psychological evaluation conducted by a professional selected by the Town and at the Town's expense; and A background investigation, including but not limited to, a motor vehicle check, a criminal history check, and education, certification, and employment verification; The employee must reside within a forty (40) mile radius from any point on the Wilton Town line within six (6) months of date of appointment; The employee shall be a non-smoker; and The employee shall not constitute a threat to his/her own health or safety or that of others in the workplace. 5
Note: The qualifications set forth above are the optimal ones for this position. The Town of Wilton reserves the right to select any applicant who we, in our sole discretion, feel can most suitably perform the functions notwithstanding the absence of the optimal qualifications. 6