Listing Summary

Demorest Fire Department

Job Description

 

JOB TITLE:   Fire Chief

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

REPORTS TO: City Manager

JURISDICTION(S): City of Demorest

 

THE EMPLOYER:

The City of Demorest is seeking applications for a Fire Chief. Demorest has an estimated population of 1800+/-. Demorest has a very long and important role in the history of Georgia. It is the home of Piedmont University, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and Johnny Mize, the late baseball hall of famer. The city operates a water distribution and waste water treatment plant and it provides water to over 70% of Habersham County. City of Demorest is a Council-Manager form of government consisting of a mayor, four City Council members elected at large and a City Manager appointed by the City Council. Both the Mayor and Council focus on vision for the future of the city while the City Manager oversees daily city operations. The Mayor is the official spokesperson for the City and facilitates City Council meetings. The Council members are responsible for enacting local legislation, adopting budgets, determining policies, and appointing the City Manager, City Clerk, Municipal Judge, City Attorney, and City Treasurer. City services are provided by the Manager through 4 departments, 37 full-time employees with an operating budget of $10 million.

 

Demorest Fire Department is a full-time department, ISO Class 3 department, operating 24/7 within the city limits and the surrounding Habersham County Mutual and Automatic Aid Districts. DFD averages 1200-1500 calls per year with 82% EMS related and 54% outside the city limits. DFD is staffed by 3 full-time firefighters including 2 OIC’s, 1 Captain, and 14-17 part-time firefighters to make a two-person crew 24/7. DFD is a 24/48-hour shift rotation. DFD is staffed by a 40-hour Monday through Friday Fire Chief. Equipment includes 1-1992 Simon Duplex 75’ aerial Truck, 1-2022 E-ONE Pumper, 1- 2023 Chevy Silverado Light Rescue QRV, and 1-1996 Ford Command Center QRV.

 

JOB SUMMARY:

Plans, directs, commands, coordinates and participates in all activities of the Demorest Fire Department personally as well as through subordinate officers and oversee daily operations assuring all fire suppression services and emergency medical services are available to Demorest citizens 24 hours a day.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates all fire, rescue, and emergency medical activities including training, maintaining certifications, enforcing policies, procedures, and regulations; delegates and assigns subordinates’ duties to ensure compliance and to carry out day-to-day operations.
• Work is performed with considerable independence within professional guidelines under limited supervision by the City Manager and is reviewed by the Mayor and City Council through observation of the effectiveness the Department and compliance with City, County, State, and Federal Regulations.
• Responds to major and high-profile emergencies, assumes command when necessary.
• Provides career counseling to subordinate personnel.
• Inspects the condition and readiness of personnel, apparatus, and equipment. Communicates policy and rule changes to subordinate personnel.
• Knows the geography, roads, alternative routes, fire hydrants, and hospitals within the jurisdiction.
• Assures compliance with local, state, and Federal labor and employment Laws.
• Directs the activities of all Fire Department personnel either directly or through shift supervisors.
• Develops budget recommendations; confers with staff and develops final recommendation for submission to the City Council; oversees all purchases of equipment and apparatus.
• Recruits and makes hiring recommendations for all Fire Department positions; conducts performance evaluations on selected personnel.
• Directs the preparation and analysis of department records and reports to secure efficient operations, meet service demands, and comply with authorized requests for information regarding departmental activity and personnel.
• Ensure compliance, through delegation or direct involvement, of all required training, equipment inspections, and other items that effect any evaluation and inspection by any agency that directly effects the certification and classification of the Fire Department. These agencies would include agencies such as Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council and Insurance Service Organization (ISO).
• Attends national, regional, and state conferences, conventions, and meetings to keep updated on modern firefighting methods, investigation techniques, training methods, and administra­tion.
• Controls and disciplines all officers and members in accordance with rules, regulations, and City policies.
• Monitors and investigates or calls for investigation of any major of suspicious nature, or fires where injury or death have occurred.
• Reviews personally or calls for a review on any accident involving departmental personnel, buildings, vehicles, or equipment and takes appropriate action.
• Implements plans for any station expansion or service delivery changes.
• Formulates departmental policies and procedures by reviewing, changing when necessary and implementing changes.
• Makes presentations to civic clubs or other groups regarding department activities and programs and promotes public understanding of department operations.
• Must possess the ability to clearly express ideas both orally and in writing.
• Performs other related duties as required.

 

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Includes, but not limited to:

• All Departmental Apparatus                       
• Hazardous Materials Equipment                               
• Computer Hardware & Software              
• Fire Suppression Equipment      
• Rescue & Extrication Equipment
• Emergency Medical Equipment
• Communications Equipment                      
• Atmospheric Monitoring Devices
• Reference Manuals                                        
• Textbooks
• Office Supplies                                 
• Other pertinent equipment
• Computer programs applicable to maintain records and communicate through email.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education and Experience: (or its equivalent)

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Ten years experience in firefighting of which at least five years was in a supervisory capacity.
• Criminal history that is free of any Felony convictions.
• Successful completion and passing of Pre-employment Physical and Drug Screen as prescribed by City of Demorest.
• National Professional Qualifications Fire Officer 1 Certification.
• Valid Class F Driver’s License and a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• Georgia Basic EMT or Higher Certification.
• Georgia (GFSTC) Certified Firefighter.
• GEMA- Crash Victim Extrication.
• NFA- Incident Safety Officer.
• National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Fire Instructor I or equivalent.
• NPQ-HazMat: Operations Level.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the minimum level of qualifications stated above.

The following classes taught through National Fire Academy, Georgia Fire Academy, National Professional Qualifications or Acceptable Equivalent (must obtain within 12 months of employment):

• Building Const: Combustible
• Building Const-Non-Comb
• Fire & Life Safety Educator I
• Flammable Liquids Control
• NPQ-Fire Officer I
• Interior Search & Rescue
• NFIRS Reporting
• Practical Fireground Hydraulics
• Pressurized Cont Fire Control
• Pump Service Testing
• Traumatic Debriefing
• Avoiding Discrimination in the workplace

Desirable additional Education and Training:

• Associate degree or equivalent education and experience in Fire Science or a related field.
• GA Paramedic License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, training techniques, and equipment used in modern firefighting, rescue operations, prevention, suppression and emergency medical services as well as state and local laws and regulations pertaining to fire prevention and control.
• Knowledge of modern fire department administration.
• Command large-scale emergency operations.
• Operation of all departmental emergency apparatus and equipment.
• Provides Guidance and Direction to the Assistant Fire Chief and other Supervisors.
• Knowledge of organization, administration, and personnel management practices.
• Knowledge of I.S.O. grading requirements.
• Ability to Attend City Council Meetings as needed.
• Knowledge of emergency management and planning.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Surrounding Departments, subordinate officers, city and county government, and the public.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of several subordinates.
• Ability to prepare complex and technical reports.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to perform other related duties as required.

 

ADA MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert strenuous physical effort in work which may include some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate to heavy weight (50-200 pounds) for sustained periods of time.  Duties require the ability to operate a motor vehicle, various medical equipment and tools.
• Sensory Requirements: Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions including inclement weather.  Duties may involve exposure to substances (chemicals and gases) requiring special precautions including protective clothing.  The work environment routinely involves imminent danger from conditions or events which cannot be fully anticipated or protected against, and which exposes the incumbent to life threatening situations.  
• Conclusion: This class specification should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.  It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job.  The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.

All applications are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act. The City of Demorest is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information, please contact and forward your application and resume to the contact below by Friday, December 1, 2023. The application can be found on cityofdemorest.org.

City of Demorest

Megan Chastain, City Clerk

Email: mchastain@cityofdemorest.orgTelephone: (706) 778-4202250 Alabama Street, Demorest, GA 30535