Battalion Chief
The Battalion Chief is responsible to supervise and direct assigned staff, operations, and services of a 48-hour shift and perform fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, and emergency services duties. Responds to emergencies as the Incident Commander. This position will also be responsible to plan, organize, and direct activities relating to assigned program areas as well as assist the Fire Chief in administrative functions. Responsible for performance evaluations, provides mentoring and assist employees with professional development. Performs other duties consistent with achieving organizational excellence.
Hours of work : The Battalion Chief will be assigned to a 56-hour work week, generally scheduled as 48 / 96 shifts. Flexibility to this schedule will be necessary to accommodate meetings, departmental business, schedule substitutions, and emergency recalls that occur outside normal business hours. The schedule for this position may be altered by the Fire Chief.
Reporting relationships : Reports to the Fire Chief. Supervision exercised : Direct supervision over Fire Captains, Fire Lieutenants, and line personnel.
Examples of essential duties :
- Responsible for all operational and administrative matters for the assigned shift.
- Successfully leads and manages personnel while maintaining a positive attitude and work environment; champions a culture of excellence that encourages and embraces new ideas, develops department personnel, and welcomes diverse perspectives.
- Ensures behavior and actions, and those of department personnel, align with the City and department mission, vision, and values.
- Performs analyses by utilizing organizational performance measures and data reporting tools to identify trends, opportunities, or other information to enhance service delivery.
- Function as the Fire Chief or Deputy Chief in their absence.
Field Work :
Act in accordance to the City of New Berlin Employee Handbook, the New Berlin Fire Department Policies and Procedures and the current version of the IAFF Local 4724 Collective Bargaining Agreement.Respond to all-hazards incidents as needed, and perform as the Incident Commander (IC) utilizing the Incident Command System in order to manage the incident as appropriate and necessary.Perform other duties as assigned.Station Work :
Ensure complete documentation and data entry into the department's appropriate software programs related to all assigned functions including run reports; employee recognition; training; inspections; attendance; evaluation and review; and corrective action.Perform basic office work functions, such as copying, scanning, typing, filing, writing memos and sorting.Research, review and recommend equipment and programs that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of services. Prepare purchase orders and / or budget requests as necessary.Coordinate, conduct and / or participate in shift briefings with other officers and line personnel regarding shift activities.Conduct employee performance evaluations and recommend discipline and commendations when warranted.Ensure completion of daily housekeeping, routine inspections, maintenance and / or inventory of buildings, grounds, vehicles, supplies and equipment.Support and uphold Continues Improvement Processes (CIP) for all department programs to maintain a high level of service to the community.Assist with the development of short and long-term planning strategies.Perform other administrative duties as assigned.Work expectations : Work Ethic :
Must be self-motivation and enthusiastic.Must have pride in the organization and self.Consistently displays honesty, trustworthiness and accountability.Maintain high ethical and moral standards.Must work well with other City of New Berlin departments and various external county and state agencies.Must continually deliver a high level of customer service to internal and external customers.Must exhibit fair and non-judgmental treatment when coaching and disciplining personnel.Successfully manage confidential, difficult, and sensitive issues using tact and diplomacy, taking into account the organizational culture, climate and / or politics.Uphold a high level of accuracy and confidentiality concerning personnel matters.Must maintain personal health and wellness, encouraging an atmosphere of physical and psychological fitness amongst members of the department.Time Management :
Must be punctually for work and scheduled appointments.Adapt to a variable schedule, as often as necessary in responding to emergencies or details with very short, or no notice.Must be able to set and meet deadlines, as well as manage the time of others as needed to support the mission at hand.Teamwork and Customer Relations :
Interact with the public in a positive and professional manner.Create ideas that improve production, organizational performance or result in cost or time-savings for the department. Use critical thinking to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approach to problems.Develop strategies to cope with stressful situations involving various personality types and expectations.Develop and maintain cooperative and professional relationships with internal employees and external county and state agencies and organizations.Be actively involved in decisions affecting work detail, set a high standard.Professional Development :
Actively participate in ongoing education that is offered by the department and outside training that is requested or required.Maintain licenses and certifications.Continually seek education to develop and enhance personal executive leadership, knowledge, skills and abilities.Research and recommend educational offerings for the various levels of the department that will assist with the professional and personal development of its members.Consider working towards a credential designation as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and / or the Executive Fire Officer Program offered by the National Fire Academy.Minimum qualifications :
Five (5) of experience in the rank of Company Officer or above with the New Berlin Fire Department or similar sized department.The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office programs as well as Fire and EMS reporting software systems.Skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with various external agencies, other city departments, NBFD personnel and the public.Perfecting Leader Certification (Cities and Village Mutual Insurance Company) or ability to obtain within 18 months of hire.All "Minimum" requirements as listed in the Shift Captain Job Description.Preferred :
Credentialed Chief Fire Officer (Center for Public Safety Excellence)Executive Fire Officer (National Fire Academy)Master's DegreePosition specific information :
Working conditions and physical demands :
The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to : stand, walk, balance, sit, kneel, crouch, stoop, climb, bend, crawl; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders; and be able to traverse unstable surfaces. The position requires mobility in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities as well as outdoor environments.Duties involve moving materials weighing up to 100 pounds on a regular basis, such as boxes, office equipment, specialized medical equipment, etc., and occasionally weighing over 100 pounds.Manual dexterity and coordination are required approximately 75% of the work period while operating equipment such as computer keyboard, telephone, motorized vehicle, instruments and tools used in the delivery of emergency medical care.At times the employee will be required to operate in conditions where noise levels are elevated and hearing protection may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typical of most office environments.In the course of duties, the employee may encounter hazardous materials, blood-borne pathogens, and / or other hazardous environments.Part of the work period may be spent in other environments which may expose the employee to inclement weather, hazardous materials and other extreme and / or dangerous environments where personal protective equipment may be required.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus with or without corrective measures.Tools and equipment :