Purpose of Classification

The City of Boynton Beach is seeking an experienced and qualified professional to serve as its Fire Chief.  Boynton Beach is the third largest municipality in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the City serves a population of over 77,000 residents as well as provides mutual aid to local municipalities.  

The purpose of this classification is to assume administrative and technical responsibility for the direction of personnel and activities of the Fire/Rescue Department.  Employees in this classification plan, organize, and direct the emergency and administrative needs of the department.

Essential Functions

The following duties and functions, as outlined herein, are intended to be representative of the type of tasks performed within this classification.  They are not listed in any order of importance.  The omission of specific statements of the duties or functions does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.
 
Directs the administrative functions of the entire department; takes responsibility for personnel, property, and operation of department; reviews and approves department policies and procedures and standard operating guidelines; takes necessary action to improve departmental operations and administrative functions. 

Directs and monitors departmental budget preparation/facilitation; exercises control over expenditures; reviews revenue sources; approves purchases. 

Oversees the Emergency Management functions for the City; responds to emergency calls; drives emergency vehicle.  Coordinates the City's Emergency Management plans. 

Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; processes employee concerns and problems, directs work, counsels, and manages employee performance; provides overall supervision and leadership of department personnel; oversees entry level and promotional hiring and orientation; oversees departmental training. 

Ensures compliance with City, County, State, and national mandates and guidelines. 

Reviews all electronic and written documentation and correspondence directed to Chief's Office. 

Evaluates and recommends the need for additional personnel, materials, apparatus, and supplies. 

Participates in contract negotiation process; recommends union contract changes; monitors provisions of union contract; maintains positive and productive Labor-Management relations.

Attends job-related meetings; provides regular staff meetings; oversees departmental Safety Team and Steering Team meetings; participates in county fire organizations; participates in state and national organizations; develops special assignments and committees. 

Serves as department liaison to the community; serves as City liaison to other fire/rescue agencies; represents the City at various functions; maintains effective relationships with the media, public, and City staff. 

Responds to emergency situations and serves as a Command Officer as needed. 

Oversees process for development and monitoring of fire codes and ordinances. 

Maintains comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains awareness of new procedures, technologies, trends, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate. 

Oversees the maintenance and repairs of Fire Rescue Department buildings. 

Performs other related duties as required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
 
Proven management and leadership skills and abilities. 

Extensive knowledge of all codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures relevant to department operations. 

Extensive knowledge of local, state and federal laws and ordinances related to fire prevention, public safety, hazardous materials, emergency medical services, and arson investigation and the ability to apply this knowledge to varied fire control and prevention problems. 

Knowledge of and the ability to develop and implement the department's annual budget. 

Demonstrated comfort and experience in media relations and interactions with print and electronic media. 

Knowledge of modern firefighting/emergency/rescue tactics and principles, fire investigation and prevention. 

Demonstrated leadership of a department which has emphasized proactive and preventative activities, customer service, and effective performance standards. 

Experience dealing with union negotiations, grievance, and arbitration processes; proven ability to build consensus in a union environment. 

Skilled at applying required knowledge to improve operations and services to the customer through the application of technology, know how, and the observation of industry trends and best practices.

Skilled in analyzing and evaluating information and in expressing ideas clearly when providing oral and written reports and recommendations on administrative, financial, and technical issues. 

Skilled in dealing constructively with conflict.  Ability to work with people, and through people, to collaborate with others, motivate, and inspire assigned employees to good performance. 

Ability to effectively supervise assigned staff and to expeditiously resolve employee issues and concerns. 

Ability to develop and successfully implement long and short term plans, goals, and objectives. 

Ability to organize and/or reorganize human capital allocations/assignments to achieve maximum work effectiveness. 
Ability to establish, update, implement, and consistently apply policies and procedures.

Ability to effectively communicate and coordinate work activities with assigned supervisors and to delegate decision making and authority to assigned supervisors where possible.

Ability to successfully develop collaborative working relationships with peers and with other departments, contractors, consultants, outside agencies, and all other stakeholders. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration or closely related field; supplemented by six (6) years of previous experience that includes upper level fire/rescue department administration and performing fire/rescue services.
• Must possess and maintain State of Florida certification as a Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Paramedic.
  • Out-of-state candidates will have up to one year from hire to attain the aforementioned certifications.
• Must possess (or be able to obtain within 14 days of hire) and maintain a valid Florida driver's license.

 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Public Administration or closely related field.
• Graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS / ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
 
Physical Ability:  Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (20 pounds).
 
Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals.  Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
 
Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as odors, fumes, noise extremes, electric currents, toxic agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.
 
The City of Boynton Beach, Florida, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S. C. 12101 et. seq.), the City of Boynton Beach will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.  The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 
 
A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements are subject to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat of significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others.  Requirements are representative of the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and ability.