Deputy Fire Chief - Fire Marshal bei Bozeman, City of

About the Department

The Bozeman Fire Department is now accepting applications for an experienced, forward-thinking, and collaborative fire service professional to serve as our next Deputy Chief – Fire Marshal. This key leadership role is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing a major division of the Fire Department, with a strong focus on life safety, code compliance, personnel development, strategic planning, and emergency response operations.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities and operations of the inspection division of the Fire Department;
• Oversees the plan review and inspection of new construction in the community;
• Oversees the review and inspection process for mobile vending, short term rentals, and other city issued permits for safety and code compliance;
• Develops and oversees a fire company-based inspection program of existing buildings in the community;
• Lead or assist in the cause and origin investigation of fires in the community;
• Monitor conditions for open burning, opening and closing of burn permits;
• Develops and delivers community risk reduction programs for city facilities and community members.
• Confers with the Fire Chief to plan, develop, and direct the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for all related division functions;
• Oversees the personnel functions for the division, including analyzing divisional personnel needs and making recommendations accordingly, selecting, hiring, training, motivating, and evaluating assigned personnel and taking or recommending disciplinary actions in accordance with established City policies and procedures;  
• Establishes organizational units within each division, and designates personnel to operate and supervise each unit accordingly;
• Evaluates operational needs and makes recommendations accordingly, including recommendations for department budget allocation, employee training and development, and new vehicles, equipment and supplies for future procurement;
• Assist the Fire Chief in the preparation and administration of the division’s annual operating budget, including monitoring expenditures, maintaining related reports and records, compiling budget data, and reviewing purchase orders and expenditures for approval;
• Oversees the implementation of work programs designed to meet the annual and long-term objectives of the Department as directed by the Chief;
• Confers with the Chief, City officials, the general public, the media, and others in regards to any Department matters as necessary;
• Works closely with the Chief to ensure all Department activities are conducted in compliance with applicable codes, laws, rules, policies and regulations;
• Under the direction of the Fire Chief, develops and enforces policies, standards, and directives to ensure compliance with established State and City codes, rules, laws, and regulations;
• Works closely with other Department management personnel to promote positive work attitudes within the department and maximize teamwork and cooperation by all departmental employees;
• Assesses and monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery methods and procedures, including assessing workload, administrative and support systems, and internal relationships and makes recommendations for improvements to the Chief;
• Establishes or adjusts work procedures to meet daily job requirements according to available resources, such as available workforce and related equipment;
• Coordinates work assignments with City departments/division and other agencies as necessary;
• As assigned, oversees the maintenance, and use of vehicles, equipment and facilities;
• Assists in grant development;
• Promotes accomplishment of the Department’s vision, mission and goals;
• Provides effective professional liaison between the Fire Department and other City departments, divisions, outside agencies, media, and the general public;
• Provides administrative assistance to the Fire Chief as required;
• Assumes the responsibilities and duties of the Fire Chief in their absence or at their discretion;
• Assists in the development and revision of a strategic plan and risk analysis model;
• Communicates with all related personnel in an effort to encourage, motivate, promote leadership and encourage teamwork in accomplishing set forth objectives;
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Addresses citizen’s questions or complaints in a courteous and timely manner and takes the appropriate measures to ensure an expedient resolution or citizen satisfaction, including providing information to the public regarding applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Provide direction to the fire department personnel;
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

Position Duties

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science or a closely related field; AND
• Considerable (7 years) progressively responsible experience in  plan review and inspection or fire prevention and education, including at least three years of supervisory experience; AND 
• Must possess the following certifications, or have the ability to obtain them within the first 12 months of employment;
  • ICC Fire Inspector I or NFPA equivalent
  • ICC Fire Inspector II or NFPA equivalent
  • ICC Commercial Fire Alarm Inspector
  • ICC Commercial Fire Sprinkler Inspector
  • ICC Fire Plans Examiner
  • ICC Pre-Engineered Industrial Fire Extinguishing Systems Technician
  • ICC Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Extinguishing Systems Technician
• OR Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of the organizational and management practices of public safety program development and administration;
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant local, State and Federal laws, rules, ordinances and regulations,;
• Substantial knowledge of budgetary principles in the public sector;
• Substantial knowledge of the functions and objectives of related Federal, State, and local agencies;
• Substantial knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, current policies, practices, and standard operating procedures relative to assigned area of responsibility, and their application to a wide variety of public safety services and programs;
• Knowledge of State and Federal grant processes;
• Ability to efficiently and safely operate vehicle and equipment related to functional area of assignment;
• Ability to use good judgment;
• Ability to recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practice for providing effective and efficient public safety services;
• Ability to stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public safety;
• Ability to effectively provide public safety services in assigned areas of responsibility;
• Ability to effectively act as an Incident Commander, or as a member of an incident team;
• Ability to identify and respond to the issues, concerns and needs of the community, the City Manager and the Chief;
• Ability to analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques;
• Ability to efficiently prepare and administer assigned budget;
• Ability to exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing needs and situations;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned Supervisors, other City employees, other agencies, the media, and the general public;
• Ability to effectively lead, motivate and supervise the work of others;
• Ability to establish goals, objective, and plan for the division, including encompassing short, intermediate, and long term operations;
• Ability to effectively organize work, maintain organizational structure and delegate authority;
• Ability to effectively resolve employee problems in a fair and diplomatic manner;
• Ability to quickly learn the operations, policies and procedures of the City, and of the Fire Department;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks;
• Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City’s Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service and Teamwork.

Other Qualifications

• Must possess a valid Class D Driver’s License and must obtain a Montana Class D Driver’s License within 60 days of employment;
• Executive Fire Officer via the National Fire Academy is desired;
• Upon entry into employment, must complete a City of Bozeman Financial Disclosure form; 
• Must obtain Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation via the Center for Public Safety Excellence within three years of employment or promotion;
• Must obtain Fire Marshal (FM) designation via the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) within five years of employment or promotion;
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory responses to a criminal background check.