Details
11/07/2025
Deputy Fire Chief - Fire Prevention
City of Westerville
Description
THIS DEPUTY CHIEF POSITION WILL OVERSEE THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU.
This is advanced fire administration work planning, organizing and directing the activities of the Division of Fire. Work involves overseeing suppression, prevention, and EMS activities, performing community relations work, developing and implementing division operating budget, ensuring compliance with local, state and federal suppression, hazardous materials and related laws, rules and regulations.
SUPERVISION
NATURE OF WORK
Under the general direction of the Fire Chief, this position supervises the firefighters, paramedics, and officers within the Fire Division, assists the Fire Chief with directing the activities of the department, and oversees the training of all officers, firefighters, and paramedics.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF WORK
- Plan, organize, prioritize, and direct the activities of the fire division to ensure operational effectiveness; assist in researching, developing, writing, and presenting the annual division budget; write or assist in writing specifications for new apparatus, vehicles, equipment, and supplies; purchase new supplies, equipment and uniforms; make recommendations to the Fire Chief; control spending within the approved budget.
- Manage and supervise all assigned employees (e.g., schedule and assign tasks; interview job applicants; recommend the hiring of job applicants; recommend discipline; evaluate performance; receive and adjust grievances or employee complaints; approve and recommend the approval of leave requests; attend or participate in meetings in which policy questions are reviewed or discussed; recommend policy changes; participates in personnel or labor relations activities; has access to other employees’ personnel files; serve as a member of management’s collective bargaining negotiating team; prepare or type documents to be used solely in collective bargaining; has access to financial data used in monitoring department review / income, etc.).
- Plan and train staff for emergency situations; oversee training of staff; respond to emergencies and direct emergency response; make critical decisions regarding life and death in hazardous situations; pre-plan disasters; participate in problem-solving within the fire division.
- Maintain records and prepare reports on various subjects; stay updated with changes in state and federal laws related to the division; work with other Central Ohio Fire/EMS agencies to enhance services; assist in developing the emergency mutual aid program and Emergency Management.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with community groups, agencies, and the media; make presentations regarding emergency services; handle citizen complaints; help plan and direct fundraising as required; participate on various city and community committees and task forces.
- Act as Fire Chief as needed.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
EQUIPMENT OPERATED: The following are examples only and are not intended to be all inclusive: Personal computer, printers, copier, telephone, and other standard business office equipment, motor vehicles, portable radios, and computer software (e.g., Microsoft Office, ADP, EOS – Fire / EMS Reporting System, Vendovation, Operative IQ, Entrapass, Fire Rescue 1, Lexipol, Adobe, Zoom, CAD, etc.).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK
- Possession of a bachelor’s degree in fire administration or related field; and
- Over five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a fire officer including supervisory experience;
- Must possess and maintain a valid State of Ohio vehicle operator’s license and remain insurable under the City’s vehicle insurance policy. Must possess an Ohio Paramedic certification, Ohio Firefighter II fire training certificate, and Ohio Certified Fire Safety Inspector. Completion of ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800. Ohio Fire Executive or Executive Fire Officer is preferred.
- Any combination of education, training and/or experience equivalent to the minimum qualificationsstated above.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (*Indicates developed after employment)
KNOWLEDGE OF: fire suppression and emergency medical methods, fire and emergency response equipment operation and maintenance, safety standards and precautions pertaining to the use and operation of fire equipment and to fire suppression and emergency medical activities, fire codes and regulations, supervisory principles and practices, agency goals and objectives* , agency policies and procedures.
*SKILL IN: typing and data entry, computer operation, motor vehicles, use of modern office equipment and software, critical thinking, judgment and decision making.
ABILITY TO: establish and maintain effective fire suppression, fire prevention, emergency management, and emergency response programs, deal with many variables and determine specific action, recognize unusual or threatening conditions and take appropriate action, exercise independent judgement and discretion, add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, determine material and equipment needs, compile and prepare reports, prepare accurate documentation, communicate effectively, train or instruct others, understand a variety of written and/or verbal communications, resolve complaints, develop and maintain effective working relationships, perform light manual labor, travel to and gain access to work site, demonstrate professionalism, apply management principles to solve agency problems.*
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The employee works in the vicinity of floor or wall openings, elevated platforms, and/or runways; ascends and/or descends ladders, stairs, or scaffolds; works in an area in which the means of egress is or can be obstructed; works on and around powered platforms and/or vehicle mounted platforms (e.g., manlifts, fire trucks); is exposed to environmental conditions which may result in injury from fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and /or poorly ventilated work areas; is exposed to possible injury from extremely noisy conditions above 85db; is exposed to possible injury from radiation; is exposed to possible injury from hazardous gases, chemicals, flammables, or air conditions; is exposed to possible injury from hazardous waste; is exposed to possible injury from unclean or unsanitary conditions; is exposed to possible injury as a result of electrical shock; is exposed to possible injury from explosions; is exposed to possible injury as a result of falling from high places; works in or around crowds; has contact with potentially violent or emotionally distraught persons; has exposure to potentially vicious animals; has exposure to life threatening situations; has exposure to fire; has exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions; has exposure to extreme non-weather related heat or cold; has exposure to hazardous driving conditions; has exposure to shaking objects or surfaces; has exposure to second-hand smoke; works second shift / third shift; has exposure to chemicals found in an office environment (toner, correction fluid, etc.).
Note: In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings, this is considered medium work.
POSITIONS DIRECTLY SUPERVISED:
Firefighter, Firefighter / Paramedic, Lieutenant, and Platoon Battalion Chief
