Framingham Advertising For Assistant Fire Chief

FRAMINGHAM – The City of Framingham posted today, September 10, the Assistant Fire Chief position. The individual is #2 in command in the Framingham Fire Department.

Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher held that position before he was promoted to Fire Chief earlier this year.

The position pays $103,419 to $138,126.

The Assitant Fire Chief is responsible for the day to day operation of the fire suppression, EMS, and Special Operations Divisions (Technical Rescue, Dive Rescue, Teams) of the fire department.

Applicants “must have a degree in Fire Science or related field, and more than 20 years of firefighting experience, with continually progressive supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.”

Candidates for this position are required to be a Deputy Fire Chief or Fire Captain of the Framingham Fire Department at the time of posting, maintain a valid MA Class D Driver’s License and Massachusetts EMT certification

The Framingham Assistant Fire Chief works under the administrative direction of the Fire Chief, “working from municipal policies and objectives; individual establishes short-range plans and objectives, own performance standards and assumes direct accountability for department results; and may act as an independently elected official over a department. Consults with supervisor only where clarification, interpretation, or exception to municipal policy may be required. The employee is responsible for the development and implementation of departmental policies, goals, objectives and budgets. The employee is also expected to attempt to resolve conflicts which arise and coordinate with others as necessary,” stated the job decsription.

The Framingham Assistant Fire Chief is “responsible for the general supervision of 155 employees, including the service delivery, training, evaluation and disciplining of subordinates, budget development and control. Work operations are subject to frequent, abrupt, and unexpected changes in deadlines, and/or volume of work due to uncontrollable or unpredictable circumstances, e.g., police or fire emergencies, litigation. May have long-term, adverse impacts onthe operation. A substantial number of employees are dispersed to many widely separated locations on a continuing basis,” according to the posting.

Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

1. Serves as key member of the Incident Command Staff often in the role of Incident
   Commander at all emergency incidents from the 1st alarm level and greater.
2. Coordinates with Framingham Fire Department senior staff; Chief of Department, Fire Marshal
   and Training Deputy to achieve success in current goals while planning for long-term
   community needs protecting the citizenry and firefighters of the City of Framingham.
3. Focuses and develops departmental-training needs with lessons learned on the fire ground
   adapting and revising all applicable Standard Operating Guidelines.
4. Reviews, evaluates and monitors new apparatus, tools, personal protective gear used to
   promote firefighter safety and productivity applicable to National Fire Protection Association
   Guidelines (NFPA).
5. Investigates, counsels and disciplines all personnel issues adhering to Departmental Rules and
   Regulations, City Policies, Civil Service Rules and union contracts.
6. Reviews Daily Departmental Reports, cross-referencing information between Fire
   House Reporting (Fire Company Reports) and Keystone (Computer Aided Dispatch
   Reports) to ensure accuracy of information sent to the Massachusetts Fire Incident
   Reporting System (MFIRS).
7. Creates and analyzes reports from the Deputy Fire Chief’s and Captains to project staffing
   levels, equipment needs and training programs.
8. Serves as department liaison to the Mass Fire Academy Recruit Training Program closely
   monitoring new Fire Recruits’ progress; submits written evaluation and recommendations to
   the Chief of Department prior to completion of their probation period.
9. Coordinates with private ambulance provider’s operations manager and field supervisors to
   deliver the highest level of pre-hospital medical care to the citizens of Framingham.
10. Represents the Chief of Department at City of Framingham Board meetings as well as local
    civic and community events.
11. Designated Fire District 14’s Structural Fire Task Force Commander directing the safe
    operation of fire companies from (23) mutual aid fire departments at all large fires statewide.
12. Serves as CORI Administrator for the department coordinating background investigations for
    new employees following Civil Service hiring practices.
13. Initiates Civil Service Hiring process; conduct interviews, make written recommendations,
    follows through with orientation and oversees in-house recruit training.
14. Provides final review of all annual employee performance evaluations submitted by the Deputy
    Fire Chiefs and Company Officers.
15. Participates in the City’s bargaining unit on Deputy Fire Chief and Firefighter contracts.
16. Participates with all union grievance hearings referencing Civil Service Rules and adopted past
    practices.