Posted: 11/10/2022
Salary: $7,368.32 - $10,534, monthly
Location: Dallas, OR

Interim Fire Chief

Excellent benefits including health, dental, vision, HSA, PERS and cell phone allowance

Apply by November 30, 2022

Position estimated to last 6 months - 1 year

THE COMMUNITY

Coined by the Mayor as, “The second largest Dallas in the World” we are proud of our small town charm, while also providing top notch services to our fast-pace growing community. Nestled up against the back of the Oregon Coast Range Mountains we are a short 12-miles from Salem, the state’s capital city. Our residents enjoy tremendous parks, indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities, and the quintessential historic downtown with a courthouse square surrounded by shops and restaurants.

The community is home to West Valley Hospital and many other healthcare professionals. Public and Charter schools at every grade level are available in Dallas, including a satellite campus of Chemeketa Community College.

THE ORGANIZATION

The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. We provide Fire & EMS, Police, Library, Parks & Recreation, Utilities (water, sewer, storm and street), Economic & Community Development, Finance and Administration services. Our employees are service-oriented and strive to facilitate the wants and needs of our customers. We embrace the following values:

Transparent, Accessible, Fair and Honest Government – This value reflects our most important responsibility to our citizens and customers. Our competence is measured and, in fact, reinforced through active engagement of those we serve. We maintain an organizational reputation for accessibility, fairness, honesty, and integrity.

Diverse and Humane Organization – We are an organization that protects individual rights and honors diversity. Civil communication, respect for others, compassion, and a sense of humor are essential tools in our organization. We value what makes each person unique and strive to respect and treat each other with dignity.

Public Service – We are public servants. We proactively serve the community’s needs. We are accessible, responsive, respectful, consistent, and understanding. We assist beyond our customers’ expectations.

Fiscal Responsibility – Proper use of public resources is a trust which we honor and protect. In our management of this trust, we must avoid even the appearance of impropriety. In our management of public funds, we constantly strive for the greatest possible efficiency and effectiveness.

Personal Honesty and Integrity – Each of us demonstrates the highest standards of personal integrity and honesty in our public activities to inspire confidence and trust in our government.

Excellence – Excellence is shown by being creative, professional, innovative, showing initiative, and being committed to our community. In this pursuit, we support continuing education and training for everyone in the organization.

Teamwork – We are a team that supports each other and the community, and we emphasize a high level of trust. We embrace a spirit of teamwork, empowerment, cooperation, collaboration, and community.

THE DEPARTMENT

The City of Dallas Fire & EMS has been proudly serving the community since 1878. Our community has received fire suppression services, fire prevention awareness and education, emergency medical care and transportation from its own volunteer citizens the majority of the department’s tenure.

Today we enjoy a combination department. The EMS team works in tandem with our fire suppression team to provide service and safety to our community in times of fire, hazards, rescue and medical situations.

THE POSITION

The Interim Fire Chief will perform a variety of technical, administrative, and supervisory work in planning, organizing, directing, budgeting, and coordinating the activities of the City of Dallas Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service to protect life and property by ensuring readiness for action in the areas of fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, investigation, and emergency medical services. This position will ensure the Fire Department and EMS personnel are professional, trained, and disciplined.
You will report to the City Manager and exercise supervision over all Fire and Ambulance employees and volunteers.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

You will be responsible for planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the activities of the City of Dallas Fire/EMS Department personnel to protect and preserve life and property from fire and provide emergency medical service.

You will supervise and coordinate the preparation and presentation of an annual budget for the Fire and EMS Departments; direct the implementation of the Departments’ budgets; and plan for and review specifications for new or replacement equipment.

You will ensure that all Fire/EMS Department personnel receive the specialized training required to keep abreast of changes in regulations and trends in fire and emergency medical services administration and operations.

You will supervise fire investigations, determine the cause and origin of fires, and participate with local law enforcement and insurers where arson is suspected.

You will work closely with Human Resources for all recruiting, selection, promotion, assignment, transfer, discipline and discharge activities within the department. You will also handle grievances, maintains departmental discipline, and resolve employee relations problems.

You will establish, negotiate, and maintain mutual aid agreements and service contracts with other jurisdictions for fire prevention, suppression and ambulance services.

You will establish and maintain positive working relationships and cooperation with other city departments and other city, county, state, and federal fire organizations.

You will communicate department goals and activities to the community, attend meetings of City Council, staff, community groups, fire district officials and others to represent the department and communicate department goals and activities, develop policies, formulate agreements and evaluate service levels.

In addition to the above, the Interim Fire Chief will be responsible for overseeing five specific projects:

1. Create a Departmental Strategic Plan
2. Create a Departmental Communication Plan
3. Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the existing volunteer base and expand it
4. Analyze opportunities for regional partnerships, including but not limited to a shared management structure with other fire/ems agency(ies).
5. Oversee the new Training Facility construction project

Find the full position description here: Position Description

Must Haves (Minimum Qualifications)

Education and Experience:

• You must have graduated from a college or university with a Bachelor degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration or closely related field, and
• You must have ten (10) years of experience in fire or emergency medical service work, seven (7) years of
• which must have been equivalent to a Captain or higher officer, and
• You must possess nationally recognized or accredited certification as a Fire Officer II. Fire Officer IV, Executive Fire Officer or Chief Fire Officer desired.
• An Oregon State Emergency Medical Technician certification is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for a) and b) at the sole discretion of the city.

Your areas of Knowledge and Expertise that matter most:

• Extensive knowledge of all applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances related to firefighting, mitigation, rescue, investigation and emergency medical services, as well as employment and labor law.
• Extensive knowledge in principles, practices, and techniques concerning all activities of Fire/EMS Department administration, organization, and operation.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, integrate, and supervise the functions of the entire department and put into effect sound policies and practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language, exercise effective interpersonal and listening skills, defuse confrontation, and reach cooperative solutions in situations where cooperation may be difficult to achieve.
• Ability to provide effective leadership, motivation, and supervision to subordinates.
• Ability to make timely and appropriate decisions in response to citizen or community issues to establish and maintain positive public relations between the department and all interested parties.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others including the Assistant City Manager, City Council, contiguous fire agencies, representatives of a variety of state, federal, and municipal agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to prepare, analyze, and present comprehensive reports containing findings and recommendations.
• Ability to understand the City’s political environment, sensitivities, and function effectively within that environment.
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions.

Special Requirements:

• You must possess, or be able to obtain within 30 days of hire, a valid Oregon Driver License without record of suspension or revocation in any state;
• You must have no felony convictions or disqualifying criminal history;
• You must have the ability to read and write the English language;
• You must have the ability to meet the department’s physical fitness standards;

Selection Guidelines

After receiving your formal application, we will review your education and experience, followed by an oral interview, reference check, and criminal history background check, depending on your successful completion for each step. Additional job related tests may also be required.

The City of Dallas plans to invite the top three candidates to an open house on the evening of December 7, 2022 to meet the volunteers. We will hold interviews on the morning of December 8. We desire to have our new Interim Fire Chief on board by January 1, 2023.

To apply, submit an application online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/dallasor.