Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Director

Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Director

Department: EMS

Hiring Range: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 (To see our competitive benefits, please click here )  

Closing Date: October 20, 2024 

*TO BE CONSIDERED, MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED BURKE COUNTY JOB APPLICATION*

*Please click here to view our recruitment flyer for this position*

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of emergency services for the County including Emergency Management Services and Fire Marshal investigations and inspections. Employee serves as the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director for the County and leads or conducts investigations of fires to determine origin and cause. Supervises and performs varied tasks to include fire code enforcement and inspections, coordination and technical consultation with fire departments, fire investigations, public education, plan reviews, and hazardous materials incidents. Directs all employees and agencies involved with the County Emergency Operations Plan. Review and update the Burke County Emergency Operations Plan at least annually. Coordinate or perform all Emergency Management related activities for the county. Maintain working relationships with all local, state, and federal emergency service partners. Serves as Chair of Local Emergency Planning Committee. Serves on the Domestic Preparedness Region 8 committee as the Burke County’s Emergency Management representative.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

Work requires exercising independent judgment and initiative, analytical skills, and extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local policies and regulations in fire codes, hazardous materials management, incident command, sheltering, fire and emergency plan review, air quality, soil, and ground water contamination. Decisions must be made quickly and accurately in emergency situations and communicated in a tactful and diplomatic manner when dealing with the public. Work requires rotating on-call duty for seven-day intervals 24 hours a day. The employee is subject to hazards associated with fire inspection, investigation, firefighting and hazardous materials and emergency management work, and to working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to high heat, chemicals, and in the proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and working in high places. Employee is also subject to exposure to atmospheric conditions and bloodborne pathogens, and is sometimes required to wear a respirator, and may be required to work in close quarters. Work is performed under the general direction of the Deputy County Manager/Finance Director, and is evaluated through conferences, reports and feedback on services and emergency coordination.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties listed below are not inclusive, but characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this class. Individual positions may do all or some combination of the duties as well as other related duties:

• Serves as the official Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director for the County. Responds to requests for investigations from fire departments; investigates fires as to origin and cause as needed; gathers data at scene of fire; analyzes the facts and reports findings; develops and recommends Fire and Emergency Manager program policies and procedures.
• Manages fire services operations; coordinates and works closely with department division heads, local fire chiefs and other officials; briefs division heads and staff daily; sets priorities and makes assignments to staff. Assists fire chiefs by responding to large fire incidents and/or hazardous material incidents by coordinating services and resources. Assists communities with organizing and procuring fire protection; coordination and technical consultation with fire departments, fire investigations, public education, plan reviews, and hazardous materials incidents; provides consultation and technical assistance to County volunteer fire departments; supervises and performs job tasks that include fire code enforcement and inspections; planning activities/fire services throughout the County; Plans, organizes, and directs the fire inspections, compliance, educational, and consultation services.
• Maintains and updates the County’s Emergency Management Plan including the multi-hazard plan that involves considerable community coordination and promotion across agencies, school systems, hospitals, and various County departments. Monitors and evaluates Emergency Management operations, and coordinates fire/hazardous materials services with other EMS divisions and with local fire departments to ensure response effectiveness. Directs emergency operations center during natural or man-made disasters. Serves as Chair of Local Emergency Planning Committee.
• Leads combined County and City hazardous materials response team; serves as coordinator and commander; develops operations guidelines and procedures for the team; develops and provides training of team; and maintains resources and capabilities for appropriate response to emergencies; develops site specific emergency response plans for facilities with extremely hazardous substances.
• Investigates reports of illegal dumping of hazardous waste materials or other environmental threats and notifies proper authorities.
• May serve on various committees representing the County.
• Develops and maintains relationships with various community emergency service agencies, volunteer groups and state and federal agency officials.
• Meets with state officials and others to plans, coordinate, stay abreast on new techniques, equipment, and communication systems, and works to influence policies and regulations.
• Assists with developing educational programs and operational guidelines for fire service training; ensures development and implementation of education and information programs including fire prevention for the public, businesses, and schools; administers fire prevention programs for schools, civic groups and the public; develops standards for response, training and safety programs.
• Budget forecasting, preparation, and management; monitors expenses and purchases supplies; assists local communities with planning, budgeting, and procuring sufficient fire protection throughout the County. Prepares, recommends, and administers division budget including obtaining costs figures for wages, equipment, and services; writes justifications; requisitions purchase of supplies and equipment; codes and approves invoices.
• Research potential grants available to support services and equipment.
• Accountability for personnel, equipment; supervises staff involved in providing the various services; trains, counsels, organizes and assigns work, monitors, and evaluates performance; initiates discipline; and recommends disciplinary measures and dismissal of employees to the Director; recruits, screens and participates with team in hiring.
• Compiles and coordinates information reported under SARA Title III federal reporting requirements.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION GUIDELINES:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Requires exercising independent judgment and initiative, analytical skills, and extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local policies and regulations in fire codes, emergency management and hazardous materials management. Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, regulations, principles and modern practices and processes pertaining to fire inspections, emergency evacuation planning, resource management, fire investigations and prevention, and hazardous materials handling, storage, and reporting.
• Thorough knowledge of firefighting principles and procedures, fire association and state fire protection and prevention codes, standards, and guides.
• Thorough knowledge of chemicals and chemical hazards, methods of control and mitigation of chemical releases, laws, and ordinances
• Thorough knowledge of fire prevention and public education programs.
• Thorough knowledge of building construction and systems, fire sprinkler and standpipe systems.
• Thorough knowledge of arson investigation techniques and related laws.
• Thorough knowledge of fire department operations and organizational structures.
• Skills in investigating fires and utilizing modern evidence gathering and detailed documentation of findings.
• Thorough knowledge of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, N.C.G.S. 166A and its implementation.
• Thorough knowledge of emergency planning for government, industry, businesses, schools, civic groups, and the general public.
• Thorough knowledge of DHS, FEMA, and NC fire and emergency management grants.
• Knowledge and demonstrated skill in managing Search and Rescue operations.
• Thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal emergency communications systems.
• Knowledge and demonstrated skill in applying modern effective supervisory principles and practices.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations and to organize, coordinate, and supervise multiple resources and match resources with requests.
•  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fire departments, emergency services agencies, schools, business and industry officials, other employees, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms; to prepare and submit clear and detailed reports.
• Ability to react quickly, effectively, and professionally in emergency situations and major disasters and to use sound judgment and determine best options.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply laws, policies, procedures, and regulations during specific emergency situations and in daily operations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, feeling, grasping, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform very heavy work exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, for extensive reading and work with figures; to operate a computer, to inspect fire sites, to use measuring devices, to operate a motor vehicle; and to determine accuracy and neatness of work.

DESIRABLE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from a two-year college or university and considerable progressively responsible experience in fire investigations and prevention work, emergency management principles and practices, including some supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid non-CDL Class A North Carolina driver’s license.
• NC Level II Firefighter
• NC Level I Hazardous Materials Responder (minimum – higher certification preferred)
• NC Level III Fire Inspector Certification
• Certified Fire Arson Investigator and/or Fire Investigation Technician from the State of North Carolina
• NC Emergency Vehicle Driver
• Completion of NIMS ICS 700, 800, 100, 200, 300, 400
• Completion of USFA O-305 - All Hazards Incident Management Team or equivalent

Application Process:    Burke County paper applications can be obtained at the Human Resources office, located at 200 Avery Ave. Morganton, NC, Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm; online applications are available at: www.burkenc.org. Completed applications should provide a complete work history, including a detailed and thorough list of job duties. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Burke County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

Hiring Range: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 

• Possession of a valid non-CDL Class A North Carolina driver’s license.
• NC Level II Firefighter
• NC Level I Hazardous Materials Responder (minimum – higher certification preferred)
• NC Level III Fire Inspector Certification
• Certified Fire Arson Investigator and/or Fire Investigation Technician from the State of North Carolina
• NC Emergency Vehicle Driver
• Completion of NIMS ICS 700, 800, 100, 200, 300, 400
• Completion of USFA O-305 - All Hazards Incident Management Team or equivalent