District Chief

Minimum Qualifications

** This position is subject to either a 40-hour week or 56-hour week.
** Hourly rate is determined based on 40-hour ($38.99/$81,115) OR    56-hour  position ($27.85/$81,115)  
Associate degree and Fire Officer 2 or Bachelor degree in a related field, and five years' experience as a Florida Minimum Standards Firefighter, of which two years must have been at the Lieutenant/Paramedic classification on a fire apparatus or 6 years as a lead paramedic on an Advanced Life Support Ambulance.

Upon submission of application, proof of the following must be provided:

1.  Associate degree and Fire Officer 2 or Bachelor degree in related field.

2.  Current State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance.

3.  Current State of Florida Paramedic certificate.

4.  Current designation as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider. 

5.  A valid State of Florida driver's license; free from moving violation citations for a period of not less than six months preceding employment; and within the past three years, applicant must have had no convictions for reckless driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, and must not have had a driver's license suspended pursuant to Florida law.  'The Driving Policy is currently under review. You may qualify under the new policy; we encourage you to apply for the position'. 6.  Successful applicants must meet all requirements for Drivers as listed in Florida Statutes 401.281.

Upon appointment to position, the following must be completed and maintained as a condition of employment: 

1.    Current State of Florida Firefighter Certificate of Compliance.
2.    Current State of Florida Paramedic Certification.
3.    Certification by the Alachua County Medical Director within 30 days of employment.


NOTE: EXTERNAL APPLICANTS MUST ADDITIONALLY PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

1)   A sworn affidavit attesting to the non-use of tobacco products.

Click this link to retrieve the document.

THIS MUST BE SUBMITTED AS WELL AS ALL OTHER DOCUMENTATION LISTED ABOVE. 

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen & physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.


Position Summary

This is responsible supervisory, administrative and technical work in the Department of Fire Rescue.

An employee in this classification has primary responsibility for directing the day-to-day emergency medical and fire suppression operations of the zones and shift assigned. Work involves supervising the proper staffing of vehicles; recommending personnel actions; evaluating employees; and reviewing reports of assigned zones and preparing operational reports as required.

Work is performed under the general direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observations of results obtained.  This position reports directly to an Assistant Chief.

Paramedic Incentive Pay:

Alachua County Fire Rescue offers a $7500 annual incentive in addition to the annual salary to all applicable bargaining unit employees who possess a State of Florida Paramedic certification and receive medical clearance certification by the Alachua County Medical Director.Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate supervisors and employees including determining work procedures and preparing work schedules; issuing written and oral instructions; assigning duties and reviewing work for exactness, neatness, and conformance with departmental and County policies and procedures.

Recommends personnel actions such as new hires, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary procedures including warnings, suspensions, and procedures.

Prepares and conducts regular and special employee performance reviews.

Prepares and conducts work related training for subordinate employees.

Responsible for supervising, planning and coordinating the activities of employees in assigned zones and shift.

Meets with off-going District Chief to assure continuity of operations.

Schedules and assigns personnel to appropriate shifts and/or zone stations.

Initiates command procedures in compliance with the department's Incident Command System (ICS).

Assures that all vehicles are properly staffed and that required medical supplies and equipment are available and in proper working order.

Assures that operations and medical care are in accordance with applicable Federal, State and Local laws and regulations; monitors and evaluates operational activities and makes recommendations for change as required.

Responds to emergency medical and fire alarm calls; determines what equipment and staffing is needed and exercises command of the emergency scene.

Makes decisions regarding the best methods of rescue and/or suppression and extinguishing of fires. Supervises/assists with the laying of hose lines, direction of water streams, pressure of streams, placing of ladders, ventilation of buildings and placing of salvage covers.

Assists in the formulation of departmental policies and procedures.

Makes recommendations for the selection of equipment and/or vehicles.

Maintains accurate records, logs and files and compiles reports as required.

Functions as a Paramedic or Firefighter at emergency scenes as required.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Extensive knowledge of current principles and practices in emergency medical services including emergency medical treatment, rescue operations and basic and advanced life support.

Thorough knowledge of modern firefighting principles, practices and procedures.

Thorough knowledge and understanding of departmental Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual.

Considerable knowledge of modern principles and  practices of management and  personnel.

Considerable knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations relating to community emergency services.

Skill in effectively supervising and coordinating the activities of subordinate supervisors and employees.

Ability to analyze emergency situations quickly and accurately, establish command and operational priorities, and respond with an appropriate, effective course of action.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the general public.

Ability to obtain a current physician's certificate attesting to general good health and freedom from communicable diseases.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; reach with hands and arms; taste or smell, and use hands to finger, handle or feel.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move in excess of 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet, humid conditions (non-weather); works near moving mechanical parts, and is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee frequently works in high, precarious places, and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals, and extreme heat (non-weather). The employee occasionally works with explosives, and is occasionally exposed to extreme cold (non-weather); risk of electrical shock; risk of radiation; and vibration.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

See Position Description