Battalion Chief of Training

Job Summary:

• The Battalion Chief of Training is responsible for the overall management of the Training Program as it pertains to service delivery and Employee Career Development.  The Battalion Chief of Training develops, administers and delivers all necessary training and education, unless otherwise delegated or assigned. 

 

Essential Functions:

 

Supervisory

• The Battalion Chief of Training supervises other certified instructors and sub-training program project areas within the department in relation to instructor duties only. 
•  Supervises, manages, and coordinates all activities related to developing personnel including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and support positions. This includes firefighter skill maintenance, engineer development programs, and company officer programs.
• The coordination and supervision of these programs shall include but are not limited to coordinating entrance/promotional examinations, scheduling and implementing training drills, classes, academies, and developing/updating position taskbooks. 
• Delegates training activities and lead instruction to assigned instructors. 
• Monitors and reports unsatisfactory training performance of personnel to appropriate supervisors. 
• Actively participates in regional training activities, including meetings, task groups and committees.

 

Administrative

• Maintains accurate employee training files and records. 
• Applies for certification for employees in accordance with RM Career Path.
• Performs periodic audits on training files and records.
• Maintains accurate training attendance and performance records. 
• Tracks EMS Continuing Education hours, EMS certifications, and ISO training records and submits audits to Chief Officers biannually or as needed.
• Develops daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual training schedules in accordance with the 2-year training plan and assign appropriate instructors. 
• Disseminates local/regional training opportunities and manages registration/tuition requirements.
• Supervises the training budget and approves expenses.
• Order, stock and purchase training-related resources and materials.
• Lead Coordinator for local training. 
• Must have thorough knowledge of Fire Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG’s) and administrative policies.
• Exhibit exceptional organizational skills, recordkeeping, filing and tracking.  Attends regular staff meetings to provide training updates and solicit input from staff. 
• Evaluate effectiveness of training practices and make adjustments based on the evaluation as well as input from the employees, partners or industry trends as appropriate.

 

Operational

• Maintain a thorough and current knowledge of, and oversee compliance with, departmental policies and procedures, SOG’s, Health & Safety and Human Resources policies and procedures as they pertain to the Training Program. 
• Maintain a thorough and current knowledge of fire ground safety, tactics and techniques, Emergency Medical Services standing orders.
• Act as lead instructor during drills or shift training, unless otherwise delegated or assigned, and provide quality assurance follow-up to instructors where needed. 
• Supervise the actions of all lead instructors during the preparation and delivery of training activities. 
• Foster and enforce a safe training environment. 
• Report to emergency scenes as needed for the purpose of observing and assessing quality of training and determining areas of training need. Scene activity may include direct participation in mitigation efforts, or act as a member of the Incident Command Staff.
• Serve as a role model by consistently displaying exemplary skill and knowledge through action, and leading by example at the highest legal and moral standards established by the existing culture.    
• Actively assist regional partners with professional development.

 

Training

• Lead, delegate and obtain cooperation within a group of subordinates. 
• Communicate, and demonstrate training methods effectively. 
• Develop, update and implement any SOG’s, policies and procedures that will benefit the company.
• Participate in all required training sessions, including, but not limited to; live fire drills, performance evaluation drills (TPE), ongoing skills maintenance, practice and training, annual OSHA drills, EMS skills and any other mandatory training.

 

Internal/External Customer Service

• Work involves serving and communicating with the public. May involve working with the media.
• Work requires cooperative/supportive interaction with co-workers, supervisors, mutual aid partners and workers in related fields. 
• The philosophy of the individual should be one of responsiveness to the employee and the public.
• Work requires positive interaction with representatives of local, state and federal agencies, organizations and companies. 

 

Communications

• Work requires all communications in a professional, respectful manner.
• Work requires communication across all divisions that must be done in a timely manner to be effective. Use of chain-of-command is expected whenever possible.

 

Compliance:

• Reviews EMS and fire reports for accuracy and correct process.
• Must participate in scheduled and unscheduled onsite compliance audits.
• Implements corrective/preventive measures as determined by the Corporate Compliance/Audit Committee.
• Cooperates with Internal Audit, Compliance and HR on any recommendations and changes to compliance and legal workflow issues.
• Takes swift and immediate action in accordance with Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance on any areas of concern, in collaboration with employee’s primary supervisor, union and HR representation.
• Complies and enforces all policies and procedures.
• Successfully completes all required Compliance Training within the required time.
• Maintains a personal record of no compliance-related corrective action notices (CAN) issued for 2 years prior to appointment, and for duration of the tenure of assignment.

 

Additional Duties:

• Perform other duties as directed.  Other duties may be assigned that are specific to the local operational needs or employee’s professional skill sets. 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• NFPA Fire Instructor II
• NFPA Fire Officer II or higher
• Arizona EMT and/or Paramedic or ability to get within 60 days
• Operations-level training in technical rescue disciplines (water, vehicle extrication, rope)
• Minimum 10 years of active experience in all-hazard service delivery (outlined in letter of intent or resume)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Exhibits comfortability with public speaking
• Arizona Driver’s License with no restrictions other than corrective lens or ability to get within 30 days

Preferred Qualifications:

• Arizona Paramedic or ability to get within 60 days
• AHA BLS Instructor
• AHA ACLS Instructor
• AHA PALS Instructor
• Public Information Officer
• NFPA 1403 Live Fire Instructor Qualification
• Hazmat Technician
• Associates or Bachelors degree
• 10 years full-time fire/EMS experience, including at least three (3) years at the rank of Captain or higher in a career department.

 

Physical Requirements:

• 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.
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• While performing the duties of this job, fire department personnel are frequently required to walk, sit, climb, crawl, kneel, bend, stoop, lift, talk, see, hear, feel, use clear speech and operate machinery, and is commensurate to adequately demonstrate the job skill expectations to others in a learning environment.  There is a need to reach and perform moderate (20-50 pounds) and frequent heavy (50-200 pounds) lifting during the use of tools and equipment, and while assisting others while extinguishing fires or treating ill/injured persons.
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• The position may require an annual pack test, physical ability test (PAT) or other approved fitness evaluation.  The pack test refers to work capacity tests used to qualify individuals for Wildland deployments.  The tests evaluate aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance. 

 

Working Conditions:

• 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.
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• Work is often performed in an indoor environment. Firefighting, Medical Services and Rescue duties may be performed in the outdoors in potentially adverse conditions, such as, but not limited to: extreme heat, cold, wet, humid, and loud situations. Work hours may involve daytime, night, after-hours and/or on weekends.

 

Cognitive/Psychosocial/Mental Requirements:

• Occasionally: Analyzing, judgment. General math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
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• Frequently: Problem solving, decision making, reasoning.
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• Constantly: Work requires the ability to read and write reports, give/follow orders and instructions, read documents, and demonstrate responsiveness in addressing the needs of others in a timely manner.

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Stress Factors:

• Frequently: Repetitive tasks, high pressure, short-notice due dates.
• Occasionally: Fatigue, intense tasks

 

Equipment Operated:

• All fire, rescue and medical equipment, tools and apparatus, including staff vehicles and ambulances, in an emergent and non-emergent manner.
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• Written and verbal communication devices such as radio, cell phone, computer, audio/visual equipment, training props, Microsoft Word/Excel and Office software, lesson plan generators (i.e.: PowerPoint), printer, fire and medical reporting programs.