Fire Captain

Lead from the Front. Serve with Excellence. Make a Lasting Impact.

The Chatham County Fire Department (CCFD) is actively seeking qualified, experienced, and leadership-driven candidates to apply for the position of Fire Captain. Located in one of Georgia’s most dynamic and rapidly growing regions, Chatham County offers the opportunity to lead in a department committed to service excellence, public safety innovation, and professional development.

This position is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and performing activities including fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material release mitigation, and emergency medical response; inspections, investigations, and training; and resource management and support functions of an assigned division.   Duties also include managing assigned programs such as community risk reduction, emergency medical responder services, special operations, etc., as required.  This position is considered part of the Chatham County Fire Department (CCFD) critical workforce and subject to call back. The Fire Captain may serve as a Division/Group Supervisor during a disaster or emergency activation of the CCFD Incident Management Team and may be assigned to special projects or administrative duties by the Fire Chief to support the department’s mission, vision, and goals.

The principal function of an employee in this class is to provide leadership and supervision of fire department activities, ensuring the effective delivery of fire suppression, emergency medical response, rescue, hazardous material mitigation, and community risk reduction services. This includes overseeing assigned programs, such as inspections, investigations, training, and resource management, in alignment with the department’s mission, vision, and goals.  The work is performed under the direction of a Fire Battalion Chief, with significant latitude for independent judgment and initiative, particularly during emergency response operations.  Supervision is exercised over assigned subordinate personnel.  Supervisory responsibilities encompass mentoring and managing subordinate personnel, including Fire Lieutenants, Apparatus Operators, and Firefighters, to maintain operational readiness, safety, and adherence to departmental policies. 

The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain collaborative relationships with departmental leadership, medical, emergency service and associated agencies, community stakeholders, County personnel, elected and appointed officials, representatives of Federal, State, County and municipal agencies, and the general public.  Duties are performed across various environments, including office, station, and field settings, often involving exposure to hazardous conditions and requiring adaptability, decisive action, and commitment to the department’s operational excellence.

• Supports the mission, vision, goals, objectives, and organizational values of the department with the highest ethical and moral standards; 
• Administers department rules and regulations, protocols, general orders, standard operating policies and procedures;
• Sets a positive example with regard to personal fitness and wellness. Supports initiatives that encourages a healthy workforce and the philosophy that everyone goes home at the end of the shift and retires absent of disability;
• Works alongside others in the organization to continue to build and nurture a compassionate, functional and positive culture; 
• Supports accountability, competence, discipline, engagement, recognition, and continued professional development;
• Supervises and mentors assigned subordinate personnel; 
• Conducts and documents timely performance evaluations; performs formal and informal counseling sessions; corrects work deficiencies and develops work skills; anticipates and resolves potential problems that may affect job performance; issues approved corrective action; and provides guidance on professional development of assigned personnel to maintain high standards necessary for efficient, professional fire department operations;
• Acts decisively, demonstrates flexibility, fosters continuous improvement and innovation, encourages diversity, thinks systematically and inspires change, manages performance, manages conflicts and issues, communicates effectively and inspires excellent customer service;
• Establishes work priorities and coordinates work to be accomplished in assigned battalions.  The Fire Captain is responsible for the electronic daily logs, inventory, discrepancy tickets, emergency call reports, stations status whiteboard, daily duties, training, public fire and life safety education demonstrations, tours, pre-fire plans, hydrant inspections and testing, etc.;
• Responsible for proper maintenance and care of all equipment, apparatus, facilities and grounds; directs and participates in periodic inspection of same to ensure that all assigned equipment, apparatus, facilities, and supplies are in a state of readiness; and ensure completion of proper maintenance, documentation and repairs; 
• Responds to alarms as an officer of a firefighting company; performs variety of firefighting and emergency medical care functions as the situation demands, including Incident Command;
• Responds to general public complaints, requests for information and guidance, cooperates with surrounding communities in firefighting and rescue efforts;
• Completes all other related job functions, requirements, projects, and assignments as directed by immediate supervisor;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.

• Associate's degree from a Department of Education-accredited college or university, and
• Six (6) years of continuous and current full-time (paid) service in a career municipal, county, or state fire department; 
• Six (6) years full-time (paid) experience as a certified front-line structural firefighter;
• Two (2) years as a pumper and aerial driver/operator; 
• One (1) year as a Fire Lieutenant or higher rank of an operational fire company;
• Two (2) years of experience as lead instructor teaching fire related topics that demonstrate the required knowledge, abilities, behaviors and traits to successfully perform the essential function of a fire instructor; and
• The experience must exhibit a consistent pattern of participation, personal and professional growth, and increasing organizational responsibility; or
• Documented equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to function in the position.

As we continue to uphold the highest standards in our fire department's recruitment process, highlighted below are the requirements applicable to all certified positions within the fire department. These standards are crucial to ensure continued integrity, performance, and professionalism from each member of the fire department.

•  Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application;
• High school diploma or equivalent;
• U.S. Citizen and possess a valid driver's license;
• Successfully pass all pre-employment testing (written, physical agility test, and interview), NFPA 1582/1583 medical and fitness assessment, drug screen, background/criminal/motor vehicle history review, and other pre-employment requirements;
• Meet all certification and licensing requirements to function in the position;

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application;
• High school diploma or equivalent;
• U.S. Citizen and possess a valid driver's license;
• Successfully pass all pre-employment testing (written, physical agility test, and interview), NFPA 1582/1583 medical and fitness assessment, drug screen, background/criminal/motor vehicle history review, and other pre-employment requirements;
• Meet all certification and licensing requirements to function in the position;
  • Valid Georgia Class F license (or equivalent);
  • Georgia Certified Firefighter;
  • Georgia-licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT);
  • NPQ or IFSAC Hazardous Materials Operations Level;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Firefighter II certification;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Fire Instructor I certification;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Apparatus Driver/Operator Pumper;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Apparatus Driver/Operator Aerial;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Fire Officer II;
  • NPQ or IFSAC Incident Safety Officer;
  • Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) NPQ Evaluator;
  • NIMS-ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800 current version;
  • CCFD Company Officer Academy

Lateral Hire Requirements

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements outlined above, lateral hire candidates must currently hold or successfully complete the following:

• Georgia-licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or National Registry EMT with the ability to obtain Georgia licensure within 30 days of hire;
• Georgia Certified Firefighter, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire;
• Completion of the CCFD lateral recruit academy;
• Completion of the CCFD Company Officer Academy within 180 days of hire;
• Completion of one (1) year probation period beginning on the hire date.

Background Requirements

Background and Motor Vehicle History Investigation:

Applicants must undergo an extensive national background investigation in accordance with the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) rules and regulations. Applicants for uniformed firefighting positions must not have the following automatic disqualifiers:

Automatic Disqualifiers – Criminal Background Review:

• Pending criminal cases;
• Convictions, nolo contendere or pleas involving sexual offenses, Domestic Violence Act offenses, impersonating a police officer, perjury or false statements;
• Felony convictions, nolo contendere or plea involving felony arrests (within the last 10 years);
• Multiple misdemeanors within the past 3 years;
• Serious misdemeanor convictions, nolo contendere, or plea within the past 3 years;
• No patterns of criminal involvement or intent related to offenses that may indicate a disregard for the law or ethical and moral conduct.

Automatic Disqualifiers – Motor Vehicle Report Review:

• DUI/DWI charge with deposition of nolo contendere, conviction or plea within the past five years; or two in the last seven years;
• Driver license suspensions within the past three years; and no two or more suspensions in the past seven years;
• Three moving violations in the past two years; and no six or more in the past seven years;
• Multiple accidents within the past two years;
• Reckless Driving within the past two years;
• Vehicular homicide or hit and run charge or arrest;
• Fleeing or attempting to elude the police charge or arrest.

Other Necessary Requirements

• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, standards, rules and regulations as they apply to fire and emergency medical services, fire prevention and code enforcement, and human resource management;
• Knowledge of modern fire prevention and suppression, fire protection systems, water supply, building construction, fire rescue operations, hazardous materials response, crash victim    extrication, driving and operating pumper and aerial fire apparatus, emergency medical care, etc.;
• Knowledge of local geography, including the location of water mains, hydrants, and major target hazards;
• Knowledge of modern organizational administration, budgeting, and resource management;
• Must have strong communications skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to interact well with supervisors, other employees, citizens, and members from other departments;
• Skilled in use of computers, telephone, two-way radio, copy machine, fax machine, and calculator;
• Ability to understand and follow rules and regulations, protocols, general orders, and standard operating policies and procedures, and the line of authority;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology; 
• Ability to utilize integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Will require use of personal protective equipment (helmet, gloves, coat, pants, hood, boots, self- contained breathing apparatus, etc.) to complete various firefighter duties and tasks;
• Will require standing, running, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, climbing, balancing, bending/twisting; lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing/pulling of 100 pounds or more while completing physical fitness training or firefighter and emergency medical technician duties / tasks;
• Will require use of firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical care equipment such as fire hose, ladders, hydraulic, ropes, gas and electric power tools, patient lifting devices, etc.;
• Will require a successful annual medical evaluation and fitness assessment (NFPA 1582).

Why Choose CCFD?

• Serve in a leadership role in one of Georgia’s most respected fire departments
• Shape future operations and mentor the next generation of fire service professionals
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Professional environment that values wellness, integrity, and growth
• Be part of a culture that supports innovation and operational excellence

Apply Now

If you are a confident, capable, and motivated fire service leader ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply today.

To Apply: https://jobs.chathamcounty.org 

For questions or more information, please contact Chatham County Fire Department administrative office at (912) 219-0420.

Salary : $77,817