Battalion Chief

The purpose of this position is to perform the duties of a Shift Commander, whose duties are to manage, coordinate, direct, and supervise firefighting personnel when they respond to emergent and non-emergent calls. Responsibilities also include instructing and training subordinates, ensuring equipment and facilities at all department locations are adequately maintained, and upholding discipline, order, and cohesion among department personnel.

Supervision Received: 

Works under the general supervision of the department’s Assistant & Division Chiefs.

Supervision Exercised:

The Battalion Chief’s duties are to manage, coordinate, direct, and supervise Firefighter/EMS personnel assigned to a shift. 

1. Manages assigned personnel through the effective utilization of company officers, including assigning and reviewing work and procedures, evaluating performance, maximizing performance and/or correcting unacceptable performance; completes the formal performance appraisal process; and corrects or recommends personnel actions in accordance with fire department and city policies.
2. Support and communicate with subordinates the department goals and objectives and effectively utilize the resources of the shift to achieve those goals and objectives.
3. Act as Incident Commander (IC) of multi-company operations involving fire and medical emergencies, hazardous materials response, and other emergency scenes, implementing and utilizing the Incident Command System (ICS) to control and mitigate the situation until relieved or no longer needed.
4. Assure that activities of the shift are appropriately documented, including work attendance, trades, employee sickness and vacation leave, compensation time earned, tasks performed, ambulance duty, etc.
5. Meet with other Chief Officers regularly to communicate shift progress and challenges and work to assure continuity of operations across all shifts.
6. Oversee safety for all assigned personnel, including reviewing injury, accident, and exposure reports; identifying unsafe work environments or behaviors; and initiating action to correct the problem.
7. Maintain thorough knowledge of current all-hazard emergency service techniques, tactics, and equipment. Participate in ongoing training.
8. Develop, implement, and manage crew-training plans. Develop subordinates through training, coaching, and job assignments. Mentor replacement and/or aspiring Battalion Chiefs.
9. Develop, implement, and evaluate standard operating procedures for the fire department.
10. Conduct Fire Inspections and document violations.
11. Conduct fire investigations to determine origin and preliminary cause.
12. Prepare for and assume the role of Public Information Officer as needed. Prepare news releases.
13. Receive, investigate, and determine disposition of citizen complaints against fire department operations. If the Battalion Chief determines, the investigation will be handed off to the Division Chief.
14. Deal with public inquiries and concerns according to department policy and procedure.
15. Prepare budget requests and recommend purchases.
16. Deliver public fire and life safety educational programs.
17. Develop and maintain skills to manage the use of technology in the department.
18. Support and participate in intergovernmental and interagency cooperation.

• Must be at least 18 years old

• High School Diploma, GED, or HSED and an associate degree or a minimum of 60 college-level credits (Fire Protection, Fire Science, Paramedic, or related fields preferred)

• Minimum 6 years of fire service experience

• Valid Driver’s License

• Nationally Registered EMT-Basic

• State of Wisconsin licensed EMT-Basic

• Firefighter II Certification (WTCS Board or IFSAC Accredited)

• National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) 700, 800, and 100, 200, 300, 400 Certifications

• Hazardous Materials Operations Certificate

• Driver/Operator-Pumper Certification

• Driver/Operator-Aerial Certification

• Fire Inspector I Certification (WTCS Board or IFSAC Accredited)

• Fire Officer I Certification (WTCS Board or IFSAC Accredited)

• Fire Officer II Certification (WTCS Board or IFSAC Accredited) within one year of date of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• Emergency Services Instructor I Certification (WTCS Board or IFSAC Accredited)

• Nationally Registered EMT-Paramedic

• State of Wisconsin licensed EMT-Paramedic

• Bachelor’s Degree

1. Basic Level – MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
2. Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria, to determine consequences, and to identify and select alternatives. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, and/or sort, as well as assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data.
3. Ability to counsel, mediate, and/or provide first-line supervision. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.
4. Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as ambulance reports, incident reports, schedules, maps, personnel records, technical operating manuals, firefighting manuals, training materials, hazardous materials manuals, department rules and regulations, procedures, guidelines, and non-routine correspondence.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with department personnel, news media representatives, and the public.
6. Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values, and spatial relationships. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.
7. Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.
8. Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control, and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
9. Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring monitoring multiple conditions and making multiple, complex, and rapid adjustments, such as various firefighting equipment and tools, computer keyboard/terminal, calculator, and fire truck.
10. Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements such as rapid deployment of firefighting equipment.
11. Ability to exert mildly heavy physical effort in moderate to heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
12. Ability to recognize and identify harmonious or contrasting combinations, as well as recognize individual characteristics of colors, forms, sounds, odors, and textures associated with job-related objects, materials, and ingredients.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those required of an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee will be required to do heavy work for varying lengths of time. He/she will be expected to do heavy lifting, pulling, climbing, and running. The employee will respond to emergencies and must react at a moment’s notice. The employee will be expected to transition from a fully asleep state to a work/high stress state within 3 to 4 minutes. The employee will encounter life-threatening situations that will put him/her under extreme stress. He/she will be driving emergency vehicles. The employee is required to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (respirator).

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

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in all outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places, and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or EMS activities when noise levels may be loud.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. 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.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the employer's needs and job requirements change.

Salary : $91,652