Fire Chief

Job Description

Become a part of the BIW legacy and help keep our shipbuilders safe.

The position of Chief of the BIW Fire Department reports to the Director Environmental, Health & Safety and manages a team of approximately (18) Firefighter/EMTs at the BIW firehouse on Washington Street.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership:

• Assume incident command and coordination for non-mutual aid-type response events, and unified command and coordination with mutual aid command staff during emergency situations
• Evaluate readiness capabilities of firefighting and rescue personnel and equipment and adjust training programs and equipment as necessary
• Support safety initiatives as necessary and as directed by the Director of EHS

Project Execution:

• Ensure emergency equipment has proper preventive maintenance to ensure readiness
• Develop fire, flooding, and technical rescue procedures and other standard operational guidelines
• Develop, implement, and document fire drill criteria, plans and after-action reporting
• Support Business Continuity planning and drills
• Ensure building and shipboard surveillance rounds and fire extinguisher inspections are completed as required by contracts with the Navy and applicable NFPA standards
• Develop and manage department operating budget

Training and Development:

• Develop, deliver and plan training events to ensure proficiency of those involved in Fire/EMS response
• Ensure neighboring and mutual aid Fire Departments are familiar with BIW facilities and capabilities to enhance their ability to protect the shipyard facilities and personnel
• Leverage industry best practices and lessons learned to enhance or improve department readiness

Team Collaboration and Communication:

• Interface with departments across BIW, with particular emphasis on working with the Operations, Medical and Security teams to ensure clarity of BIW Fire/EMS protection measures and response plans
• Establish and maintain working relationships with neighboring mutual aid support departments
• Interface with Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath (SSBA) on issues related to fire and flood response and post-incident follow-up
• Execute Fire/EMS operations IAW the collective bargaining agreement between BIW and the IAFF

Continuous Improvement:

• Provide recommendations to management for the improvement of BIW's health and safety program, and specifically Fire Department and EMS operations

Required/Preferred Education/Training

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Public Administration or closely related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Completion of Fire Basic Training Academy or equivalent required
• Successful completion of Rope and Confined Space Operations/Technician required
• Structural Collapse Technician certification preferred

Required/Preferred Experience

• 10 years firefighting experience required, 5 years of which must have been equivalent to Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, or Fire Marshall.5 years as an EMT/Paramedic
• Thorough knowledge of modern fire suppression and prevention and emergency medical services principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment; working knowledge of first aid and resuscitation techniques and the application as demonstrated through State E.M.T. Certification; considerable knowledge of applications laws, ordinances, departmental standard operating procedures and regulations
• Experience with emergency preparedness and in-depth understanding of NIMS (National Incident Management System) required.
• Demonstrated management, project coordination and leadership skills required.
• Strong written, oral communications and organizational skills required.
• Must be physically able to lift, crawl, climb, and work in confined spaces and at heights (required).
• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and familiarity with Access required.
• Ability to successfully multi-task and to plan and coordinate time dependent activities required
• Strong interpersonal, team building, and decision-making abilities required
• Flexibility to adjust to changing priorities required
• Ability to establish effective relationships with personnel in all areas and levels of the company required. Ability and willingness to work in, and promote a true team environment.
• Ability to obtain a secret security clearance required.