Assistant Deputy Fire Chief – City of Richmond

People l Excellence l Leadership l Team l Innovation

Imagine a career with the City of Richmond, a dynamic environment for growth and continuous improvement, fostered by our collective strengths and creativity. We are a vibrant, diverse cosmopolitan city, supported by a strong economy and recognized as leaders in innovation and service delivery excellence. The City of Richmond is committed to be the most appealing, livable, well-managed community in Canada, a goal that is only made possible by developing our most valuable asset – our people. This is a great opportunity to join our team and shape our community.

Assistant Deputy Fire Chief

Job ID: 2022-0393

Overview
The Assistant Deputy Chief is a member of the Richmond Fire-Rescue’s (RFR) senior leadership team and plays a critical leadership role in achieving RFR’s and the City of Richmond’s (CoR) business goals and objectives. The position of Assistant Deputy Chief encompasses broad-based knowledge, skill, and ability relating to RFR and CoR management and supports succession planning. The incumbent shares administrative and operational management portfolios and reporting relationships as assigned by the Fire Chief. The Assistant Deputy Chief is available for on-call after hours duty rotations and administrative projects as assigned.  The Assistant Deputy Chief will act for the Deputy Chief in their absence when assigned and, on occasion, act as Fire Chief when directed by the Fire Chief.

Reporting to a Deputy Fire Chief, the Assistant Deputy Chief is accountable for key high-level business functions that support department administrative and operational programs, services and emergency response activities. Areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to: human resources and labour relations, employee performance management, grievance administration, disciplinary proceedings, wellness and attendance management, recruitment and staff development; emergency operations; incident management; technical teams management, community safety objectives, prevention activities, planning, logistics, infrastructure, capital programs and project management.

Performance is evaluated in terms of effective leadership, attainment of stated management objectives and standards as well as demonstrated commitment to the department’s Mission, Vision and Values. The Assistant Deputy Chief is also a member of the employer’s collective bargaining committee.

Examples of key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supports and implements the vision and direction of the Fire Chief and Richmond Fire-Rescue Department in a positive manner.
• Supports the Deputy Chief on complex human resources matters including labour relations, grievance administration, disciplinary proceedings, union-management meetings, collective bargaining, operational initiatives, programs, standards and policies.
• Supports emergency response and incident management through Incident Command System (ICS) role at the site level, or through Department Operations Center (DOC) or Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as required.
• Provides reasoned and balanced advice, historical and evidence-based information and briefing materials to a variety of stakeholders.
• Ensures the Fire Chief and Deputy Chiefs are apprised of operational developments that relate to the interests of RFR
• Serves as a chair or participating member of several diverse boards, committees and organizations either within RFR, within the City or relative stakeholders, customers and the community at large.
• Other duties as assigned.

Leadership of Staff:

• Provides administrative and operational leadership to staff in service and delivery areas of fire administration, prevention, suppression, communications, staff development, fleet services and emergency management programs.
• Takes a leadership role in managing employee performance, including: coaching, mentoring, resolving conflict, discipline up to and including termination.
• Directs Battalion Chiefs and Fire Captains on matters related to daily operations staffing, work assignments, training, motivation, coaching, performance evaluation, discipline and leadership.
• Leads or oversees recruitment, orientation and training of new staff in accordance with Fire Department and City policies.
• Assumes leadership and project management role on assigned special projects. Ensures project accountability including: work plan development, continuous productivity, progress benchmarks and outcomes.
• Prepares guidelines for work performance, expenditures and use of resources.
• Evaluates the work of subordinate staff, guides them and identifies needs for development.
• Role models effective public participation and relationship building with community stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Branch Operations:

• Manages labour relations issues including investigations, responding to grievances, applying corrective discipline up to and including termination, resolving human rights issues, etc.
• Maintains the confidentiality of sensitive information such as personal, disciplinary, confidential and privileged information.
• Maintains confidentiality on human resource and labour relations and management matters including preparing and participating with collective bargaining, mentoring, performance management, recruitment.
• Strategizes and executes short and long term divisional and individual goals and objectives involving project, business and budget planning
• Prepares and manages branch budget, including capital and discretionary spending.
• Directs budget preparation and administration: monitors and ensures the control and accountability for expenditures and productivity.
• Responds to high risk emergency incidents as required and where appropriate may assume incident command functions.
• Monitors operational resource allocation including deployment of fire equipment and apparatus.
• Ensures Fire policies and standards are consistently applied and adhered to by the Department.
• Builds relationships and ensures collaboration with other departments regarding division initiatives that may have multi-department involvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Candidates must have demonstrated leadership experience including a certificate in Fire Service Leadership or Administration, and ten years of progressive experience in a municipal fire service. Candidates are expected to have supplemented their professional development with additional courses/curriculum. Equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Achievement Orientation – Focuses efforts on achieving fire service standards of excellence.
• Decision Making – Makes decisions involving varied levels of risk and ambiguity.
• Ethical Accountability and Responsibility – Takes responsibility for actions and makes decision that are consistent with high, ethical service standards.
• Fostering Relationships – Seeks and builds alliances with internal and external stakeholders to meet their needs and further organizational objectives. Uses an understanding of stakeholder needs, desires and critical success factors to influence priorities, initiatives and objectives and teaches others to do the same.
• Interactive Communication – Utilizes communications strategies in an effort to achieve common goals, influence and gain collaborative support from others.
• Organizational Awareness – Understands and uses organizational awareness to deliver optimal services. Seeks to understand the critical concerns and most important issues of stakeholders to find optimal solutions.
• Resource Management – Ensures the effective and efficient use of all resources.
• Strategic Thinking – Analyzes, anticipates and understands information from a broad perspective to anticipate problems or consequences and address issues strategically.
• Visioning – Supports, promotes and ensures alignment of services with the organization’s vision and values through a continuous improvement mindset.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Grade 12 or equivalent.
• Incident Command Level 300.
• NFPA Fire Officer III certification or equivalent.
• Demonstrated computer competency in related business and office suite software programs.
• Demonstrated business writing competency including briefings, memorandums and reports.
• Accepts as a core function the ability to be available for rotational after-hours on-call duty and community service functions.
• Valid Class 5 Drivers Licence for the Province of British Columbia.

Preferred Qualifications:

• NFPA 1021 Fire Officer IV diploma, certificate or equivalent.
• Industry or management professional designation or equivalent.

Working Conditions:
Evening and additional hours are routine and expected of the incumbent, as well as rotational on-call assignments. The majority of this position is performed in an office environment.

The City of Richmond offers a competitive pay and benefits program, attractive incentives and a compressed work day schedule. If you are looking to make a difference, and to share our vision “to be the most appealing, livable, and well-managed community in Canada,” please submit your application by following the instructions below:

The City of Richmond uses an applicant tracking system for candidates wishing to view and apply for available career opportunities. For further information regarding position details and to apply, please visit our website at https://www.richmond.ca/city-hall/careers/current.htm.

We are accepting applications until July 4, 2023. 

The City of Richmond is an inclusive employer committed to employment equity objectives and invites applications from all qualified individuals. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those under consideration will be contacted. If you are unsuccessful, please accept our appreciation for your interest. No telephone inquiries please.
 
This position is restricted to those legally entitled to work in Canada.