Assistant Chief - Operations

Position Summary

This position is is responsible for leadership of a 65 person platoon including both management responsibilities – human resources, labour relations, business planning, stakeholder relationship management (other civic departments and external agencies) – as well as assuming the senior command role at fires and emergency incidents from strategy development and incident action planning through to tactical and personnel assignment and media relations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Operational Planning
 

• As a member of the Department Management Team this position leads the development of annual plans for platoon operations and contributes to the development of the broader Departmental strategic and business plans
• In the context of annual planning, sets objectives, service levels and performance targets in support of the Accreditation Process using metrics to compare to best practices
• Ensures development of policies, systems, and procedures focused on operations
• Undertakes research / attends conferences to support development of programs, services, policies, procedures
• Assumes specialist planning and organizational responsibility for specific operational portfolios including Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Emergency Medical response and Dispatch, and collaborates across other specialties
• Assumes responsibility for representation of Suppression and Rescue personnel in community initiatives developed for fire and life safety programming
• Develops and reviews Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as required
   

Financial Management

• Participates in the development of the annual budget focused on operations
• Ensures that there is timely and accurate forecasting and ongoing analysis of the budget and expenditures and where necessary, ensures proactive mitigation strategies are developed and implemented
• Ensures that financial management practices are aligned with City standards and practices
• Participates in purchasing - identification of requirements, review of specification, costing
• Approves purchases within scope of defined authority
• Oversees time keeping of personnel for payroll purposes (EmpCenter)

Stakeholder Relationship Management
 

• Manages media relationship at specific incidents-provision of information and updates
• Works collaboratively with other agencies and organizations-police, insurance, other municipal inspectors and provincial fire prevention personnel
• Maintain community partnerships. (Schools, Upgrader, Airport)
• Maintains interdepartmental relationships within the corporation (Water Works, Roadways, Transit etc.)

Human Resource Leadership
 

• Provides day-to-day management and supervision of platoon supervisor roles (Senior Captains / Captains/Lieutenants)
• Plans and oversees operational workforce planning to ensure appropriate coverage and deployment of personnel
• Provides direct leadership, mentoring, training and coaching
• Ensures competency management plans are developed, implemented and documented
• Conducts employee performance planning including goal setting, review and assessment
• Monitors organization culture and productivity, and intervenes when necessary
• Provides leadership for employee/labour relations issues; this includes participation in formal grievance and arbitration processes and contributes to the development and research supporting collective bargaining
• Responsibility for discipline including face to face discussions, discipline letters developed to be placed on employee file, ensuring discipline is upheld.

Risk Management
 

• ​​Ensures that Department-specific policies, procedures and practices are developed, maintained and adhered to
• Ensures compliance with all relevant international, national, provincial and civic legislation, regulation, and policy
• Conducts regular risk assessments and develops plans to effectively mitigate identified risks

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Operational Accountabilities
 

• Assumes the senior command role at fire scenes and other incidents providing a strategic attack plan through risk management, development of an incident action plan and management of internal and external resources necessary to resolve the emergency
• Responsibility for allocation of resources, both personnel and equipment based on a risk assessment
• Leads media / public relations while attending / in command of emergency response
• Makes the decision to escalate the emergency event, activates the City emergency response plan and serves in Emergency Operations Centre
• Reviews incident responses and provides analysis and related recommendations for future improvement related to strategy, apparatus, policy and standard operating procedures

Knowledge
 

• Knowledge of core management practices including program/service delivery models, policy development, planning, budgeting, performance management and human resources
• Knowledge of other agencies and relevant protocols – provincial fire bodies, police services
• Technical knowledge of fire suppression, hazardous materials, technical rescue, emergency medical services, dispatch and emergency management principles
• Knowledge of relevant legislation/regulations/bylaws and standards at each of an international, national, provincial and municipal level
• Knowledge of theory and application of incident command systems
   

Communications and Interpersonal Skills
 

• Develops and maintains relationships within the Department and across all platoons
• Develops and maintains relationships with other emergency service providers to ensure coordinated approach
• Change management skills include recognition and resolution of resistance to change
• There is a requirement to speak on behalf of the City, including information to media
• Write clear, concise, coherent reports including investigations
• Requirement to maintain a working relationship with Union leadership
• Represent department leadership during educational or training presentations to a variety of internal and external interest groups

Working/Other Conditions

• While the majority of the role does not have atypical Physical, Visual, Auditory and Concentration Demands (PVAC) demands, when there is a requirement to attend emergency scenes there are some heightened PVAC demands
• The working environment is a combination of office space as well as attendance at fire scenes and other emergency events (weather and other adverse environmental conditions – smoke, heat, toxicity, etc.)
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Department Management Team.