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Airport Fire Chief

Category: Classified/Excluded 
Pay Grade: C30 
Job Code: 22630 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.  

JOB SUMMARY 

This is supervisory level administrative and technical work over crash/fire/rescue operations at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. Employees in this class plan, organize and direct crash/fire/rescue operations in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Airport Certification Standards and other federal, state and local laws.  Work includes responsibility for budget planning and administration, supervision, direction and training of airport crash/fire/rescue personnel in addition to the maintenance of crash/fire/rescue equipment, vehicles and station facilities. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all inclusive) 

• Plans, organizes, supervises and directs crash/fire/rescue operations on St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport property; 
• Reviews and approves training and testing programs for crash/fire/rescue personnel; 
• Plans departmental work schedule, assigns duty shifts to crash/fire/rescue personnel and directs and participates in Airport standby, fire and crash alarms; 
• Prepares and submits annual fiscal budget requests; 
• Supervises equipment and vehicle mechanical and preventative maintenance programs and maintains inventory of crash/fire/rescue equipment and supplies; 
• Assists in the preparation of the Airport Emergency Response Manual; 
• Plans, assigns and directs the operation and monitoring of Airport Protective Service radio and telephone communications in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.; 
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

Education and Experience: 

3 years supervisory experience in airport crash/fire/rescue operations plus possession and maintenance of a valid Florida Certification as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, or; Associate’s degree or completion of two years of college education plus 1 year supervisory experience in airport crash/fire/rescue operations plus possession and maintenance of a valid Florida Certification as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, or; An equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.   

Special Qualifications (May be required depending on area of assignment): 

• Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any. 
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations. 
• Other knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials required for a specific position. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

• Knowledge of modern firefighting and lifesaving techniques, methods and principles of aircraft and structural firefighting and emergency first aid; 
• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration Airport Certification Standards relating to crash/fire/rescue operations; 
• Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of crash/fire/rescue equipment and apparatus; 
• Knowledge of the structural composition of various commercial, military and private aircraft, the combustion properties of aircraft fuel and the layout of the Airport complex including the location of roads, runways, taxiways and hydrants; 
• Ability to react quickly and calmly and to effectively direct crash/fire/rescue operations under emergency conditions; 
• Ability to prepare and present oral and written reports in an accurate, concise and timely manner. 

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS 

This work requires exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:  

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium. 
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet. 
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine. 
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. 
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. 
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm. 
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand. 
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees. 
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. 
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion. 
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward. 
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.  
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles. 
• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc. 
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device. 
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone. 
• Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes. 
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. 
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers. 
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.  
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Work is performed in an environment with crisis situations that require major decisions involving people, resources, and property.