Position: Fire Chief Job Description 

Status: Full time - FLSA exempt 

Employment Status:  At - Will 

Work Hours: Full time - As necessary to satisfactorily perform all duties and responsibilities of the position. 

Compensation: $50,0000 a year $5,000 towards health care

Date:  October 22, 2024 

This position description is established by the Board of Directors (Board) of the Mesa County Fire Authority (Authority) to outline the basic requirements, duties and general responsibilities of the position of Fire Chief.  This position is “at-will”, which means the Board may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for no reason, subject only to the requirements of State and Federal law.  Similarly, the employee may terminate the employment relationship without notice at any time and for no reason. 

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Position Summary: 

The Fire Chief is responsible for all aspects of the day to day administration, staffing, operation and finances of the Authority, including but not limited to maintaining the development, implementation, supervision, and evaluation of fire supervision, fire prevention, emergency rescue, hazardous materials, ambulance and emergency medical services provided by MCFA.   

The Fire Chief is responsible for the implementation of the rules, Policies and Procedures, SOP’s established by the Board, and carrying out the duties imposed upon the Fire Chief by Federal, State or local laws, rules, regulations, codes, standards or ordinances, including but not limited to, the duties imposed by the Colorado Special District Act, C.R.S.32-1-1002, applicable medical protocols, and the application of Fire Code/s and Nationally recognized Standards (“Collectively Controlling Law”). 

The Fire Chief of the Mesa County Fire Authority must be a Respected Leader and Role Model first to the Authority and its members, then to our citizens as well as the community at large.  He/She must embrace and model the Values of the Authority, that being Honesty, Integrity and Dedication. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

In addition to duties imposed by the Board from time to time, and by Controlling Law, the primary powers, duties and general responsibilities of the Fire Chief shall be: 

1.           Serve as the Chief Executive Officer under the general supervision of the Board. 

2.           Responsible for all aspects of day to day administration, operations, staffing and finances of the Authority. 

3.           Develop such rules, procedures and issues orders, in order to carry out the goals, objectives and responsibilities of Authority. 

4.           Responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of suppression, fire prevention, emergency rescue, hazardous materials, ambulance and emergency medical services provided by the Authority. 

5.           Recruit qualified individuals to be trained as Firefighter/EMT’s, providing a development process with written standards and measurable performance and duty expectations. 

6.           Require and receive from each member strict compliance  with all rules, policies and expectations of the Authority. 

7.           Supervise, direct and coordinate personnel and operations to achieve the Authority’s goals and objectives. 

8.           Maintain administrative responsibility for the usage, maintenance and security of Authority’s equipment, apparatus, facilities and other property. 

9.           Ensure that regular ( 1x/year) fire code inspections are performed on all buildings (private residences are exempt) within the Authorities jurisdiction and in accordance with the adopted fire Fire Code and other Nationally Recognized Standards, documented and properly filed. 

10.       Typically take Command of any significant emergency which may endanger the lives or health of our members or public.  Exceptions may be for the development of a Junior officer when the Fire Chief is present to coach/assist or when the Fire Chief is not available, he/she must ensure that another qualified officer fills the Command role and that the Incident Command System is utilized. 

11.       Prepare various reports, charts, graphs or documentation at the request of the Board. 

12.       Maintain regular business office hours in order conduct or transact official business. 

13.       Maintain a Fire Chief General Activity Log that identifies time spent on various identifiable duties and responsibilities allowing the Board to make quantified and informed decisions for future staffing/budgeting needs.  

14.       Develop and maintain positive working relationships with members of MCFA, Law Enforcement and other Emergency Service Agencies, County EMS and other Governmental Agencies and… The Community we serve! 

15.       Responsible for the development of a proposed MCFA Annual Budget each year by a date to be determined by the Board, ensuring that the Authority’s revenues and expenditures are within the amount established by the Board. 

16.       The Fire Chief must be capable of prioritizing and handling multiple duties and responsibilities and do so in a timely and efficient manner. 

17.       Must be willing and capable of making decisions in extremely stressful and life threatening situations. 

18.       Must be able develop Strategic plans to achieve Authority goals and objectives utilizing relevant costs, facts and measurable outcomes. 

19.       Must maintain an “on call” status when off duty, available to respond to incidents that would be considered critical due to scope, nature or hazard, or have scheduled another promoted officer to fill in. 

20.       Satisfactorily complete an annual standard “fit for duty physical agility test”, and define and prepare a similar standard physical agility test for line personnel with measurable expectations. 

Supervisory Authority: 

The Fire Chief is responsible for the supervision of all District volunteers and employees directly or through subordinates. 

Other Required Duties or Responsibilities: 

Enforcement of International Fire and Building Codes. 

Have a good oral and written communications and have the ability to plan, supervise and coordinate the work of subordinates. 

Attendant and participate in professional group meeting and stay current with new trends, innovations, and equipment in the Fire and EMS communities as well as Training and Prevention. 

Collect and maintain records for the Authority. 

Research and apply for grants and pursue potential alternative funding streams. 

Aquire and maintain specialized training and or certifications as required. 

Meet with the MCFA Board, elected officials, other Fire/EMS officials, community and business representatives and the public on all aspects of Authority activities. 

Qualifications: 

Colorado State Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic and be on protocol. 

Colorado State Certification as Fire Fighter 2 or Fire Officer 1 and Hazardous Material Operations. 

Hold a current Colorado Driver’s license and be insurable. 

Must have had at least 2 years experience as a promoted officer at a similar size department. 

Possess a High School Diploma or a GED equivalent as a minimum - an Associate degree is preferred. 

Working Environment / Physical Requirements: 

This position requires work in a variety of locations including living quarters, office areas, in and around a wide variety of automotive, mechanical, , chemical, and mechanical equipment or supplies, and emergency scenes of every type. 

A portion of this position involves sedentary, administrative work in an office environment; however in emergency situations, the Fire Chief may be required to supervise foreground activities at an emergency incident and / or perform the duties Firefighter or Emergency Medical Technician. 

Strenuous physical activity under extreme adverse conditions will be required occasionally. 

This position requires training in and use of safety equipment necessary for the working environment, including without limitation, Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and other personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the nature of the emergency. 

This position requires standing, running, walking, sitting, kneeling, twisting, stooping, bending,  lifting, squatting, pushing, crawling, jumping, sliding, climbing, pinching, gripping, digging, spraying, reaching over head, reaching away from the body, and repetitive motion. 

This position will require working in all weather conditions and in extreme temperatures below 20 degrees and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This position may require work to be performed under dangerous, hazardous and adverse conditions, including but not limited to: weakened structures, slippery and uneven surfaces, proximity to moving mechanical equipment, burning structures, broken glass or other materials, electrical currents, high places and confined spaces. 

Work may result in exposure to contaminated environments, including but not limited to: hazardous materials, smoke, gases, chemicals, fumes, odors, mists and dusts which may require use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Work may result in exposure to infectious diseases and illnesses such as Hepatitis A, B or C, HIV, tuberculosis, small pox, Covid etc. 

Work may result in exposure to high noise levels requiring the wearing of hearing protection. 

This position demands frequent use of sensory activities such as talking, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling (identifying objects by touch), depth perception and color vision. 

This job requires the ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language at a level adequate to perform the job. 

This position will involve periods of high physical, mental and or emotional stress. 

Please submit resumes to Stacy Cox at stacycox.mcfa@gmail.com.