Current Employment Opportunities with the City of Meridian:

Job Title: Community Risk Reduction Division Manager
Department: Fire
Reports To: Division Chief of Health and Safety
Open Date: October 30, 2023
Close Date: Open Until Filled, First Review Date: December 8, 2023
Salary: $6,981.64 per month

Job Summary:

The Community Risk Reduction Division Manager serves as the Department’s administrator of programs intended to identify, prioritize, and mitigate local risks to the community. This position is responsible for ensuring that the functions of the community risk reduction program support the City of Meridian Fire Department’s strategic objectives.

Under the general guidance of the Division Chief of Health and Safety, this position has considerable latitude for independent action and discretion to provide administrative, budgetary, and strategic focus for risk reduction programs through the daily management and analysis of the risk factors causing fires, injuries, illnesses, and vulnerability that impact the community.

Primary duties involve overseeing the functions of the community risk reduction programs including managing the Community Risk Reduction Specialists; establishing mitigation strategies, goals, and objectives; developing short and long-range plans; working closely with other functional areas of the fire department to communicate and coordinate delivery of risk reduction programs; evaluating programming regularly to determine effectiveness, improving programming, and assisting with fire department continuous improvement efforts.

Additional duties include overseeing the overall strategic development and implementation of Meridian Fire Department’s fire and life safety education and programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Works independently and under the Division Chief of Health and Safety to develop specific and targeted risk reduction programs for fire and non-fire incidents and casualties based upon the fire department Community Risk Assessment;

Analyzes risk factors causing fires, injuries, illnesses, and community vulnerability to emergencies;

Plans, directs, presents, and implements educational fire and life safety programs in the community including schools, businesses, community organizations, and the general public;

Evaluates and appraises risk reduction programs to determine impacts and outcomes, and to measure performance and progress in reducing risk based on the Community Risk Assessment;

Oversees the public education program directed toward reducing community risks in a manner consistent with the agency’s mission and as identified within the Community Risk Assessment;

Directs the public education program to targets specific risks, behaviors and audiences identified through incident, demographic and program data analysis and the Community Risk Assessment;

Administers the development, marketing, and delivery of fire and life safety educational programs and materials in varied subject areas in the school system, business community, outside agencies, fire department staff, and for the general public;

Ensures that programs are in place to identify large loss potential or high-risk audiences, forges partnerships with those who serve those constituencies, and enable specified programs to mitigate fires and other emergency incidents;

Serves as a liaison to local and state partner agencies to ensure the department’s ability to assist the community in an all-hazards preparedness program that include coordinated multiagency response planning to enhance community preparedness and resiliency;

Coordinates and helps lead activities with other members of the Community Risk Reduction Division for specific campaigns and community outreach events and provides safety presentations upon request to various groups and organizations;

Ability to work independently and make decisions to establish systems for monitoring, evaluating, and improving life safety education; and stays current with new information, technology, and resources;

Supervises station-based action plans for building organizational and community equity to support community risk reduction within the various service areas of the department, including open houses and outreach activities;

Composes reports, manuals, proposals, and related technical and administrative publications; maintain computerized databases and reports that are clear, factual and succinct;

Provides leadership and accountability; demonstrates respect and excellence by inspiring, empowering, and motivating personnel; participates in the selection and training of employees in Community Risk Reduction; evaluates performance; provides coaching and mentoring;

Provides management, supervision and coordination of personnel assigned to Community Risk Reduction Division, including scheduling, and assigning work; assessing and monitoring workload, and identifying opportunities for improvement;

Develops, implements, and recommends departmental policies and procedures for the Community Risk Reduction Division and provides technical assistance and review for departmental policies; interprets department policies and procedures to employees;

Plans, directs, and coordinates work activities; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems;

Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget; forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary, including the administration of grants and alternative funding awards and submissions for public education and life safety programs;

Coordinates with the city’s public information program to prepare public information in support of the Community Risk Reduction program & marketing initiatives; Responsible for monitoring and maintaining the city’s brand standards and all marketing activities in support of and as it relates to the overall city brand and the branding within city departments;

Participates with professional associations and coordinates activities with other public safety organizations related to safety and education programs and develops opportunities for collaboration;

Operates and oversees the physical resources of the division including, facilities, vehicles, educational materials, and equipment, including the coordination of maintenance and scheduling;

Participates in monthly staff meetings and provides input and updates from the Community Risk Reduction Division;

Provides interpersonal conflict resolution to employees as needed;

Responds to citizen inquiries and comments in a courteous and timely manner;

Performs related work as assigned, which could include some evening and weekend assignments;

Other duties as assigned.

Job Specifications:

College graduate from an accredited college or university with an accredited college or university with an Associate Degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Public Administration, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, or other related field as approved by the Fire Chief;

Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a fire department or other emergency services agency;

Firefighting experience is desirable;

Teaching experience is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Ability to routinely accomplish complex project management;

Skill in written and verbal communication and presentations;

Ability to write and manage grants;

Ability to select, supervise, train, motivate and evaluate staff; ability to provide goals, direction, and effective leadership;

Comprehension of learning theory for all ages and social and developmental needs of audiences to develop curriculum, educational materials, and evaluation instruments;

Solid interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor(s), the general public, etc., sufficient to teach an audience of any age group and to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction;

Skill in operating a computer with Microsoft Office and a variety of computer software;

Knowledge of the proper use and capabilities of audio-visual equipment including, social media platforms, and presentation software;

Knowledge of current fire, injury, illness, and disaster risk and hazard issues facing the community as well as human characteristics that increase vulnerability to such emergencies;

Ability to work independently and complete daily activities according to schedule;

Skill in report writing, record keeping, time management, scheduling, and planning;

Skill in problem resolution using independent judgement;

Skill in the safe use of equipment and tools such as automobiles, telephones, copy machines, cameras, printers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, presentation props, and other general office equipment;

Ability to follow through on projects with minimal supervision;

Ability to prioritize work and complete assignments in a timely manner;

Knowledge of fire science including fire behavior, human behavior during fires and other emergencies, fire survival, and general fire hazards;

Knowledge of fire and injury prevention curricula, program documentation methods, computerized databases, and comprehension of analytical methods;

Knowledge of injury causes and prevention strategies;

Demonstrated commitment to valuing and respecting diverse backgrounds with an understanding of how to effectively communicate and incorporate diverse initiatives and messages into risk reduction programs;

Knowledge of common business practices;

General knowledge of modern fire and injury prevention principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment;

General knowledge of the International Fire Code and related codes;

General knowledge of firefighter duties, equipment, apparatus, and techniques for resolving emergencies safely;

Licensing and Certification:

Must possess a valid Idaho Class D driver’ s license;

Basic CPR/First Aid/AED;

Must obtain Fire & Life Safety Educator I within 18 months of hire;

Must obtain Youth Firesetting Intervention Specialist Certification within 18 months of hire;

Must obtain Child Passenger Seat Technician Certification within 18 months of hire;

Must obtain CPR Instructor Certification within 18 months of hire.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Work is performed frequently in an office environment with moderate noise level;

May work variable hours as scheduled by the department;

Requires driving a motor vehicle in order to make presentations and reach sites;

Constantly requires clear vision to read printed materials and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone;

Constantly requires repetitive movement of the wrists, hands and/ or fingers;

Constantly requires mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment to accomplish tasks;

Occasionally calls for long periods of time standing at community events, outside in the elements;

Requires the ability to move and climb ladders and to lift and carry equipment up to 50 lbs.;

Requires the ability to work above the head while standing on ladders;

Employee will drive a department vehicle as a part of this position.

Travel Requirements:

Travels by car to classes and seminars;

May be required to travel by air to required training;

Drives a city vehicle to presentation sites.

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