Clive, IA – Fire/EMS Chief

• The Fire/EMS Chief reports to the City Manager and is supported by an Assistant Chief of Operations, an Assistant Chief of Training, an Assistant Chief – Fire Marshal, and Administrative Assistant, a Medical Director (PT) and support Chaplain services (PT). The department employs a total of 48 personnel involved in delivering services to the city. Staffing coverage for emergency response is through the use of 12 career firefighters assigned to 24-hour rotating shifts and 30 part-time responders that work 12 hour shifts.  There are 5 Lieutenants assigned to shift, 3 career and 2 part-time.  Career personnel are represented by IAFF Local 5055.
• The City of Clive recently completed construction of the Clive Public Safety Center, a 44,000 square foot facility project.  This provides top-of-the-line facilities for joint Fire and Police operations focused on the health and safety of personnel and those they serve.
• The department operates from its current Strategic Plan with (5) distinct initiatives; Enhance Public Relations, Mental Health Awareness/Peer Support, Training, Internal Communications and Recruitment and Retention.
• The department has shared service agreements with neighboring communities providing joint operations from the West Des Moines Station 22 and Urbandale Station 43.  The department operates from one station (Station 32) within the city.
• 9-1-1 Service is provided by WestCom 9-1-1 Dispatch serving the cities of Clive, Norwalk, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
• Training is clearly important to the department having a shared Fire Safety Training Center (FAST Center)located at Urbandale Station 42, serving the cities of Clive, Urbandale, and Windsor Heights.
• The department has completed a full Standards of Cover evaluation and currently is an ISO Class 3/3.

• The City is seeking an experienced, innovative, collaborative fire/EMS leader with demonstrated managerial, interpersonal and customer service skills.  Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a balance of commitment to the organization as well as the senior management team of the City with a genuine confidence and approachable personality to residents, business and governmental leaders.   
• It is particularly important the next Fire/EMS Chief be an integral and engaged leader of the Fire Department, with a strong background in modern fire, EMS, Community Risk Reduction, emergency management and all hazards practices.  
• The new Fire/EMS Chief must understand the need to use data for problem solving assessing community risk and vulnerabilities.
• The Fire/EMS Chief should have a positive track record of strong bargaining relations with proven experience in fostering collaboration with Bargaining Unit members. 
• The ability to mentor and foster leadership roles within the staff, succession planning, and a global vision of the community’s needs and vision are critical.  Creativity and the ability to guide and balance change is a must. 
• The capability to be an active participant in operations and training to safely function as a command officer on incident scenes including oversight of interior operations within IDLH conditions.
• The ability to develop strong relationships with surrounding Fire/EMS agencies due to Clive’s reliance on shared service agreements to provide Fire/EMS coverage to the community.
• The next Fire/EMS Chief will also have a demonstrated record of fairness, transparency and consistency in the administration of Departmental policies and procedures and the willingness to address issues in a positive and timely manner. The Fire/EMS Chief must possess well-developed writing and public speaking skills and the utmost integrity.

• Shall possess a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Administration or related field from an accredited college or university.  A master’s degree preferred. 
• At least seven 7-10 years of demonstrated leadership in supervisory positions with career development as a chief officer.
• Candidate’s successful completion of the Executive Fire Officer Program offered by the National Fire Academy, and or Chief Fire Officer Designation is desired.  

Posted: 2023-01-18