Fire Chief

Fire Chief

Vanderhoof is a friendly and welcoming rural community located in the geographical center of British Columbia and is at the “Heart of it All” when it comes to lifestyle, and employment opportunities. With a population base of roughly 4,500, and serving a larger area of nearly 10,000, Vanderhoof is an active community with great indoor/outdoor recreation facilities and trails. Vanderhoof is situated along Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), and located an hour west of Prince George, BC.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer or delegate, the Fire Chief will manage all aspects of the Fire Department’s operations.  This includes coordinating and directing all fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response activities. The Fire Chief is responsible for Fire Safety Inspections and Fire investigations as required under the current Fire Safety Act. The Fire Chief will supervise Emergency and Disaster Planning and the Fire Smart Program.

The Fire Chief will oversee and is responsible for training and supervising of all paid on-call fire fighters. The Fire Chief will ensure training is guided by the regulatory requirements and best practices as identified by provincial legislation and the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

This role is also responsible for the conduct or oversight of fire related bylaw and occupancy licensing inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions pursuant to District policies and bylaws.  The Fire Chief will interact with District staff, Council, external organizations, and the community to provide guidance, awareness and education around fire prevention, fire safety and district bylaws.

DUTIES

• Oversee fire department operations related to emergency service delivery within the boundaries of the Municipality, the extended Fire Protection Area and the Road Rescue area of coverage.
• Perform all duties outlined in the provincial regulations of the Fire Services Act, including all fire protection and enforcement activities as mandated by the Fire Services Act.
• Conduct bylaw investigations and enforcement pursuant to District policies and bylaws in coordination with Municipal Departments and Fire Code Regulations, for commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential buildings.
• Responsible for the completion and management of regular fire prevention inspections; ensuring fire safety regulations are adhered to, preparing inspection reports, conducting follow up compliance inspections, address deficiencies or non-compliance through bylaw or statutory enforcement and reporting.
• Prepare correspondence and inspection reports.
• Prepare monthly reports on inspection statistics and fire incident reports for the Chief Administrative Officer.
• Prepare reports for Council, including Request for Decisions (RFD) reports and quarter reports on fire incident and fire inspection statistics.   
• Ensure the department and members comply with all standards or requirements identified in the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines.
• Recruit, supervise, and evaluate all paid on-call fire fighters, and any paid employees with the department.
• Provide training and development to on-call fire fighters, including developing, coordinating, planning, and executing all necessary training sessions and maintaining training records.
• Develop, recommend, and implement plans and programs to advance the skill, training and operational capacity of the Fire Department, for presentation to Council, to inform District Policy and Procedures Manual.
• Receive, investigate and manage complaints, and operational and administrative records in compliance with the District’s records management framework.
• Participate in the preparation of the annual and long range operational and capital budget for the Fire Department; making recommendations regarding funding levels required to meet planned capital acquisitions, and operational and training needs.
• Review existing programs and developing new training programs to ensure the Fire Department staff have the skills, knowledge and ability to provide safe and effective firefighting, to conduct informed, effective and educational fire prevention services plus other preventative programing or services related to fire or emergency prevention, management or response. 
• Establish and maintain strategic planning processes and goal setting for the Fire Department and emergency management.
• Provide advice and information relating to fire and emergency services within the District.
• Prepare and maintain, through annual review, departmental operating procedures, guidelines, regulations, and policies in accordance with District policies and any applicable legislative or governing bodies.
• Provide overall management of Fire Department inventory. This includes preparing or overseeing the preparation of fleet and equipment inventories, fleet and fire apparatus maintenance records, equipment and buildings maintenance, as required in the District Bylaws and Fire Code Regulations. 
• Participate in the review and assessment of new and existing structures with the view of fire protection, occupancy and exposures.  Prepares correspondence.  Receive, manage and investigate complaints.  Prepare legal briefs and testify at legal proceedings as required by law and maintain all necessary reports and records. 
• Supervise and assist with the duties of Municipal Emergency Coordinator, including the conduct of Risk Assessments, development of the District’s Emergency Management Plan, development of the District’s Evacuation Plan, development of the District’s Business Continuity Plan and other plans as required. 
• Supervise and assist the Emergency Coordinator in meeting the requirements of the Emergency & Disaster Management Act relative to Indigenous engagement requirements.
• Remain current with regulatory or statutory requirements relevant to the Fire Department services.  Take steps to establish compliance with all statutory requirements, including the Worker’s Compensation Act and Climate Readiness.
• Liaise with the Fire Chief(s) or Emergency Coordinator(s) of neighboring communities with the intent of establishing mutual aid agreements and coordinating joint emergency planning and response where required.
• Plan, coordinate, present or direct public education programs regarding fire safety and fire prevention programs to the public, schools, businesses, and volunteer groups.  This will include preparing public information materials relating to safety and fire prevention. 
• Issue burning permits based on local fire regulations.
• Attendance and participation in committee meetings may be required.
• Cooperate and work with all departments on administrative and operational matters as required.
• Lead District initiatives related to public fire safety.  Assist staff in fire prevention and safety plans for their area. 
• Attend training as required or assigned.  This may require travel and overnighting.
• Perform other assigned duties as required by the Chief Administrative Officer or delegate.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Fire Department Operational Guidelines, policies, procedures and applicable local bylaws, Provincial codes, regulations, acts and standards;
• Knowledge of E.S.S. and E.M.B.C.; 
• Knowledge and training on the Incident Command System (ICS); minimum ICS 100 completed;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience within the fire and rescue service sector;
• Level 1 Fire Investigation training;
• Level 1 First-Aid;
• Valid BC Class 3 Driver’s license, with Air Brake endorsement;
• A clean driver’s abstract;
• Clear police information search and vulnerable sector check (not required as part of application;
• Must live in the District of Vanderhoof, to ensure timely response time to emergencies; and
• Be able and willing to work both days and evenings, any day of the week, and be on-call to respond to emergencies within the community.

SKILLS 

• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills; excels at building effective working relationships with volunteers, the public, elected officials, District staff and other partners in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. 
• Experience in administration with suitable computer skills, including ability to produce reports and plans for Council, CAO, committees, and public groups.
• Ability to exercise sound decision making and considerable judgement that reflect well on the department and organization.
• Proven supervisory and team leadership skills, including ability to promote cohesion and teamwork between employees, partners, and volunteers.
• Ability to act with tact and discretion around sensitive issues or situations and to maintain strict confidentiality as may be required or appropriate.

This is a regular full-time exempt position, scheduled to work 35 hours per week with a salary range of $87,866 to $106,473 per annum. 

The District is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We invite all qualified candidates to apply.  Please submit your resume, cover letter and driver’s abstract by Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 4:30pm.