Deputy Fire Chief

Overview

Deputy Fire Chief Posting Pamphlet. Position Description was revised October 2025. This position serves as the second in command of the Oak Harbor Fire Department, overseeing personnel, operations, and activities related to fire and emergency response. Responsibilities include directing and coordinating the day-to-day functions of the Operations Division within a career fire department. The role involves managing resources, developing and reviewing policies and procedures, and preparing special studies and reports.

This position also contributes to strategic planning and visioning efforts, coordinates with other divisions, city departments, and outside agencies, and provides high-level, complex administrative support to the Fire Chief. Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, crew needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors.

• Plan, organize and manage operations, investigations, and support assignments such as pre-incident planning.
• Coordinate and perform program development/oversight, write technical specifications, and initiate or recommend new methods, procedures, or equipment to improve working conditions and overall departmental operations.
• Oversee the management of emergencies using industry standards of incident command, as necessary. Direct crews as to proper emergency methods and coordinates the efforts of assigned personnel to maximize operational efficiency and safety. Summon additional resources and support agencies, as needed, to manage an emergency, and is responsible for emergency incident reporting and debriefing.
• Supervise shift officers, assign work, set priorities, and initiate or recommend personnel actions such as transfers, discipline, promotions, and discharges. Assist personnel in solving work problems, such as scheduling conflicts and emergencies, review reports written by supervised personnel for content and accuracy and monitor personnel performance and conduct performance appraisals.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, and unsafe acts of employees.
• Ensure development and review of safety best practices for the department.
• Coordinate with Shift Officers to provide consistency in department programs, goals and objectives. Interprets and enforces City policies and departmental rules and regulations. Assist with and/or is responsible for development of performance standards, departmental policies, and procedures for areas of assigned responsibility.
• Conduct inspections of department personnel, quarters, equipment, and records; reviews and reports on drills assigned to his or her command.
• Coordinate promotional testing and assessments as needed.
• Perform budget and financial administration, plan, inspect for quality control, coordinate with other agencies, may work with confidential information.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City officials, department heads, co-workers, supervisor, and other City departments, and to interact with outside agencies and the public using good judgment in a courteous and helpful manner, sometimes in stressful situations.
• Maintain frequent contact with the public, City staff, public officials, and emergency response providers for the purpose of problem resolution, providing information and coordinating mutual efforts.
• Attend meetings, seminars, schools and/or training sessions to keep abreast of modern fire service training and techniques.
• As assigned, carry out the duties of the Fire Chief.

• Perform other related duties as required.
• Attend various workshops, continuing education, meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• When necessary, perform the tasks and duties of a firefighter.

This position supervises assigned shift officers; directs and provides technical support to shift officers. Acts on behalf of the fire chief in their absence.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are…