Captain – Special Operations

Overview

Under The Direction Of The Fire Chief Or Designee, The Captain Of Special Operations Leads The Department’s Wildfire Suppression, Prevention, And Mitigation Programs To Ensure Operational Readiness And Community Resilience. The Position Also Oversees Specialized Operations, Including Technical Rescue, To Strengthen The Department’s All-hazard Response Capabilities.

• Supervises staff, provides instruction to employees; plans and assigns work; evaluates and approves/disapproves leave requests; approves timesheets; checks final work to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; recommends the hiring of new employees; recommends disciplinary action; provides feedback on work performance for employees; completes performance evaluations for employees.
• Oversees the department’s wildland fire protection activities, including the development and implementation of wildland and fire response, suppression and prevention.
• Prepares proposals and grant applications and researches grant opportunities; complies with grant requirements and oversees the implementation of grants.
• Prepares and administers the program’s budget, aligning financial resources with operational priorities and making informed recommendations for fiscal planning.
• Develops and maintains databases of pertinent hazards, risks, records, and history of fuel treatments.
• Prepares long and short-range plans for fuel management activities within Santa Fe County interface areas as needed or appropriate.
• Inventories and evaluates conditions to determine quantity and types of fuels. Determines whether fuels must be treated and balances optimum treatment of fuels with wildland urban interface citizen and property protection.
• Plans and implements an education program to reduce interface fire hazards and enhance defensible space.
• Prepares assessments of the hazards and risks associated with protection of wildland urban interface areas during wildfire conditions.
• Responds to emergency scenes and fills any command or staff role supported by qualifications and experience as necessary.
• Acts as fire department liaison and coordinates with outside agencies and community groups.
• Assists in preparing structure protection, triage and evacuation plans for urban interface areas being threatened during wildfire conditions, including various fire suppression strategies for different conditions and sites; assists in determining personnel, equipment, logistics, and communication needs.
• May supervise paid or volunteer personnel.

• Provides operational oversight and coordination of the department’s Special Operations functions, including technical rescue and other specialized response capabilities.
• Supports planning, development, and implementation of operational guidelines, procedures, and response protocols for Special Operations incidents.
• Coordinates deployment of Special Operations resources and personnel in support of complex or extended emergency incidents.
• Must complete all training as designated or assigned.
• Performs other duties as directed or assigned.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices and techniques of urban forestry.
• Knowledge of fire ecology, fire behavior, firefighting techniques, fire hazard and risk analysis, fuel volume and flammability assessment, and fire line safety procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) and various ICS forms, the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Southwest Area Mobilization Guide, and Fire Line Handbook.
• Knowledge of grant writing and the process of identifying funding for programs.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and the management of personnel, with the ability to coach, counsel, evaluate, and mentor subordinate employees.
• Knowledge of public education and prevention strategies in wild land urban interface neighborhoods and communities.
• Skill in operating chainsaws, hand tools, firefighting equipment, chippers, etc.
• Skill in operating various word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the County,…