Fire captain job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Fire captain in details. A complete job description concludes Fire captain key duties/responsibilities, Fire captain job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Fire captain duties:

1. Responsible for all activities during his/her shift
2. Ensure that his/her shift and/or personnel report and depart within the proper time frames
3. Make every effort to fill a vacancy in the case of a call-off - if fill-in will be late in arriving, shift supervisor must stay to prevent lost time
4. Grant shift exchange requests - the supervisor must keep the exchanges under control to prevent lost time, overtime and possible confusion of work schedules. When an exchange is granted, the account Manager will be made aware of the date and persons involved
5. Ensure that everyone is rotated appropriately for each position throughout his/her shift
6. Directly supervise the activities of his/her personnel
7. Monitor personnel performance while during assigned tasks
8. Ensure that policies and procedures in the post orders are adhered to
9. Ensure that personnel are aware of and follow AlliedBarton''s standards of conduct
10. Responsible for all paperwork generated during his/her shift and/or site and that all paperwork is correct, complete, legible and filed in the proper files
11. Required to make post checks to ensure all officers are performing their duties in a proper manner
12. Assist any console officer who is having problems and resolve the situation as quickly as possible while exercising absolute diplomacy
13. Counsel personnel on all aspects of performance, attitude and professionalism
14. Responsible for training all personnel in accordance with the established training guide and standard operating procedures
15. Ensure that all personnel are competent in performing all tasks described in the training guide.

II. List of Fire captain qualifications

1. Principles, practices and procedures of modern firefighting.
2. Rules, regulations and operational procedures of the Fire Department in modern firefighting activities.
3. Principles and practices of supervision and training.
4. Local geography, including the location of water mains and hydrants and the major fire hazards of the City.
5. Progressive discipline model and Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act.
6. Modern office practices, procedures, methods and commuter equipment.
7. Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
8. Instruct and lead fire training sessions and courses.
9. Operate apparatus and equipment used in modern firefighting activities.
10. Conduct preliminary fact-finding inspections and investigations, including evidence gathering.
11. Prepare and recommend assigned budget.
12. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
13. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
14. Perform heavy lifting and physical maneuvering.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.