Fire lieutenant job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Fire lieutenant in details. A complete job description concludes Fire lieutenant key duties/responsibilities, Fire lieutenant 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 lieutenant duties:

1. In the absence of the Fire Captain, supervise and lead shift personnel during daily activity including station maintenance, training, responding to emergencies as officer in charge, and directing firefighting, rescue, hazardous material, or medical calls until relieved by Chief Officer.
2. Assist with the cleaning, maintenance and upkeep of buildings, grounds, apparatus and equipment; maintain service records on all department vehicles; maintain equipment inventory.
3. Participate in school visits and public education.
4. Participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Fire Division.
5. Identify opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; identify resource needs; discuss with appropriate management staff; implement improvements.
6. Assist the Fire Captain with company work activities and project; monitors work flow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
7. Train, motivate and evaluate engine company personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees and volunteers to correct deficiencies; prepare training records and enter completed forms in record management system as directed by the Fire Captain.
8. Operate Engine Companies; prepare incident reports.
9. Provide staff assistance to the Fire Captain or Chief Officer; prepare and present staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
10. Coordinate shift activities with those of other divisions and outside agencies and organizations.
11. Perform related duties and responsibilities asrequired.
12. Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of fire suppression, fire prevention and rescue operations.

II. List of Fire lieutenant qualifications

1. Operational characteristics, services and activities of a fire suppression program.
2. Modern and complex principles and practices of fire suppression, inspection and fire prevention.
3. Operation, maintenance, and use of firefighting and rescue equipment.
4. Fire prevention policies, rules and regulations.
5. Local geography including location of mains, hydrants, and major fire hazards.
6. Have knowledge of City resources, such as equipment, staffing, water supply, communications, and mutual aid agreements.
7. Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
8. Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
9. Coordinate the work of lower level staff.
10. Interpret and explain Fire Division policies and procedures.
11. Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
12. Prepare clear and concise reports.
13. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
14. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including a variety of City and other government officials, community groups, and the general public.
15. Maintain mental capacity, which allows the capability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
16. Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties.
17. Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.

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.