Fire safety supervisor job description

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

1. Provides oversight and program management of pre-suppression/readiness by planning, coordinating, conducting and leading projects such as live fire training, water hole development, etc.  Maps and maintains water source locations.
2. Maintains knowledge of local weather patterns and National Fire Danger Rating System; knowledge of protection district/units, roads, topography, landowners, and other jurisdictions.
3. Oversees initial attack and extended attack resource readiness and response.  Locates fires using forest maps, compass, Global Positioning Systems and directs resources to fire location.  Orders detection flights.
4. Functions as Incident Commander or Division Supervisor to make assignments of personnel and fill in for resource shortages.
5. Conducts initial fire size-up assessments, determines fire fighting resource needs, and orders appropriate resources.
6. Communicates needs to dispatch or supervisor; orders additional resources as needed.
7. Determines ownership and/or responsible parties for fire area.
8. Sets control objectives, determines strategy and tactics, directs actions of resources, directs location and provides oversight for fireline construction, and provides for safety of: equipment, crews, engines, aircraft, overhead and other agency resources.
9. Provides strategies and oversight for burn-out operations by personnel using ignition devices to remove fuels between the fire line and the main body of the fire.
10. Determines location and configuration of hose lays.  Locates and oversees the use of pumps, fold-a-tanks, and other water sources.  Delivers fireline briefing for incoming resources.
11. Determines logistical fire support needs; orders meals, water and supplies.
12. Makes initial recommendation for ordering Incident Management Team (IMT).
13. Assists in IMT briefing preparation and assists in IMT in-briefing.  Acts as, or provides liaison for, IMT.  Assumes responsibility for the return of a project fire from the IMT back to the host district.
14. Resolves issues with landowners relating to fire suppression action.
15. Effectively communicates via person to person, radio, telephone and in writing.
16. Provides direction and oversight of mop-up standards and procedures.
17. Functions as a fire investigator to conduct fire cause determination including: origin protection, evidence collection, witness interviews, and preliminary report writing.
18. Identifies, coordinates, documents and supervises fire area rehabilitation needs.
19. Makes recommendations to supervisors for off district assignments of personnel and equipment.
20. Uses portable and mobile radios.
21. Responsible for Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) suppression activities, including providing exterior structure protection and responding to rural vehicle fires.

II. List of Fire safety supervisor qualifications

1. Five (5) years of wildland fire suppression or emergency dispatching which includes one (1) year of leading/supervising the work of others;
2. Bachelor's degree in forestry or closely related natural resources field AND two (2) year of wildland fire suppression or emergency dispatching which includes one (1) year of leading/supervising the work of others.
3. Thorough knowledge of equal employment opportunity policies and procedures.
4. Thorough knowledge of management, supervisory, and training techniques and principles.
5. Thorough knowledge of labor relations and fair employment practices.
6. Thorough knowledge of employee policies and procedures.
7. Extensive knowledge of the specific departmental inspector activity and related state and/or federal licensing laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
8. Extensive knowledge of inspector techniques and procedures.
9. Thorough knowledge of basic investigative techniques and practices.
10. Ability to prioritize, organize, and coordinate work assignments of lower-level inspectors.
11. Ability to instruct, supervise, and evaluate employees.
12. Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations relative to the work.
13. Ability to prepare reports.
14. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

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.