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Home My WebLink AboutDeputy Fire ChiefUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Deputy Fire Chief Department: Fire Division: Fire Administration Supervisor: Fire Chief FLSA: Exempt Civil Service: Yes Pay Grade: 31 Job Number: 3102 Job Summary Directs the administrative and emergency services operations of the Iowa City Fire Department. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. • Provides administrative support to the Fire Chief in the development, implementation and monitoring of policies and procedures relating to emergency service delivery. • Plans, organizes and directs the staﬃng and training of administration services, accreditation, homeland security, special assignments and related emergency response activities within the Fire Department. • Serves as the incident commander under the Incident Command System, assuming full responsibility for the development of strategies and deployment of resources at natural and technological events for which the ﬁre department has primary responsibility. • Ensures discipline within the command structure through the development, implementation and monitoring of policies directed at the quasi-military structure of the Fire Department. • Provides administrative support at major emergency scenes as necessary. • Administers purchasing procedures within the Fire Department, including writing speciﬁcations, performing research on vendors and developing policy relating to the procurement of clothing, gear, supplies and equipment. • Plans and prioritizes repair and maintenance of ﬁre department facilities, oversees the work of contractors on projects. • Serves as department accreditation and data manager, prepares documents, reports, assessments and strategic plans. • Monitors and maintains all budgets within the Fire Department, provides administrative oversight to the organization of the CIP budget and supervision of all related projects. • Provides oversight of operations and conducts brieﬁngs with Battalion Chiefs to review daily work schedules and discuss staﬀ activities. • Oversees Battalion Chiefs in the completion of their responsibilities. • Operates radio equipment, mobile data computers, computer equipment and related software. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Assumes the duties and responsibilities of the position of Fire Chief in the event of absence and/or vacancy. • Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems. • Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all community members and coworkers. • Performs other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classiﬁcation. Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and six years of related experience; or ten years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in fire and rescue management at the captain rank or higher. • Instructor I certiﬁcation. Iowa or National EMT certiﬁcation. Valid State of Iowa driver's license with satisfactory driving record. Must be 18 years of age. Must pass criminal background check. Must live within 25 miles of the corporate limits of Iowa City, Iowa within one year of appointment to the position. Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution and seven years of related experience; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Public Administration or Fire Science emphasis. Supervisory experience. • Oﬃcer I, Instructor II and Inspector I certiﬁcations. NFA Executive Fire Oﬃcer and Chief Fire Oﬃcer Designation. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to communicate eﬀectively and maintain working relationships with battalion chiefs, other City employees, supervisory personnel, state, and local elected oﬃcials, labor oﬃcials, professional consultants, and the public, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language. • Ability to deﬁne problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. • Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. • Ability to operate a computer using standard word processing, spreadsheet, database applications, and ﬁre service software appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities • Ability to participate in physical requirements, must be in good physical condition and participates in the department physical fitness program. • Ability to perform mathematical calculations in ﬁre prevention activities, code compliance, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; ability to comprehend mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis. • Ability to plan, develop and evaluate purchasing speciﬁcations and contracts. • Ability to plan, organize and manage ﬁre operational and administrative projects. • Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports containing ﬁndings, conclusions, recommendations for a variety of reports containing ﬁre suppression terminology, purchasing proposals and speciﬁcations, and labor contract processes and terminology. • Ability to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology. • Ability to read and interpret blueprints, speciﬁcations, and contracts; ability to read and analyze, and interpret common scientiﬁc and technical journals, ﬁnancial reports, and contracts. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to train, assign, motivate, supervise, and evaluate the work of others. • Ability to use ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks. • Knowledge at advanced level of personnel principles and practices for collective bargaining and personnel grievance administration. • Knowledge at advanced of current applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations for emergency response management and operations. • Knowledge at advanced of station location principles, practices and techniques. • Knowledge at advanced of the principles and practices of ﬁre department business management, including strategic planning, budgeting, personnel administration, accreditation, and homeland security initiatives. • Knowledge of the use of self-contained breathing apparatus. • Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Oﬃce – Word, Excel, Outlook). Supervision Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of a department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include supervising subordinate supervisors and direct reports including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; writing and delivering performance reviews; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems; and terminating employees. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Participates in the department physical fitness program. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, vibration, and traffic hazards. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, dampness, direct sunlight, dust, pollen, insect stings, and animals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Employee may be exposed to dangerous situations, dangerous fumes while engaged in firefighting or cause determination activities. Involves some exposure to stress due to the work environment and/or crisis situations. Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Reviewed/Approved by: Scott Lyon, Fire Chief (4/2024) I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. Employee Date ________________________________ __________________