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Home My WebLink AboutBattalion Chief - Fire MarshalUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal Department: Fire Division: Fire Prevention Bureau Supervisor: Deputy Fire Chief FLSA: Non-Exempt Civil Service: Yes Pay Grade: 30 Job Number: 3001 Job Summary Administers code enforcement, ﬁre prevention and public education activities. Responds to major emergency incidents and coordinates investigations Fire Marshal is an assignment of Battalion Chief rank. 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. • Administers all rules, policies, and procedures in day-to-day department operations. • Plans and supervises all City required ﬁre inspections, ﬁre prevention programs, including ﬁre safety talks, press releases and special ﬁre safety campaigns. • Plans and supervises public education programs with residential, commercial, institutional and education occupancies. • Manages speciﬁc programs, including computer software implementation and Fire/Communications incident review and record keeping. • Responds to all major emergency incidents assuming the position of the Public Information Oﬃcer. • Operates radio equipment, mobile data computers, computer equipment and related software. • Coordinates investigations of all ﬁre scenes between local, state and federal agencies. • Prepares monthly and year-end reports and maintains appropriate records. • Reviews building and subdivision plans and plat maps for code compliance and recommends or requires necessary revisions. • Reviews, issues and inspects all burn permits and ﬁrework permits. • Promotes and advocates use of built in ﬁre protection equipment. • Prepares budget requests for areas of responsibility, incorporates into ﬁnal budget, and monitors expenditures. • Conducts meetings with stakeholders, contractors, building owners, and civic groups on a regular basis. • Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all community members and coworkers. • Performs other related duties as assigned. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and three to ﬁve years of related experience; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five years as a company oﬃcer with the Iowa City Fire Department. • Fire Code certiﬁcation within two years and IAAI Certiﬁed Fire Investigator within four years. 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 two to four years of related experience; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Public Administration or Fire Science emphasis. • Oﬃcer I, Instructor II, and Inspector I certiﬁcations. NFA Executive Fire Oﬃcer. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to deﬁne problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. • Ability to direct and evaluate ﬁre prevention activities, public education, ﬁre cause determination and departmental operations. • Ability to eﬀectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. • Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. • 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, such as Code compliance, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. • Ability to read and interpret codes and professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations, blueprints, speciﬁcations, and contracts. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to write such items as ﬁre accident/loss reports, business correspondence, procedure and training manuals, and court case documentation. • Knowledge of ﬁre codes, ﬁre safety practices, building construction, ﬁre behavior, ﬁre strategy and tactics, investigative/legal procedures, computers and oﬃce software applications. • Knowledge of the use of self-contained breathing apparatus. • Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Oﬃce – Word, Excel, Outlook). • Skill in public communications and relations. Supervision Involves leadership role such as regularly guiding, training, and providing direction to Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) permanent staff in completing daily tasks and assignments. May perform additional supervisory duties at the direction of the Department or Division Head to include disciplinary action, assisting with hiring or firing, and writing or delivering performance reviews. 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 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) Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) 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 ________________________________ __________________