Fire Chief City of Greensboro, North Carolina

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1 ` Fire Chief City of Greensboro, North Carolina To be considered, please visit the City of Greensboro s website and our jobs page to learn more about the position, to complete an application and to submit a cover letter, résumé with salary history and five (5) professional references. Application Deadline: November 11, 2015

2 The City of Greensboro Situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Greensboro is a growing, vibrant city with numerous opportunities and challenges. The third largest city in the state of North Carolina, Greensboro encompasses 133 square miles of land area and has a population of over 282,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2014 estimate. The City has seen a 25 percent increase in population since In addition, the City has a growingly more diverse population, with distribution ratios indicating the racial make-up of the city to be approximately 48 percent white, 40.6 percent black, 7.5 percent Hispanic, 4.0 percent Asian and 2.6 percent multi-racial. Playing a significant role throughout American history, the area was first inhabited by American Indians and later settled by the English, receiving its name from Nathanael Greene, a General in the Revolutionary War who led American forces in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in In the early 1800s, the area was first mapped out as a 42-acre plot and elected officials paid $98 for the land, naming it Greensborough. Through the industrial era and well into the 1900s, the City thrived as a textile town that was filled with various mills and factories, and once was home to the largest producer of denim Cone Mills. Today, the area is a thriving chosen center for educational and economic opportunities and remains a prosperous urban location. Greensboro offers a unique geographical setting that provides the best of downtown living and quaint suburban neighborhoods with settings that appeal to all. Local Economy The economy in Greensboro is driven by the numerous corporate citizens that choose to call the City home. Some of the world s largest companies have a presence in Greensboro, with Fortune 500 organizations such as Citigroup, Procter & Gamble, UPS, AT&T and UnitedHealth Group finding success and having deep roots in the area. In addition, the City is corporate headquarters for VF Corporation, a Fortune 500 leader in apparel; Qorvo, the nation s largest manufacturer of amplifier chips and integrated circuits for wireless communications; Honda Aircraft Company, which placed its world manufacturing hub for its HondaJet in Greensboro; and HAECO Americas, the nation s largest independent third-party aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul provider. Worldwide companies such as UPS and FedEx house significant facilities that employ over 4,000 employees within the city as well. Life sciences are also developing a strong base in Greensboro due to the city s location in relation to major research universities and medical facilities. In 2015, the City of Greensboro was rated one of the Top 10 Best cities for Job Seekers nationally by nerdwallet.com as well. 1 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

3 Educational Opportunities School age children in the City of Greensboro attend Guilford County Schools (GCS), which serve over 72,300 students across 127 school locations. The GCS system is nationally recognized as a leader in public education, being named a 2013 National District of Character and earning the 2013 and 2014 United Way Spirit of North Carolina Award, among several notable accomplishments. In 2013, GCS reported an on-time graduation rate of 89.3%, the highest it has ever been. Meanwhile, GCS has also recently been recognized for individual employee accomplishment with the 2013 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and the 2012 North Carolina Principal of the Year. A wide range of higher education opportunities exist in the City, with five colleges and universities, a growing two-year community college, a law school and a collaborative joint college campus operated by two Greensboro universities. Institutions located in the City include the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, an internationally renowned research university; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro College, Guilford College and Bennett College for Women, a small, private, historically black liberal arts college for women. In addition, Guilford Technical Community College offers an extensive selection of associate degree and certificate programs and is fully accredited by the State of North Carolina. The Early College at Guilford is unique to the area. This institution selects 100 talented students who are high school juniors and seniors and provides them the opportunity to earn high school and college credits concurrently. This one-of-a-kind program has been ranked a top U.S. high school by US News and Newsweek magazines and has seen great success in the area. Medical Care City residents are served by the nationally recognized Moses Cone Health System, which provides patients access to world-class medical care through all stages of life. In addition, the City also has five additional hospitals, two medical centers, three urgent care centers and 55 physician practice sites. Recreation, Leisure and Entertainment The City offers over 90 acres of trails and greenways that residents have access to in addition to six major parks and numerous neighborhood parks. For water activities, three lakes are located nearby (Higgins, Brandt and Townsend) and offer boating, fishing and paddling excursions. Center City Park is located nearly in the center of downtown and offers a scenic location for residents to enjoy grassy spaces, beautiful landscaping and other amenities. 2 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

4 Additionally, NewBridge Bank Park is home to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, a single-a affiliate of the Miami Marlins, and is a popular attraction for residents and visitors, with the team consistently setting records for minor league attendance. The Greensboro Coliseum has also hosted events such as the ACC and NCAA basketball tournaments, and the US Figure Skating Championships while the city is also home to the PGA Tour s Wyndham Championship. Downtown Greensboro serves as a popular urban center in the region, offering a wide range of activities in an effort to be a prominent location for commerce, culture and connectivity. Nearly $350 million in new investment, including LeBauer Park, the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, Union Square Campus is planned for the downtown area over the next several years. Throughout downtown Greensboro nearly every quadrant boasts a strong selection of new restaurants, galleries, pubs, and taverns in addition to museums, elegant architecture and a growing residential presence. Transportation Greensboro has the advantage of being situated in a prime geographic location and supported by key transportation infrastructure which enhances the City s position. Interstates 85 and 40 provide ease of access to major markets nearby as well as Interstates 77 and 95. Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), located in the City, links the area to the rest of the world, offering over 60 domestic direct flights daily and many connecting domestic and international flights as well. City of Greensboro Government Greensboro is governed under the council-manager form of government, with the council serving as the legislative body of City government. City council is comprised of a mayor and eight council members who serve two year terms. The mayor and three council members are elected at-large and the remaining five council members are elected from districts, with elections being held on odd years. The council is responsible for setting and directing policy regarding operations of City government as well as approving the City s budget. The city manager serves as the chief executive officer of the City and is responsible for the execution of council policy and for the management of day to day operations of City government. The City holds a Aaa bond rating by Moody s, a AAA rating by Standard & Poor s and a AAA rating by Fitch, a coveted honor which few entities throughout the nation possess. For fiscal year , the City operates with a budget of $488 million. 3 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

5 The City of Greensboro Fire Department Mission: To protect life, property and the environment for all people entrusted to our care. The City operates a full service fire department that provides comprehensive fire protection, emergency medical first responder, hazardous materials and technical rescue services as well as being responsible for enforcing state fire codes, conducting fire investigations and providing public fire injury prevention education programs for at-risk groups and businesses. The department follows a set of four operating priorities for which it aims to provide: Safety, Courtesy, Excellent Service and Continuous Improvement. Greensboro s fire department operates as a nationally acclaimed organization and has been recognized as a Nationally Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Department is rated Class 1 by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) as well and houses one of just seven Governor-appointed Regional Response Hazardous Materials Teams, responsible for managing hazardous material accidents for 14 neighboring counties in the area. In total, Greensboro houses 25 fire stations, 24 engine companies and 11 ladder companies. In fiscal year , the department responded to over 33,000 calls, including over 1,000 fires and 22,000 emergency medical calls. The department employs approximately 575 personnel and is operating with a fiscal year budget of $44 million. The Fire Chief s Position Greensboro s fire chief, appointed by and under the direction of the assistant city manager for public safety, is responsible for all aspects of fire and related emergency service operations in the city and its designated service area. The primary responsibility of the chief is to assure that the department s current high level of service and professionalism is maintained and improved. The chief provides executive level leadership and is responsible for planning, directing and managing all programs and functions of the department including but not limited to: personnel, vehicle and equipment maintenance, safety and training, emergency response in all designated service areas, records and reporting requirements, program development and planning and budgeting. The fire chief also plans, evaluates, recommends, implements, controls and directs the fire and emergency service functions of the department under the broad direction provided by applicable laws, policies, ordinances, rules and regulations adopted by the City, the State or other authorities. 4 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

6 Education and Experience Necessary to Qualify Candidates for Greensboro s fire chief must possess a bachelor s degree and ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in senior level fire command positions equivalent to a fire chief or a top deputy/assistant chief. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. A demonstrated progressive record of strong professional, executive and administrative leadership is an important consideration. It is preferred that candidates demonstrate past experience in a department serving a population in excess of 100,000 residents, which includes a successful record of collaborative team building with other City departments, including successfully managing diversified recruitment and promotion, planning for growth in services and service demand, capital planning and project management, training and certifications, general management, finance and human resources related to fire services. Experience in fire suppression, basic fire prevention, fire investigations, emergency medical services, safety and training, hazardous materials, management information systems, emergency response planning and exercises, and outreach and development of high performance functions of a comparable department is a significant consideration. Designation as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and/or Executive Fire Officer (EFO) are desirable. Major duties of the position include: Building a strong department built upon a vision for the future and well-thought out, participatory strategic plans Leading, planning, organizing, evaluating, and coordinating the development and implementation of policies and procedures in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances Assuring personal and departmental compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, certifications, regulations, and standards of good business practice in all department activities and endeavors Leading, planning, organizing, evaluating, directing and coordinating the work of subordinate personnel in conducting fire and related emergency service functions in collaboration and cooperation with other City departments and neighboring communities. Responding to emergency incidents and assuming direct command of large scale operations Managing the recruitment, training and certification functions of the department Providing for accurate record keeping and ensuring training, safety, certification, incident and other necessary records and reports are up complete and up to date Preparing and supervising development and management of the department s annual budget Researching and developing recommendations and implementing approved operational policies, expenditures, plans and administrative matters as they effect the operation of the department Providing oral and written presentations on behalf of the department to the city manager, the city council, residents, public and private agencies, community groups, and the media 5 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

7 Coordinating with appropriate internal and external agencies to develop strong mutual aid agreements and ensures mitigation of emergency incidents Planning for long-term department staffing, program, training, equipment and facility demands Engaging and interacting with department staff through staff meetings and visits to various fire stations Supervising the City s fire inspection and related fire safety programs Ensuring that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City safety standards and policies Candidates Should Possess a Wide Range of Qualities, Skills and Abilities which include, but are not limited to, being: A strong leader who leads from the front, demonstrates pride in the department and City and who is ethical, honest, trustworthy, down to earth, open minded to new ideas, and candid Engaged and passionate about fire and emergency medical services and the department s employees while also recognizing and effectively balancing his/her role as a member of the City's executive leadership team A self starter, good listener, innovator, hard working, producer who is engaged and visible with staff and in the community A team oriented visionary with the ability to understand the big picture related to fire, emergency medical services, emergency management, and other City issues A steward of public resources who is mindful of fiscal constraints, adept at working collaboratively with peers within and outside the department, and creative in using available resources while seeking greater efficiencies in operations Mature and self confident An excellent communicator with the ability to relate to a wide variety of people throughout the City Tactful, discrete, diplomatic and decisive Highly responsive, team and service oriented Strong and firm in dealing with all individuals A developer and mentor of staff who is familiar with succession planning Able to leverage local, regional and state relationships to the City s advantage Successful in navigating difficult issues in a political environment in an apolitical manner A leader who builds and maintains diversity For more information on the City of Greensboro Fire Department, please visit the Fire department webpage 6 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief

8 City of Greensboro Fire Department Organizational Chart Compensation and Benefits The salary for the position is negotiable within a range of $119,972 - $148,280, dependent upon the candidate s qualifications and experience. The full salary range for this position is $101,100 - $168,500. Benefits include, but are not limited to, participation in the North Carolina Retirement System, vacation and sick leave, medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, professional dues and conference expenses. Relocation expenses may be negotiated. Application and Selection Process The application deadline for the position is November 11, To be considered, please visit to complete an employment application and submit your cover letter, résumé with salary history, and five professional references. Following the filing date, résumés will be screened by Waters & Company based on the criteria established by the City of Greensboro. The City will review recommended candidates who most closely meet the established criteria and finalists should be interviewed in Greensboro during the month of December For more information, please contact John Anzivino at [email protected]. The City of Greensboro is an Equal Opportunity Employer 7 Executive Recruitment Fire Chief