Assistant Director of Firefighting Programs

AssistantDirector of Firefighting Programs
Illinois Fire Service Institute

The University of Illinois is a world leader inresearch, teaching, and public engagement. We serve the state, the nation, andthe world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, andaddressing critical societal needs through the transfer and application ofknowledge. As the statutory fire academy for Illinois, the Illinois FireService Institute (IFSI) serves firefighters throughout Illinois and the world.World-class instructors deliver more than 14,000 class hours to studentsonline, on campus and at regional training centers throughout the state. IFSI is operated as a continuing education and public service activity by theUniversity of Illinois.

PRIMARY POSITIONFUNCTION/SUMMARY:

The primary function of thisposition is to provide strategic leadership and oversight of the IFSI'sFirefighting Directorate Program Coordinator (PC), Regional Representatives(RR), Program Directors (PD), Program Managers (PM), and Lead Instructors (LI).The Firefighting Directorate is a keystone of IFSI, delivering training to20,000 students annually. The position includes experiences specific to theplanning, coordination, and execution of IFSI training, live-fire operations,risk management and mitigation, course costing, curriculum development,testing, certification, training facilities, props, simulators, equipment andinventory, RMS, heavy machinery, apparatus utilized at IFSI.

DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES:

Executive Administration:

• Serve as the primary advisorto the Director and Senior Associate Director for Academic Operations (SADAO)for the Firefighting Directorate.
• Serve as a member of theLeadership Team to set goals and objectives for IFSI. Establish functionalprocesses and procedures to support timely and relevant reports, analysis, andother communications to PC, RRs, PDs, and PMs.
• Advise the SADAO inidentifying, developing, and setting the Firefighting Directorate's financialpriorities to align with the IFSI's strategic vision, ensuring that resourcesare allocated to the most critical areas.
• Monitor and manage all budgetsassigned to firefighting programs and hold individual budget owners accountablefor their programs' budget allocations.
• Consistent communicationand collaboration with IFSI's Chief Financial Officer and SADAO about financialperformance and necessary adjustments to achieve IFSI's financial performance.
• Implement and enforce all IFSIPolicies and Procedures.
• Review and provide revisiondrafts to IFSI policies to the SADAO to support and maintain a risk-mitigatedtraining environment during firefighting and live-fire training operations.
• Maintain compliance withstate and federal regulations and industry standards related to live-fire andhands-on training.
• Implement and develop riskmitigation protocols and procedures for all training deliveries.
• Manage the IFSI annualhealth questionnaire and face piece fit test program. Ensure the PC, RRs, PDs,and PMs instructor cadres' schedule and complete the annual requirements forlive-fire training, IFSI and UIUC trainings.
• Create, implement, and managean equipment and personal protective equipment replacement program for allprograms. Coordinate purchases with the IFSI PC, RRs, PDs, and PMs, and theSADAO.
• Support the SADAO inleading and overseeing the planning and budgeting of grant-funded courses andpurchasing equipment to support course execution.

Directorate Administration:

• Lead, manage, and directthe operations of IFSI's firefighting programs, including education andtraining development and execution.
  • Program management anddevelopment.
  • Oversee the completion of theFirefighting curriculum, testing, and certification projects with the PC, RRs,PDs, PMs, and CTC in compliance with NFPA Standards.
  • Program curriculumdevelopment includes integrating updates into the Cornerstone and Team IFSIcurriculum.
  • Oversee and manageDirectorate budget allocations.
  • Verify the accuracy of thefunding source when approving timesheets and expense reports.
  • Program leadership developmentand management to include PC, RRs, PDs, and PMs.
  • Observe and review Directoratecourse executions to ensure consistent curriculum and practical courseexecution and administrative task completion.
• Oversee, review and verify theimplementation of the risk mitigation policies and procedures during trainingled by the Firefighting PC, RRs, PDs, and PMs completion of the followingrequired course documentation for the BOF Academy, BOF Blended, AdvancedTechnician Firefighter, Advanced Breathing Apparatus Specialist, DriverOperator Program, Responder Intervention Team (RIT) and RIT Chief, FiregroundCompany & Command, Smoke Divers, Liquid Petroleum, Cornerstone, Departmentof Defense, Industry, Wildland Firefighting, Annual Training Events, andSpecial Course deliveries.
  • IFSI Accountability Form -Daily Training.
  • Live-fire and non-fireTraining Safety Briefing Procedure.
  • Burn Log entry in RMS.
  • Prop Safety Analysis Form.
  • Live-Fire Training GroundDemob Procedure.
  • As needed: Student or Instructor Injury Report.
  • Preliminary Inquiry forInjury or Unusual Incident Form.
  • Verify the course lead, PM, orPD communicates the daily course safety briefing.
  • Oversee the live-fire trainingexecution at IFSI, including oversight of the program, course, or eventexecution safety officer.
  • Monitor and evaluateoperational processes and risk mitigation measures to identify areas ofimprovement and efficiency.
• Coordinate with theLeadership Team for training prop development, maintenance, upgrades, andmobile prop purchases.
• Coordinate with SADAO andother Program Directors for staff development.

Basic OperationsFirefighter (BOF) - Academy and Blended - Development, Implementation andOversight:

• Manage the OSFM grant forcourse deliveries and purchase equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Lead, manage, and support theProgram Director of BOF Academy and Program Director of BOF Blended Programs.
• Coordinate with the BOFBlended Program Director to approve the regional sites for the BOF Blendedcourse executions.
• Coordinate with the BOFAcademy Program Director off-site facility use during the IFSI Academy courseexecution.

Additional Duties:

• Co-chair the IFSI TrainingGrounds and Prop Working Group to design and plan new props and existing propmaintenance and improvements. The ADFF is responsible for seeking approval fromthe Director and SADAO for new and significant prop renovation and maintenance.
• Manage the mobile trainingprop purchasing and onboarding specific to the Firefighting
  Directorate.
• Oversee the programmanagement, depreciation, replacement, and inventory of the tools, equipment,trailers, and apparatus within the Firefighting Directorate, includinginventory stored in fixed facilities, apparatus, and mobile props.
• Oversee the inventorymanagement for all tools and equipment maintained within the Firefightingprograms.
  • Oversee and maintain the IFSIinventory as required by IFSI Policy and Procedures.
  • Work with the IFSI ResourceOperations Specialist to maintain the IFSI inventory and update the content ofRMS to include props, tools, and equipment.
• Coordinate with PC, RRs, PDs,and PMs to ensure completion and documentation of the execution of IFSI's LiveFire Training Program - online components, schedule delivery of the hands-ontraining, and ensure candidates complete and record the required NFPA 1403 taskbook requirements.
• Oversee all planning andexecution of IFSI annual training events, including Winter Fire School, FireCollege, Explorer-Cadet, Camp Fury, Fire Service Women of Illinois, IllinoisFirefighter Association, and Veteran's Weekend, etc.
• Oversee iEMS and IFSI EMSProgram Manager.
• Assist in planning,scheduling, and completing the annual IFSI Master Schedule and entering it intothe FP Generator.
• Serve on various Institute,University, State, and National technical, advisory, or administrativecommittees or organizations.
• Assist in guiding IFSIresearch and UIUC research projects to conduct firefighter health andsafety-related research projects.
• Maintain existingrelationships and build new ones with IFSI partners.
• Other duties as assigned,based on the operational needs of IFSI.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

Baccalaureate Degree.

At least 15 years of fire service experience.

Minimum of 4 years' experience as a Chief Officer in a department serving a community of over 10,000 people, budget experience (including operational, training, and equipment) exceeding $1 million, and supervision of 20 or more people.

Fire service officer experience (non-Chief Officer) with equivalent responsibilities will be considered.

Proven experience and ability to meet the job requirements, implement duties and responsibilities, and mitigate risks to ground safety concerns during training.

Demonstrated experience in developing firefighting training and education curriculum.

Demonstrated record of performance, positive attitude, and ability to work well with all IFSI program leadership.

Demonstrated experience in budget creation and management project management.

Preferred:

Demonstrated Training Officer experience.

Demonstrated experience leading a Training Division.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ANDABILITIES:

Documented understandingof IFSI's course, course costing, curriculum, testing, and certification, thetraining facilities, props, and simulators, equipment and inventory, RMS, heavymachinery, and apparatus that utilize the grounds.

Excellent oral and writtencommunication skills, including articulating complex messages to a diverseaudience.

Commitment to working with shared leadership and incross-functional teams.

Ability to be self-supervised and anticipate recurringdemands on one's time.

Ability to consistently exercise sound independentjudgment.

Strong creative, strategic, analytical, and organizational skills.

Ability to manage conflicting demands on time and multiple tasks involvingmultiple co-workers; maintain and exhibitflexibility; work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Ability tounderstand and accurately follow oral and written instructions.

Ability toestablish and maintain positive and effective work relationships with staff toperform required duties.

Provide positive customer service to both internaland external customers.

Perform effectively both independently and as part ofa team.

Sustain a positive, "can-do" attitude and commitment tocustomer service for internal and external customers.

Respond immediately tochanges, demands, and workloads in a positive and pleasant manner.

Performduties with professionalism, individually and as a team member.

Employsstrategies and approaches to ensure and improve inclusion, diversity, andequity-based outcomes within and across IFSI policies, programs, and services.

Establish and maintain positive work relationships with those contacted toperform required duties.

Interpret and apply IFSI policies, procedures,guidelines, rules, and regulations.

Appointment Information:

This is a 100% full-timeAcademic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expectedstart date is as soon as possible after January 16, 2025. The salary range for this position is $105,000 - 115,000.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on December 16, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Keri Borchers, [redacted]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact [redacted].

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at [redacted], or by emailing [redacted].

Requisition ID
Job Category: Professional and Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu