FIRE CHIEF
Watertown, New York

Watertown is a small, but growing city in Northern New York with a population of approximately 27,000 and an area of 9.3 square miles.  Located approximately 70 miles north of Syracuse and 30 miles south of Canada, it is the county seat and largest populated center in Jefferson County (population 115,000).

The Department:  The Watertown Fire Department is an 83 member department comprised of two divisions; Operations, the largest, and Support which includes Administration, Fire Prevention/Code Enforcement and Training.  Staffing includes one Deputy Chief, five Battalion Chiefs, twenty-one Captains, fifty-four firefighters and a Secretary.  Dispatch is handled by Jefferson County.  The Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget included appropriations of $7,730,000 to support departmental operations.  In addition, the department received a grant of $278,000 for turnout gear, SCBA equipment, a training video library, firefighter escape system and a breathing air compressor system.  In concert with the Watertown Police Department and Jefferson county Sheriff’s Department, a grant of $1,000,000 for communication equipment has been awarded.
In 2008, the department received 3,380 calls for service.  Of those, 739 were for fires and hazardous conditions, and 1,886 were EMS/Rescue related.  The Department conducted 9,543 occupied building inspections, issued 902 written violations, trained 5,672 civilian personnel, and counseled 23 juvenile fire setters.  The department utilizes mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire service agencies.  Watertown currently has a Class 2 fire suppression ration (with 1 being the highest on a 10-point scale) from the Insurance Services Office.  The department utilizes mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire service agencies.

The Ideal Candidate:  The City is looking for a progressive fire service professional with strong management skills that reflect the highest degree of integrity and respect possible.  The new Chief must be able to guide the department through the challenges of servicing a growing residential community.  The Chief will be a leader and decision maker who serves as a stabilizing force in a changing environment and engenders trust between staff, labor, management, citizens and elected officials.  The new Chief must be confident in his/her own talents and must have demonstrated resolve in addressing difficult circumstances.

This is a Civil Service tested position, and therefore the candidate must meet the following minimum qualifications and pass an open competitive examination, which will be given January 9, 2010.

Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in business administration, public administration, fire related curriculum, criminal justice, or related field and five (5) or more years of Command experience in a career fire department; graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and/or a Designated Chief Fire Officer preferred.

The candidate must possess certifications in Firefighter I & II (or have completed NYS Firefighter Minimum Training of 229 hours) and Fire Officer I & II (State or National) at time of appointment.  Fire Instructor/Fire Inspector certification must be obtained within one (1) year of appointment.

Salary and Benefits:  Salary offer will be made dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.  The City also offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes paid holidays, sick leave, health insurance and retirement.

Application and Interview Process:  Submit completed application with $25 exam fee, cover letter, detailed resume and 3 professional references by December 14, 2009 to:

Mrs. Beth Morris
Watertown Civil Service Commission
245 Washington Street, Room 201B
Watertown, NY  13601

Applications can be obtained from Mrs. Morris or on the
City’s website at: 
www.watertown-ny.gov. 

Applicants must answer every question on the application.  Please make sure it is complete in all respects.

Following the receipt of examination results and initial review of resumes, the candidates with the most relevant qualifications and experience will be invited to participate in the interview process.  Following selection and thorough background and reference checks, the City anticipates making an appointment.