TMCC Fire Academy Commander

Per the NFA Contract, Article 9, TMCC is announcing to all eligible Academic and Administrative faculty that a need exists for a TMCC Fire Academy Commander.

Date

April 17, 2024

Description

The Fire Academy Commander develops, coordinates, and delivers classes and training to fire academy cadets. Primary responsibility is to ensure that fire students are proficiently trained to perform their assigned tasks, meet minimum state and national standards of training and that required certifications are kept current. The work is performed under the direct supervision of the program director of Public Safety, but the individual must take initiative and exercise independent judgement.

Scope of Work

This position will serve during the 2024–25 academic term starting July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2025. This position will encompass a fire academy in the fall semester and another fire academy in the spring semester.

Responsibilities and Deliverables

  1. Essential Functions
    • Plans, organizes, and directs the academy training activities.
    • Communicates with others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental training operations.
    • Establishes policies and procedures for the assigned areas of responsibility, coordinates training and safety needs of the academy accordingly.
    • Develops short and long-range plans for the academy and assigned areas of responsibility.
    • Designs compliance programs and training for hazardous materials regulations and requirements.
    • Performs training and evaluation of fire suppression tactics for academy cadets and implements initiatives to ensure the academy operates in an efficient, effective, and safe manner.
    • Shuttle Fire Department Apparatus from storage facilities to training facilities.
    • Provide assistance for and directs assistant instructors on daily tasks and assignments. Make effective recommendations to the Program Director on related student actions.
    • Remains current on the principles, practices, and new developments in the field of fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical and hazardous materials; incorporates new developments as appropriate; creates and/or updates academy training materials according to best practices.
    • Makes recommendations for the use of the training budget to include such materials as equipment, supplies, training materials, improvements, and related needs.
  2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
    • Current methods, principles, techniques and practices applied to firefighting, fire behavior, hydraulics, fire inspection, natural or man-made disasters, operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment and working knowledge of fire extinguishing systems, fire prevention methods and fire safety and related fields.
    • Principles and practices of first aid including EMT training.
    • Traffic laws, ordinance and regulations involving fire apparatus equipment operation and basic knowledge of Federal, State and District regulations, and procedures.
    • Hazards of chemical properties of a variety of materials and ability to recognize environmental and workplace hazards and implement safeguards to prevent accident or injury to employees or damage to District facilities and/or equipment.
    • Current computer applications utilized by TMCC and utilize applications to perform and complete tasks, update grade roster, email correspondence with student and faculty personnel, and to deliver course materials for classroom presentations.
    • Basic report preparation with proficient spelling and grammatical skills; certain duties require creativity.
    • Skilled in:
      • Effectively handle difficult or sensitive issues, using professionalism and an understanding of organizational culture.
      • Interacting with others using tact, patience, and courtesy.
      • Using interpersonal and problem-solving skills, including anticipating, analyzing, diagnosing, and resolving problems.
      • Using initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
      • Delivering effective instructor-led training, both formal and informal, to various audiences and ability to effectively present information to moderate size groups.
    • Ability to:
      • Understand, interpret, and apply documents such as operating instructions, applicable policies, procedures, fire codes, adopted ordinances and safety rules.
      • Maintain confidentiality.
      • Plan, assign, supervise, and review the work of academy instructors & cadets.
      • Maintain and establish effective and cooperative working relationships with inter-agency employees, public and public officials and to work effectively in a team environment.
      • Adapt to changes in the work environment and to shifts in organizational philosophy and expectations.
      • Conduct oneself in a professional manner as defined by TMCC policy.
      • Carry out special and general assignments requiring organization and development of procedures without direct supervision.
      • Complete comprehensive work assignments and meet deadlines.
      • Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing
  3. Supervisory Responsibilities
    • This position provides technical support to operations personnel involving the daily activities of the fire academy; may supervise assigned, part-time/IA’s employees during academy training exercises.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; use hands or fingers to handle and feel; and use the telephone and computer while communicating with internal and external clients. Requires sufficient manual dexterity and visual acuity to operate a personal computer and other standard office equipment. Employee will sit for several hours each day but will also need mobility and ability to stand and walk continuously for periods of time and reach with hands and arms. Employee may need to lift up to 185 pounds on occasion. This position may require the employee to work under stressful conditions due to deadlines and time constraints.

This position may require the employee to perform strenuous work, for extended periods of time, while performing some or all of the following:

  • Wear a respirator (SCBA)
  • Wear and/or carry over 50lbs of protective clothing/equipment
  • Work in an overheated, extreme cold or wet environment
  • Work under adverse or stressful conditions

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work area is a typical office/classroom setting with frequent travel to various locations, training facilities, to attend meetings and/or perform department activities; may include responding to emergency scenes. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may reach extremes where hearing protection is required. From time-to-time work will require operations in an outdoor setting, in a variety of weather, terrain and noise conditions.

Qualifications

The Fire Academy Commander must have a high school diploma or equivalent is required, Associate degree in Fire Science or related field preferred. At least 3 years’ experience as a Professional Career Firefighter within an Organized Fire Municipality. A valid Nevada State Class B Driver’s License or greater with “F” Endorsement, Nevada State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, Fire Instructor I certification, and Fire Instructor II certification.

Compensation

The Fire Academy Commander will receive 3 credits/$2,856 in the fall semester and 3 credits/$2,856 in the spring semester totaling $5,712. This additional assignment can be release time or stipend.

Reports To

Mike Schulz, Director of Public Safety.

Application Process

Interested faculty will submit a letter of interest describing special qualifications and background information as soon as possible or no later than 5 p.m. on May 17, 2023.

The letter should be addressed to Mike Schulz, Director of Public Safety. NOTE: Administrative faculty must include a documented plan for separation of the additional assignment work from regular work time.

Selection Process

The Dean of Life Sciences, Allied Health and Public Safety Division Dean will notify applicants of the hiring decision on or before May 31, 2024.