Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue’s focus on continuous improvement provides both opportunity and challenges. Specific opportunities and challenges facing the Division Chief of Training include:

• Making a difference in the quality of service provided to the community.
• Working with a diverse team of full-time, part-time, and volunteer members each with a different set of
  experiences and work schedules.
• Balancing the need to maintain a high-level focus on the district’s mission and vision while still providing
  didactic and hands-on skills training to develop and maintain member proficiency.
• Improving member proficiency in low-frequency high risk tactical operations.
• Developing and maintaining a comprehensive training and professional development program with a
  dynamic schedule impacted by diverse needs and constraints.
• Developing a collaborative partnership with other fire and emergency medical services agencies in
  ongoing professional development across agencies and district boundaries.

The ideal candidate is an experienced and progressive fire officer with a clear understanding of the dynamics of continuously improving the quality of service delivered with a combination full-time, part-time, and volunteer workforce. The successful candidate easily develops positive relationships with our members and community partners.

The division chief balances an exceptional level of technical knowledge and skill with the ability to develop the same in others and have a willingness to do what is needed to meet the mission regardless of rank or role.

The ideal candidate is committed to CWIFR’s mission to partner with our community to proactively reduce risk from fire, illness, injury and other hazards. The division chief of training walks the walk and demonstrates ongoing commitment to our values of professionalism, integrity, compassion, and excellence.

The division chief has the ability to think critically and is committed to continuous improvement and demonstrates a focused ability to get things done. The ideal candidate is politically astute and diplomatic, enjoys engaging in regional issues, and exploring alternatives to the status quo. The ideal candidate will integrate well with the fire chief, division chief of operations, and finance officer as a member of the district’s executive staff. The division chief is a transparent leader with a high level of consistency with the district’s organizational values who holds others accountable and who is willing to be held to the same standard.

The division chief of training must have a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in a fire and rescue agency with company officer level experience, and must have an Associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The division chief of training must have a valid driver’s license and meet the following additional requirements:

• EMT-Basic (Washington or the ability to obtain reciprocity)
• IFSAC Fire Officer II (or equivalent)
• IFSAC Hazmat Operations (or equivalent)
• Blue Card Type V & IV Incident Commander (or ability to obtain this qualification)
• NIMS ICS 700, 100, 200, & 300 (or equivalent)
• IFSAC Instructor II (or equivalent)

Desirable qualifications include:

• Blue Card Instructor
• Washington Department of Health Senior Emergency Medical Services Evaluator (ESE) or Instructor (SEI)
• International Fire Code Inspector certification
• IFSAC Safety Officer Certification (or equivalent)
• IFSAC Fire Officer III Certification (or equivalent)
• NWCG Wildland Firefighter Type I, Engine Boss, Task Force/Strike Team Leader
• Baccalaureate Degree or higher
• Completion of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP)
• Designation as a Fire Officer (FOD) or Chief Fire Officer (CFOD) by the Center for Public Safety Excellence
• Member Grade in the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE)

Base salary for the division chief is $133,980 (DOQ), in addition the division chief receives a competitive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, life insurance, deferred compensation of 9% (in lieu of social security), flexible paid time off (PTO), long term sick leave and participation in the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters (LEOFF) II retirement system.

To apply submit a letter of interest and resume along with a district application and supplemental questionnaire (which may be downloaded from the district’s web site www.cwfire.org) to:

Mail:

Administrative Assistant Sonja Lindenstein
1164 Race Road
Coupeville, WA 98239

Email:

[email protected]

or In-Person:

Fire Chief Jerry Helm
1164 Race Road
Coupeville, WA 98239

This position is open until filled. The first review of applications will take place December 20th, 2024. Following a review of applications, selected candidates will be asked to participate in either an in-person or virtual panel interview, depending on current residency of the applicant. This panel interview will be conducted by multiple district members representing the volunteer, part-time, and full-time groups.

Finalists will be invited to participate in an in-person chief’s interview based upon application and resume review. The first chief’s interview is tentatively scheduled to be held during the week of January 6th, 2025.