This posting is for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts  Clinton Fire Department;  vacancy location is HRD.

Departmental Promotional Examination for Fire Chief, Municipal Departments

EXAMINATION DATE: March 22, 2014
DEADLINE TO APPLY: February 18, 2014

Applicants for this examination must be employees in a Boston Fire Department. Please read the below Department listing carefully.

WEIGHTS: Applicants must get a passing mark on each of the weighted components in order to receive an overall (general average) examination score. For each examination in this job posting, the examination weights are: 40% written examination; 10% Education & Experience & 50% Assessment Center.

Departments and Eligible Title(s):

Examples Of Essential Duties:

DUTIES:  Under the general supervision of the municipal appointing authority, directs the operations of the Fire Department, exercising supervision over direct reporting staff and overseeing the delivery of major municipal fire services; conducts long-range planning to determine policies, program priorities, and the utilization of resources in order to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the goals and objectives mandated by state laws, local bylaws or ordinances and departmental rules and regulations; evaluates the availability of fiscal and equipment resources, personnel, and local needs relative to the protection of life and property and the prevention and suppression of fire; directs and performs fire prevention duties including code and pre-fire inspection duties; directs, performs and reports the results of fire investigations; personally responds to fire and non-fire emergencies in order to supervise actions of fire service personnel; carries out public relations activities and prepares and disseminates news releases; plans and conducts hearings and meetings on issues of public concern; prepares and submits budget requests and administers department budget; interviews and selects personnel for promotion; reviews and negotiates contract proposals  from contractors and/or vendors; and performs related duties as required.

EXAMINATION SUBJECTS: The written examination will be designed to test, where practicable, the following knowledges, abilities and skills that have been established as qualifications for the position: 1. Knowledge of the chemistry and physics of fire, including the science of fire, fire conditions, and fire development/spread of heat and smoke;  2. Knowledge of fireground operations/fire suppression, including size up, engine company operations, ladder company operations, search and rescue, ventilation, hydraulics, ladder operations, water supply/pump and hose operations, driving fire department apparatus and vehicles, overhaul and salvage, firefighter safety and survival, incident scene management and communications, post-incident activities, and incident command; 3. Knowledge of special operations, including pre and post detonation of an explosive device and response to non-fire emergencies/civil disturbance/natural gas leaks/criminal or terrorist use of chemical, biological, or radiological agents; 4. Knowledge of building design, construction, and materials, including concepts of construction/methods and materials of construction, building codes, ordinary, wood frame, and heavy timber/mill construction,  non-combustible construction and fire-resistive construction, vacant and abandoned structures, features of fire protection and other building design details and hazards, and structure collapse; 5. Knowledge of fire prevention, including common and special fire hazards, occupancy limitations and storage guidelines, pre-incident (disaster) planning, and community relations/public fire education; 6. Knowledge of fire protection, including, extinguishing systems and agents (i.e., sprinklers, standpipes, foam, wet chemical, dry chemical, clean agent, and carbon dioxide) and fire detection and alarm systems; 7. Knowledge of fire cause determination, including collecting and protecting fire scene evidence and determination of cause(s); 8. Knowledge of hazardous materials, including isolation and evacuation/safety precautions, hazard classification system, hazardous materials at the fire scene, protective actions, and protective clothing and decontamination; 9. Knowledge of legal considerations, including laws and codes relating to the fire service and ethical considerations; 10. Knowledge of supervision, including interpersonal communication, leadership and motivation, decision making, training and team building, performance evaluation and discipline, and workplace safety and wellness; and 11. Knowledge of administration and management, including managing change, budgets and cost containment, staffing, labor relations/grievance procedures, and program planning.

READING LIST: Available at www.mass.gov/hrd/readinglists.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for this examination you must (1) be an employee in the Fire Department for which the examination is given with permanent civil service status in the specified eligible title(s) on the date of the examination; and (2) have served in the force at least one year since your name was first certified in the eligible title(s), regardless of whether that certification resulted in your appointment to the eligible title(s).  Time spent pursuant to a temporary appointment in the title of Deputy Fire Chief will not interrupt the service period in your permanent position.

NOTE: Pursuant to the provisions of MGL Ch. 31 § 59, if less than four applications are received from eligible applicants, as defined above, this examination will be postponed.

APPLICATION: All applications must be received by the application deadline, and accompanied by an examination-processing fee of $250. 

FEE WAIVER: The examination fee may be waived for candidates receiving certain state or federal public assistance, or unemployment insurance. Fee Waiver Forms are available at the Applicant Forms section of our website (www.mass.gov/civilservice). You must follow the instructions on the Fee Waiver Form regarding proper submission of the Form and supporting documentation.

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: If you need special testing accommodations due to a documented impairment such as a hearing, learning, physical, mental or visual disability, you must submit a letter of support from a qualified professional detailing what type of accommodation you require at the exam site, and such letter must be scanned and attached to this application. Without such a letter, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to grant your accommodation. This information is requested only to provide reasonable accommodation for exams, and will not be used for any other purposes.

CURRENT MILITARY PERSONNEL: ALL military personnel who, in connection with current service, have military orders that indicate their unavailability due to military service on the examination date, must file an application and processing fee and request a makeup examination in writing, with a copy of your military orders attached. Please include in your request your e-mail address, daytime base phone number and/or name and phone number of a friend or family member with whom you have regular contact and entrust with your personal communication.

NO MAKE-UP EXAMINATION: With the exception of current military personnel as described above, no candidate has a right to a make-up examination due to personal or professional conflicts on the testing date. Candidates are advised to consider this BEFORE applying for the examination. If you file an exam application by the application deadline, but are unable to appear for the exam on the examination date due to an emergency or unanticipated hardship, you may request a make-up examination by filing a written request with verifiable documentation to HRD no later than 7 calendar days from the original written examination date. HRD reserves the right to approve or deny your request. HRD may require an additional examination-processing fee upon approval of your request.

PRIVATE SCHOOL OR SERVICE: HRD does not recommend or endorse any private school, service, or publisher offering preparation and/or publications for examinations and is not responsible for their advertising claims.

IDENTIFICATION AT THE EXAMINATION SITE: At the examination site, applicants must present current and valid photo identification with signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, military ID).

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Candidates are responsible maintaining accurate contact information. Failure to keep your records up-to-date may jeopardize opportunities for employment.

NOTICE TO APPEAR: Notices To Appear to the assigned examination site will be issued after the close of the application period, and approximately 2 weeks prior to the examination date.
 

STATUTORY PREFERENCE POINTS: Upon submission of written proof, two points will be added to the passing score of qualified veterans or individuals who have 25 years of service as a member of a regular police or fire force and have passed an examination for promotional appointment in such force. If you are qualified for both the Veteran’s Preference and the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, please be advised that two points are the maximum allowable number of points to be added to your passing, overall (general average) examination score. To claim the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, applicants must claim this preference at the examination site and verify eligibility on the Employment Verification Form submitted for this examination.  Please see www.mass.gov/hrd/csvetinfo for submission requirements to claim the Veterans’ Preference. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (E&E): All applicants must complete the 2014 Fire Chief Series E&E Claim application online. This E&E Claim application will be available at least 7 calendar days prior to the examination date, and all claims and supporting documentation must be received within 7 calendar days following the examination. Please read the instructions for submitting claims and supporting documentation carefully. Supporting documentation for your claim may be submitted three ways: 1. At the examination site; 2. Online, as an attachment to your Claim; and 3. By mail, which must be postmarked no later than March 29, 2014. While supporting documentation is accepted in all three forms of submission, your actual E&E Claim MUST be submitted online only. Please note that E&E is an examination component, and therefore must be completed by the examinee. Please note that failure to complete this examination component will adversely effect your examination score. Instructions regarding this E&E Claim application will be available at www.mass.gov/civilservice at least 7 calendar days prior to the examination date. Please be sure to read the instructions carefully. No phone calls or email inquiries regarding completion of this exam component will be accepted or responded to. Once you receive your examination mark, you will have seventeen calendar days from the mailing of your mark to appeal in writing your Education and Experience score.