Salary: $105,851.00 – $115,723.00 Annually
Location : 10405 Corporate Drive Sugar Land, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2300668
Department: Fire
Division: Fire Administration
Opening Date: 09/05/2023
Closing Date: 10/6/2023 5:00 PM Central
Position Description
Sugar Land Fire Department is excited to announce an opening in the position of Battalion Chief of Training. This new, reimagined position, brings the opportunity for the best candidate to become a part of the Sugar Land Fire family and help to re-brand what today’s fire and EMS service training should look like! The successful candidate will be a team player that will demonstrate passion and possess high energy for training. Our department seeks an individual who understands the importance of leadership, relationship building, and the need to create exciting and fulfilling careers for our employees, and recognizes all aspects of our business to ensure our staff understands what is important.
The Battalion Chief of Training will serve as an integral part of the command staff to help chart our course as we deliver on our vision and develop our workforce to reach job satisfaction levels they’ve never imagined. Reporting directly to the Assistant Chief of Operations, the Battalion Chief of Training will operate autonomously and with incredible support to cultivate and build the next generation of Fire and EMS training.
Positioned ready to support the new Battalion Chief of Training, is a Lieutenant assigned to training, a newly developed and organized instructor cadre, and a team of high-speed, high-performing field training officers. The department is focused on the development of our company officers and employees in a manner to provide unprecedented career growth and success to each individual in the organization across the Operations, Prevention, and Administration Divisions.
Sugar Land Fire Department’s elite and fierce workforce care about people and the Battalion Chief of Training will take those high-character individuals and help them grow to deliver premier- unrivaled in the industry- service to our community.
Why Should You Join Our Team?
We are a full-service Fire-EMS department located approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston that invests in our team and offers real opportunities for career growth.We offer great benefits and perks available on your first day of employment, including:City-subsidized health benefits; life and disability insurance; a variety of voluntary benefits; a robust pension plan with TMRS to set you up for a fulfilling retirement; Paid Parental Leave, potential Wellness Day off with pay, and a fantastic group of people to work with.
We work hard, train hard and like to have fun at work. Our culture is important to us as we continue to build on the fire family feel within our workforce.
Our workforce gets to enjoy a number of different disciplines that provide the opportunity to participate in different arenas to meet their own interest…those areas of our business include, bike team, technical rescue, Air Raven Rescue, ATVs, in-city training facility, radically advanced medicine, Podcasts, and more. Our goal is to provide amazing support to our team members as they deliver premier service to our community.
If we have your attention… Please. Continue. Reading!
Summary of Duties
The rank of Battalion Chief will exist in various divisions with the City of Sugar Land Fire-EMS Department. Battalion Chiefs in general are part of management in that they supervise personnel and are required to assist management in carrying out Departmental goals, objectives and ensuring compliance with all policies. Actively pursues knowing and understanding City and Fire related business. Actively participates in committees, programs and projects while providing leadership to project coordinators. Assists in department efforts towards continuous improvement.
Training Battalion Chief manages to ensure the department is trained to carry out services to our community, safely, efficiently, effectively and operating within established policies. Work to ensure a comprehensive training plan is developed, budgeted and executed. Ensure Fire Training Facility (FTF) comprehensive plan is executed to maximize city resources, training of personnel and ensures continued momentum of facility goals and objectives. Ensures consistent reporting, recording, and maintaining of training files.
Additional Information on Duties
- Plan, develop, schedule, coordinate, and implement the full range of training programs for the Fire Department; prepare lesson plans and training manuals; plan and schedule training exercises; teach classes in classrooms and at training grounds testing the knowledge and performance of fire personnel
- Establish and supervise the maintenance of the training records system as required to renew and obtain certifications and to maintain a current promotional priority list.
- Oversee and coordinate the attendance of departmental staff at training programs and seminars.
- Participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for training activities; identify resource needs; recommend and implement policies and procedures.
- Participate in monitoring and evaluating employee performance; identify training needs; review training evaluation results with employee and work to correct deficiencies.
- Research and develop new training programs. Maintain the training library; manage the department’s video equipment.
- Participate in the development and implementation of entry level and promotional examinations.
- Respond to incidents for safety and incident command roles or for critique purposes.
- Participate in the preparation and administration of delegated budget; submit recommendations, monitor expenditures.
- Work on a close and cooperative basis with Compliance Battalion Chief to ensure fire personnel are maintaining active certifications
- Work with other battalion chiefs to conduct quality assurance/critique of scenes and situations to identify training opportunities.
- Deliver training to ensure department maintains ISO rating of “2” or less. Stay abreast of all current guidelines by researching safety trends and new developments in the area of fire suppression.
- Work on a cooperative basis with Logistics Chief when researching potential new tools, equipment or other resources related to training.
- Maintain a pulse on innovative ways industry is training personnel.
Minimum Qualifications
Formal Education
- Minimum 60 college credit or an Associate Degree, verified by Sugar Land Fire -EMS
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred verified by Sugar Land Fire – EMS
Relatable Work Experience
- Five (5) calendar years completed service in paid Fire-EMS industry.
Training (License and/or Certification) REQUIRED:
- Incident Safety Officer Certification
- TCFP Basic Structure Fire Suppression or better
- TDSHS EMT-Basic or better
- Fire Officer II
- NIMS ICS 400 within 18 months
- Must be able to successfully pass Emergency Services Job Task Simulation Test after conditional job offer
- Must pass NFPA Physical as part of the hiring process
Optional/Growth
- Fire Officer III
- Fire Officer IV
Additional Information
APPLICATIONS must include the following:
- Entire Application must be completed. Go to http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/885/Job-Opportunities scroll to the list of open positions and select Battalion Chief of Training.
- Attach proof of Firefighter Certification and EMT or Paramedic Certification or License to application.
- Resume
- Copy of college transcript(s) and/or diploma (official preferred)
- Copy of valid driver’s license
- Minimum criteria must be met by application deadline unless otherwise noted.
Note: Incomplete Applications will be rejected and cause an applicant not to move forward with the process.
HIRING PROCESS: Qualified applicants will be notified of the process for this position and given ample time to prepare. The process for this position will be a combination of essay submissions, presentations and panel, then chief interviews.
Benefits At-A-Glance:
- City-subsidized Medical and Dental Insurance with a variety of plan options;
- City-paid Basic Life Insurance @ 1x your annual salary and Long-term Disability;
- Voluntary Vision, Supplemental Life Coverage (for you and your family), Aflac indemnity plans such as Accident, Cancer, Hospitalization and Critical Illness, Short Term Disability and pre-paid legal benefits through Legal Shield;
- 9 paid holidays and up to 3 floating holidays to use at your discretion;
- A generous vacation package with accruals starting on day 1;
- Paid sick leave;
- Paid Parental Leave
- A robust pension plan with TMRS includes your 7% contribution with 2:1 match by the City;
- You won’t contribute to Social Security, but you can further your retirement income by contributing to a Deferred Compensation (457b) plan;
- Longevity pay for each month of service after your first 13 months of employment;
- On-site Wellness facilities and programming (mind, body spirit & financial preparedness); and
- Access to multiple mental health benefits and resources, including a robust EAP…
About the City of Sugar Land
The City of Sugar Land, a municipality with a population of 111,026, provides the highest quality of affordable services to meet the needs of its residents. Master-planned communities and welcoming neighborhoods enhance home values and create a sense of belonging. The community offers outstanding schools, libraries, parks, museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other resources that make Sugar Land a great place to work, live and raise a family. Sugar Land’s aggressive economic development program has created a business-friendly environment, and numerous high-profile regional and international corporations have chosen Sugar Land as their corporate home. Sugar Land is also home to an award-winning regional airport and multiple civic organizations for those interested in the community and government.
We are proud to have been named one of the Top 50 places to live in the United States by The Press of Atlantic City and the Top 25 Best Places to Live for Families by Fortune Magazine. We hire people based on their potential, not just their experience. We have an informal work environment but are serious about what we do. We believe that happy, diverse and talented employees add value to the City. We do our best to hire friendly, professional people who work hard and play well with others. We also promote a healthy work-life balance and personal development.
CITY OF SUGAR LAND’s OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
- Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)
Employee contribution: 7%
City matches 2:1 with 5-year vesting
Retirement Eligibility:
1) Age 60 + vested; or
2) 20 years of service, any age
- HOLIDAYS
The City recognizes 10 Holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating Holiday. In lieu of a floating holiday,
firefighters will receive September 11th, Patriot Day, as a fixed holiday.
- VACATION – Other than Public Safety
0 -2nd Year 10 days per year
3 -10 Years 15 days per year
11+ Years 20 days per year
- VACATION – Public Safety
First Year 10 days per year
2-10 Years 15 days per year
11+ Years 20 days per year
- SICK LEAVE – Other than Firefighters
8 hours per month, to a maximum of 1,040 hours
- SICK LEAVE – Shift Firefighters
12 hours per month, to a maximum of 1,456 hours
- SICK LEAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Annual conversion of sick leave to vacation
Sick Days Used from 01/01 to 12/31 Eligible Sick Days for Conversion
1 day or less taken 3 days
Up to 2 ½ days 2 days
More than 2 ½ days and up to 4 days 1 day
More than 4 days 0 day
- LONGEVITY PAY
After one year of employment, employees will receive an annual payment of $4.00 per month of employment with the City for the first 25 years of continuous employment (maximum of $1,200 annually). Qualified employees receive longevity payments each December.
- 125 CAFETERIA PLAN
Premium contributions for the medical and dental plans as well as Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are available to all full-time employees through this arrangement.
- GROUP HEALTH & DENTAL
The City contributes to employee and dependent coverage in the HMO, HDHP and dental plans offered.
Medical HSA KelseyCare Gold KelseyCare Blue Employee Only $101.44 $19.56 $0.00 EE + Spouse $346.60 $144.55 $96.48 EE + Child(ren) $257.51 $106.09 $66.79 EE + Family $454.39 $202.24 $141.00 Dental DPPO DHMO Employee Only $7.35 $3.14 EE + Spouse $18.49 $5.89 EE + Child(ren) $17.90 $8.45 EE + Family $31.41 $10.33 Vision Plan Employee Only $7.35 EE + Spouse $18.49 EE + Child(ren) $17.90 EE + Family $31.41
- VISION CARE PLAN
Employees can voluntarily elect to purchase vision care insurance for themselves and their eligible dependents.
- AFLAC PLANS
Employees can voluntarily elect to purchase through payroll deduction: Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, and Hospital policies for themselves and their eligible dependents. (Rates are age-banded. Employee must contact representative directly for rates and enrollment.)
- BASIC LIFE and AD&D
The City provides all employees annual salary of life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage of one-time annual salary with a minimum of $50,000.
- LONG TERM DISABILITY
The City provides employees with Long Term Disability in the amount of 60% of your salary (depending on position category) to a maximum of $7,500 per month. Benefits begin after 90 days of disability and may continue to Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) if you qualify. LTD is designed to replace a reasonable portion of your income in case of
serious injury or sickness whether on or off the job. Benefits will be offset by any payments from SS, Workers Comp and other income offsets.
- SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE and AD&D
Employees can elect supplemental life insurance and AD&D coverage up to $750,000 for themselves and up to $250,000 for their spouse; as well as $15,000 of life insurance for child(ren).
- SHORT TERM DISABILITY
This optional benefit allows employees to receive 70% of their weekly salary, to a maximum of $1,500 per week (tax free), following either Option A: a 30-calendar day elimination period; or Option B: a 7-calendar (injury) or 14-calendar (illness) elimination period, for a maximum of 90-calendar days from on-set per qualifying incident.
- PRE-PAID LEGAL PLAN
Employees can voluntarily elect to participate in a legal access/assistance plan at a base cost of $7.87 per pay period. Optional plans are also available. (Employee must contact representative directly for rates and enrollment.)
- DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Employees are allowed to contribute to this optional program at a minimum set by the plan administrator and a maximum set annually by the IRS. Currently the City contracts with 2 administrators for this program: Dearborn & Creggs ($50 per month minimum contribution); and ICMA-RC ($1.00 per month min. contribution). The maximum contribution for 2023 is $19,500
and $6,500 for age 50 + catch-up.
- CREDIT UNIONS
Houston Federal Credit Union: (866) OUR-HFCU
Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union: (855) 391-2149
- EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
The EAP is designed to provide employees and their dependents with professional, cost-effective assistance in resolving difficult personal problems. Individual, voluntary involvement in the EAP is confidential. The City’s EAP administrator is Alliance Work Partners (AWP) at 1-800-343-3822. Registration code: AWP-COSL-3822