Fire Battalion Chief

Fire Battalion Chief

Salary

$103,086.00 - $145,657.82 Annually

Location

135 North Union Street, Petersburg, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

1095

Department

Fire

Opening Date

07/10/2026

Closing Date

7/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

General Description:

Under general supervision of the Deputy Chief and/or Fire Chief, performs highly responsible administrative, supervisory, operational, and professional work of considerable difficulty in the planning, coordination, leadership, and management of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division for Petersburg Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services. The Battalion Chief - EMS is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, system readiness, continuous quality improvement, personnel development, and strategic advancement of departmental EMS services. The position provides direct supervision of EMS personnel through subordinate officers and serves as the primary liaison between Fire Administration, the Operational Medical Director, healthcare partners, and regional EMS stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Duties and Responsibilities

Under general supervision, performs work of considerable difficulty in advanced EMS administration, clinical oversight, emergency response management, personnel supervision, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this job. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job as necessary.

Essential Functions:

• Provides leadership and direction for all departmental EMS operations and services.
• Oversees day-to-day EMS system performance, deployment strategies, operational readiness, and resource utilization.
• Establishes division goals, objectives, performance measures, and strategic initiatives.
• Directly supervises the EMS Captain and provides guidance regarding field operations, clinical performance, and administrative functions.
• Participates in recruitment, selection, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, officer development, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Develops, implements, updates, and enforces EMS policies, procedures, guidelines, and operational protocols.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, regional, and local EMS regulations, standards, and medical direction requirements.
• Coordinates changes in clinical practices, protocols, and operational standards with the Operational Medical Director.
• Oversees EMS quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) programs.
• Reviews patient care reports, clinical outcomes, operational metrics, and system performance indicators.
• Ensures adherence to approved patient care standards, protocols, and best practices.
• Coordinates EMS training, continuing education, certification maintenance, and competency evaluations in collaboration with the Training Division.
• Identifies training needs through QA/QI findings, trends, and performance analyses.
• Assists in development and administration of EMS budgets and monitors expenditures for fiscal responsibility.
• Evaluates staffing, apparatus, equipment, technology, and supply needs.
• Supports grant applications and EMS-related funding initiatives.
• Monitors EMS response performance, unit utilization, system coverage, and deployment efficiencies.
• Oversees collection, analysis, and reporting of operational and clinical data to support informed decision-making.
• Develops benchmarks and improvement plans to enhance system performance.
• Provides command-level support during significant incidents, disasters, special events, and emergency operations.
• Coordinates activities with hospitals, healthcare systems, regional EMS agencies, public safety organizations, and government partners.
• Represents the department on EMS-related committees, boards, workgroups, and regional initiatives.
• Supports disaster preparedness, emergency management, and regional response planning activities.

Additional Duties:

• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training programs related to EMS administration and emergency services.
• Conducts special projects, research initiatives, and performance reviews.
• Provides technical assistance and recommendations to Fire Administration.
• Serves in an on-call capacity as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Fire Chief or Deputy Chief.

Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts

Data Responsibility:

Requires the collection, review, interpretation, analysis, development, and presentation of complex operational, administrative, financial, and clinical EMS data. Utilizes information from patient care reporting systems, quality assurance programs, deployment models, performance metrics, regulatory requirements, and strategic planning initiatives to support operational and organizational decision-making.

People Responsibility:

Provides supervision, leadership, direction, mentoring, coaching, evaluation, and development of assigned personnel. Maintains effective working relationships with employees, healthcare professionals, government officials, partner agencies, and the public. Represents the department in professional and community settings.

Asset Responsibility:

Responsible for the effective utilization and stewardship of departmental resources including personnel, apparatus, equipment, supplies, technology systems, facilities, and budgetary allocations. Assists with budget planning and resource procurement while ensuring operational readiness and fiscal responsibility.

Mathematical Requirements:

Requires the ability to perform advanced mathematical calculations involving statistical analysis, budgeting, resource allocation, trend analysis, performance measurement, and operational evaluations using formulas, percentages, ratios, and analytical methods.

Communications Requirements:

Requires the ability to read, interpret, prepare, and present complex reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, protocols, budgets, and technical materials. Must communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with employees, medical professionals, elected officials, governmental agencies, and the public.

Judgment Requirements:

Requires independent judgment and sound decision-making in dynamic and complex environments involving EMS operations, personnel management, emergency incidents, patient care systems, regulatory compliance, and organizational priorities. Decisions frequently impact public safety, employee well-being, operational effectiveness, and community trust.

Complexity of Work:

Work involves substantial analytical thinking, initiative, strategic planning, leadership, creativity, problem-solving, and independent action. Responsibilities require balancing multiple priorities while operating in environments subject to emergency incidents, changing regulations, and evolving healthcare standards.

Impact of Errors:

Errors could result in compromised patient care, reduced operational readiness, regulatory violations, financial loss, damage to departmental reputation, legal liability, injury, or loss of life.

Physical Demands:

• Work requires a combination of office, field, and emergency response activities. Must maintain the physical ability to:
• Respond to emergency scenes.
• Operate in hazardous environments while utilizing personal protective equipment.
• Perform command and supervisory functions during emergency operations.
• Meet department medical and fitness standards.
• Sit, stand, walk, bend, climb, reach, and lift as required in the performance of duties.

Equipment Usage:

Utilizes computers, reporting software, communication systems, mobile technology, office equipment, EMS equipment, emergency response vehicles, incident management systems, and related operational tools.

Unavoidable Hazards:

• Work may involve exposure to:
• Infectious diseases and bloodborne pathogens.
• Hazardous materials.
• Emergency response environments.
• Extreme weather conditions.
• Traffic hazards.
• Stressful and potentially traumatic situations.
• Fireground and disaster response conditions.

Safety of Others:

Responsible for ensuring safe operational practices, regulatory compliance, clinical excellence, and service delivery standards that directly impact the safety of department personnel, patients, partner agencies, and the general public.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Current Paramedic certification.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a paramedic in a 911 emergency response system.
• Minimum of five (5) years of documented supervisory, command, or management experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience at the Company Officer level or higher.
• Valid drivers license with an acceptable driving record

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Required:

• Current Virginia or National Registry Paramedic Certification (or ability to obtain Virginia certification).
• Valid Drivers License.
• NIMS/ICS training as required by departmental policy.

Preferred:

• ICS 300 and ICS 400 Certifications.
• Bachelors Degree in Fire Science, Emergency Medical Services, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• Experience in EMS system design, accreditation processes, quality improvement programs, and performance management.
• Advanced leadership, management, or executive development certifications.

Additional Requirements

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:

The City of Petersburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City of Petersburg to provide adequate accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

FLSA: Exempt.

For a summary of Benefits currently being offered by the City of Petersburg for Full-Time Employees Only, please click the following link: http://www.petersburgva.gov/index.aspx?NID=518

01

10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veterans widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

02

5-point veterans must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following: Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52 - 7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess a valid Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or another state with reciprocity?

• Yes
• No

04

What is your highest level of education?

• High School diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate degree
• Bachelor degree
• Graduate degree or higher
• No degree

05

Are you a City of Petersburg employee?

• Yes, I am a City of Petersburg employee.
• No, I am not a City of Petersburg employee.

06

Do you possess a valid Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or another state with reciprocity?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you a City of Petersburg employee (full-time or part-time/temporary)?

• Yes, I am a City of Petersburg employee.
• No, I am not a City of Petersburg employee

08

Do you have working knowledge of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applications?

• Yes, I do have the ability to perform the physical requirements of the position.
• No, I am unable to perform the physical requirements of the position.

09

Do you have any supervisory experience in the workplace with civic and/or social groups?

• Yes
• No

10

Were you referred by US Army PaYS or Virginia Values Veterans V3? If so, please specify which program.

11

Have you previously worked for the City of Petersburg? If so, what department?

Required Question

Employer City of Petersburg

Address 135 No. Union Street

Petersburg, Virginia, 23803

Phone 8047332381

Website http://www.petersburgva.gov