Job Posting: Accreditation Manager

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Starting Salary: $105,000 – $109,000 Annually

Missoula Rural Fire District seeks a qualified individual to fill the position of Accreditation Manager.

Excellent Benefits:

• Longevity Pay
• AEMT/Paramedic Incentive Pay
• Annual Uniform Allowance
• 100% Employer Paid Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance For Employee & Family
• Paid Holidays, Sick Leave & Vacation
• Employer Paid Long-Term Disability
• Montana State Retirement System
• Annual Physical Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Gym Discounts
• Extensive Training Program

Opening Date: October 28, 2024
Closing Date: November 18, 2024

Interested candidates must submit an application, cover letter and a current resume detailing relevant experience and education by mail to: 2521 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana, 59804 or by email to: [email protected] no later than Monday, November 18, 2024, by 12:00 PM MST.

Position Summary

The Accreditation Manager (“AM”), under the direction of the Deputy Fire Chief, is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and providing assistance to Missoula Rural Fire District (“District”) personnel in achieving and maintaining accreditation. The AM is also responsible for supporting the District’s compliance with the professional standards as outlined by Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). In addition to the duties and responsibilities described herein, the AM will also perform firefighting/EMS job functions.

Supervision Exercised

The AM has no supervisory responsibility.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This description is illustrative only and not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Coordinate District’s Community Risk Assessment – Standards of Cover (CRA-SOC) strategic plan, self-assessment and other preparations made in advance of initial or renewal of accreditation. 
• Communicate with CPSE staff to discuss policies, procedures, and other matters pertaining to evaluation and accreditation. 
• Assist in follow up studies resulting from the evaluation process and provide notification to CFAI of substantive changes and program development. 
• Ensure all standard files contain all necessary and proper proofs of compliance. 
• Draft new or revise written directives and/or assign writing projects to subject matter experts or supervisors to achieve accreditation objectives. 
• Ensure revisions of District written directives follow accreditation standards. 
• Maintain master and archive files for District written directives. 
• Keep Deputy Fire Chief updated on the District’s accreditation status. 
• Provide accreditation status updates to the Chief and Assistant Chief as requested. 
• Train District personnel in the process of discovering and identifying required information, and method in which to prepare their responses. 
• Assist District personnel with accreditation related questions or activities. 
• Ensure the District is in compliance with CFAI standards and revisions as soon as possible. 
• Properly prepare and submit required CFAI Annual Compliance Report. 
• Gather, organize, and edit written documents in an understandable, accessible,and consistent format.
• Work to ensure the District continues to adhere to accreditation standards. 
• Keep abreast of the latest developments in the accreditation process by attending CFAI accreditation managers continuing education webinars and regional consortium meetings. 
• Conduct random, unannounced inspections of District personnel and facilities for the purpose of assessing compliance with accreditation standards as assigned. 
• Be available on site for evaluations by peer assessors with CFAI.
• Act as a District liaison with CPSE and CFAI. 
• Attend and present District for accreditation to CFAI Commission at onsite hearing. 
• Attend off-site Peer Assessments as required by CFAI. 
• May perform duties and responsibilities commensurate with their rank held at time of hire and/or demonstrated level of proficiency as requested and/or assigned.
• May manage, assist or be a member of special programs and budget committees.
• Eligible to be called in for incidents while off duty. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Modern fire department principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Federal, state and local laws, rules, codes, ordinances and regulations as it relates 
  to assigned area of responsibility. 
• Organizational practices of fire service program development and administration
  and project management.

Skills in:

• Organizing information and documents for Accreditation purposes.
• Proficiently using audio/visual equipment and Microsoft Office Suite applications 
  including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, and Teams. 
  Target Solutions, First Due, Telestaff, New World, CAD and other software as assigned
  or in area of responsibility.
• Drafting clearly written documents and reports.
• Public speaking, public relations and/or marketing. 
  
  

Ability to: 

• Quickly learn the District’s operations, policies and procedures.
  Communicate effectively with others, verbally and in writing, using both technical 
  and non-technical language.
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and 
  recommendations. 
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, and creativity in response to changing needs 
  and situations.
• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive and protected information.
• Efficiently and safely operate vehicle and equipment related to area of 
  responsibility and/or assignment. 
• Effectively provide public safety services in areas of assignment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with District members, 
  volunteers, residents, coworkers, supervisors, media and the public. 
• Speak to individuals and public groups for the purpose of promoting and 
  describing the accreditation process.
• Equip, staff and coordinate displays and presentations at public meetings and 
  events.
• Represent the District in a professional manner.
• Timely respond to inquiries.

Required Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of fire service experience; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the 
  knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

Required Training/Licenses/Certifications

• Hold the rank of Engineer or higher at Missoula Rural Fire District or similar rank
  within the fire service;
• Must possess and maintain a valid MT Driver’s license;
• Must maintain CPR certification;
• Montana State Emergency Medical Technician or NREMT and in the process;
• Quality Improvement for Fire and Emergency Services Workshop (completion
  within three (3) months of obtaining position);
• CFAI Peer Assessor Training Program (If not already a peer assessor, completion 
  within six (6) months of obtaining position; ideally completing a site visit as a level 
  2 peer assessor within one (1) year of obtaining position);
• FireStats - Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire and EMS; or equivalent 
  (completion within one (1) year of obtaining position); and
• Must maintain the physical abilities necessary for firefighting and participate in an 
  annual physical.

Preferred Training/Licenses/Certifications

• Montana State Paramedic Certification
• Technical writing coursework
• Hold a current credential through the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC)
• Experience in Public Safety Accreditation
• Ten (10) or more years fire service experience as a career/paid firefighter.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

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

The work is primarily in an office/fire station setting. Physical effort in non-emergency or 
non-training environments would normally consist of sitting, walking, running, and 
standing. The work also consists of: the use of memory, reasoning, problem solving and 
the exercise of good judgment; performance of basic math skills; and working within time 
constraints and effectively communicating with others.

When assigned, the physical demands and working conditions may be as follows:

• Strenuous physical activity under extreme adverse conditions.
• Ability to lift items in excess of one hundred fifty (150) pounds occasionally and up 
  to sixty (60) pounds frequently.
• Standing, running, walking, sitting, kneeling, stooping, bending, lifting, squatting, 
  pushing, pulling, crawling, jumping, sliding, climbing, pinching, gripping, digging, 
  spraying, reaching over head, reaching away from body and repetitive motion. 
• Work in all weather conditions and in extreme temperatures.
• Work under hazardous and adverse conditions, including but not limited to, 
  weakened structures, slippery and uneven surfaces, proximity to moving 
  mechanical equipment, burning structures, broken glass or other materials, 
  electrical currents, high places, and confined spaces. 
• Work in areas that may cause exposure to smoke, gases, chemicals, fumes, odors, 
  mists, and dusts, which can affect the respiratory system or skin requiring the 
  wearing of furnished PPE and exposure to high noise levels requiring the wearing 
  of hearing protection. 
• Operate on emergency calls that may cause exposure to individuals or blood 
  carrying infectious diseases or illnesses, such as Hepatitis A, B or C, HIV, 
  tuberculosis, smallpox, etc. requiring the wearing of furnished PPE. 
• Frequent use of sensory activities such as talking, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling 
  (identifying objects by touch), depth perception and color vision. 
• Work during periods of high physical, mental and/or emotional stress.
• Exercise flexibility shifting from one task to another.

For more information, please contact Melissa Schnee at [email protected]; (406-549-6172).