Details
09/15/2025
Operations Chief
Ohio Task Force One
Position Description: OPERATIONS CHIEF (OC)
PURPOSE:
The Operations Chief (OC) is a position within the management structure of Ohio Task Force One (OH-TF1 or Task Force). This position is the management position over the OH-TF1 Task Force Leaders (TFLs), who are the managers of each of their assigned Task Force teams. However, this position is not a long-term position on OH-TF1. The person hired full-time to the OC position will work with the TFLs and report to the Program Manager (PM). However, this position is primarily used to educate the person to become the PM of OH-TF1. It is anticipated that the Operations Chief will become the PM within 1 to 1.5 years. The discussion below on the OC's responsibilities and duties of the OC includes much of the PM’s responsibilities and duties, as the OC will be promoted to the PM position if their commitment and work performance meet the Task Force’s needs.
The OC is responsible for managing Task Force Leaders, the operational capability of the 20 Task Force team positions, and ensuring that:
- The TFLs manage and work with their team managers.
- The TFLs organize and attend their team trainings and exercises.
- The TFLs ensure the health, safety, and deployability of their team members.
- Works directly with the PM to learn and become the PM of the Task Force.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
The OC is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Miami Valley Fire/EMS Alliance (MVFEA) Executive Committee and under the overall supervision of the OH-TF1 Sponsoring Agency Chief (SAC). Still, he or she reports to the Task Force Program Manager, who is responsible for assignments and monitoring work quality.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
The OC is the direct supervisor of the Task Force’s TFLs.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work directly with the PM to learn, understand, and demonstrate the ability to do the duties of the PM.
- Attend with the PM, FEMA US&R, Ohio EMA, and other meetings.
- Attend with the PM, FEMA US&R, Ohio EMA, and other webinar meetings.
- Attend with the PM, working with the Task Force’s Participating Agencies to learn what the responsibilities of the Participating Agencies are, how to do deployment reimbursements with the Participating Agencies, and how to update the Participating Agency MOU.
- Attend with the PM, to learn what the FEMA yearly Phase I Self Evaluation is, how to complete it, and then the FEMA Administrative Readiness Evaluation (ARE) Site Visit.
- Attend with the PM, meetings, and duties with the Ohio EMA to learn about Ohio’s ESF-9 concept, how Ohio will activate OH-TF1 for an instate disaster, and how Ohio may deploy OH-TF1 per
- Attend with the PM, meetings, and duties with the Ohio Legislature to learn about OH-TF1’s state funding and how to ensure the Task Force continues to get the support.
- Attend with the PM, working with the additional Task Force staff to learn about their duties and requirements.
- Attend with the PM, to learn about and work on current changes to the FEMA US&R System and what may be coming.
- Attend with the PM, to conduct yearly Task Force staff evaluations and pay raises.
TERMS:
This is a full-time, exempt position working 40 hours per week. Significant travel is required to attend local, state, and federal meetings, conferences, and training sessions. As a minimum, this person should expect to travel five to ten weeks per year, but there could be slightly more or fewer trips depending on any changes to the FEMA US&R System.
Compensation will be $64,000 to $84,000 annually, plus benefits and health insurance.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Management, Emergency Management/Homeland Security, or a related field is preferred.
- Post-graduate degree is strongly desired. In lieu of graduate education, National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer, Post Naval Graduate School Executive Leaders Program, and similar will be considered.
Required
- The Operations Chief shall maintain deployability with OH-TF1, or become a deployable member of the Task Force within 12 months of hire or as soon as possible thereafter.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
- Experience developing strategic direction and determining work plans.
- Experience developing agency budgets tied to strategic training and work plans.
- Excellent interpersonal skills when working with management, team members, coworkers, and representatives from other agencies and the public.
- Possess a working knowledge of federal business practices, applicable OMB Circulars, including Cost Principles, Administrative Requirements, Audit Requirements, and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
- Possess a working knowledge of applicable NFPA standards, especially 1006 and 1670, FEMA US&R System position descriptions, and FEMA US&R courses.
- Have comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and the ability to use the internet.
- Ability to work independently.
- Efficient organization, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Possesses superior technical thinking and project organization/management skills.
- Possess a working knowledge of the Incident Command System, including successful completion of the IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, and IS-800 courses.
Desired
- Experience in governmental purchasing systems and requirements.
DESIRED TRAINING:
It is strongly desired that the OC have, or obtain as soon after employment as possible, the following trainings:
- Complete DHS/FEMA National US&R Response System Orientation Course as part of the Task Force orientation
- FEMA National US&R System Task Force Leader’s Course.
- FEMA National US&R System IST course.
MEETING ATTENDANCE:
It is required that the OC attend the following State and FEMA US&R System meetings:
- The yearly East Division face-to-face meeting(s).
- The yearly national Grants Manager’s meeting(s).
- The yearly national TFR meeting(s).
- Any yearly national SAC meeting(s) as may be scheduled by the FEMA US&R Branch Office.
- The National US&R System IST Workshop(s).
- Meetings or trainings as may be requested by the State of Ohio.
- Staff, TFL, and team meetings of the Task Force.
- Yearly or bi-annual meetings of the Participating Agency Chiefs/Executives of the Task Force.
- It is recommended that the Operations Officer attend as many team activities and trainings as possible.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Interested candidates should submit a Letter of Interest and Resume to Michelle Fitzgibbon, Executive Director of the Miami Valley Fire EMS Alliance, at MiamiValleyFireEMSAlliance@gmail.com by Friday, October 31, 2025.
