Deputy Chief - Operations (EMS)

Deputy Ems Chief - Operations

Under the general direction of the Assistant Fire Chief – EMS, the Deputy EMS Chief - Operations serves as the leader responsible for the administration, planning, coordination, and oversight of Emergency Medical Service operations for the League City Fire Department. This position provides strategic leadership for EMS operations, clinical excellence, personnel management, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, quality improvement, and fiscal stewardship. The Deputy Chief ensures the delivery of safe, effective, evidence-based prehospital emergency medical care while maintaining compliance with all applicable federal, state, regional, and local regulations. This position serves as the department's administrator for daily EMS operations, and acts on behalf of the Assistant Fire Chief – EMS as assigned.

The following duties are representative of the work performed and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Directs all operational and clinical functions of the EMS Division.
• Assists in developing department-wide strategic initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Serves as a member of the Fire Department executive leadership team.
• Acts on behalf of the Assistant Fire Chief - EMS during their absence or as assigned.
• Leads special projects and initiatives related to EMS system development and organizational improvement.

EMS Operations

• Oversees daily ambulance operations to ensure adequate staffing, deployment, response readiness, and system reliability.
• Monitors system status, unit hour utilization, peak demand coverage, mutual aid utilization, and operational performance metrics.
• Develops and implements deployment strategies to maximize response efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Ensures operational readiness of ambulances, specialized response vehicles, equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies.
• Coordinates EMS support for special events, planned incidents, and community programs.

Clinical Oversight and Quality Improvement

• Oversees the department's Total Quality Management (TQM) program.
• Ensures compliance with medical protocols established by the department's Medical Director.
• Collaborates with the Medical Director, Clinical QA Lieutenant, and Training Lieutenant regarding protocol development, evidence-based practice, and clinical performance improvement.
• Reviews system performance data and implements corrective actions when necessary.
• Oversees patient care documentation standards and electronic patient care reporting.
• Monitors clinical indicators, patient safety initiatives, medication errors, cardiac arrest outcomes, trauma care, stroke care, STEMI care, sepsis care, airway management, and other key performance indicators.

Personnel Management

• Directly supervises EMS command staff, including EMS Captains, Lieutenants, Clinical QA Lieutenant, Training Lieutenant, EMS Quartermaster, and other assigned staff.
• Participates in recruitment, hiring, promotional processes, employee development, succession planning, and performance evaluations.
• Conducts employee counseling, coaching, discipline, and performance management.
• Develops leadership within the EMS Division through mentoring and professional development.
• Ensures compliance with departmental policies, labor agreements, City policies, and employment laws.

Training and Professional Development

• Oversees the EMS Training Division and Continuing Education programs.
• Ensures compliance with Texas Department of State Health Services continuing education requirements.
• Coordinates with the Training Lieutenant over new employee orientation, field training, competency assessments, and annual skills verification.
• Supports specialty team training and interagency training initiatives.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures compliance with:
  • Texas Department of State Health Services EMS regulations
  • DEA controlled substance regulations
  • Texas Pharmacy regulations
  • OSHA standards
  • HIPAA
  • CDC infection prevention guidelines
  • Texas Commission on Fire Protection requirements
  • Local Medical Director requirements
• Oversees controlled substance security, accountability, audits, and diversion prevention programs.

Fiscal and Administrative Management

• Assists the Assistant Fire Chief – EMS with preparation of annual budgets, capital improvement plans, and replacement schedules.

Emergency Management

• Serves in a leadership role during major incidents, disasters, mass casualty incidents, and large-scale emergencies.
• Functions within the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
• Coordinates EMS operations within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Develops EMS disaster preparedness plans and continuity of operations strategies.

Community and Interagency Relations

• Serves as liaison with hospitals, regional advisory councils, EMS agencies, public health organizations, educational institutions, and governmental agencies.
• Participates in regional committees and professional organizations.
• Represents the department at meetings, conferences, and community events.

Other Duties

• Responds to significant EMS incidents as required.
• Performs administrative investigations related to EMS operations.
• Completes special projects assigned by the Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief - EMS.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Associate's degree from an accredited college, or two years of college.

• Bachelor's degree in Emergency Medical Services, Fire Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years progressively responsible experience as a Paramedic in a high-performance 911 EMS system.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience in fire-based EMS or third-service EMS system.
• Minimum of three (3) years in senior command-level EMS management.

Preferred experience includes:

• Budget development and administration
• Strategic planning
• Accreditation or quality improvement programs
• Emergency management
• Labor relations
• Capital project management

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Texas Certified or Licensed Paramedic
• Texas EMS Instructor
• Incident Command System ICS-100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800
• Valid Texas Driver License

Knowledge of:

• English grammar, spelling, punctuation
• Modern EMS system design and deployment
• Evidence-based prehospital medicine
• Texas EMS regulations
• DEA controlled substance regulations
• Quality assurance and quality improvement methodologies
• Risk management
• Budgeting and financial management
• Human resource management
• Leadership and organizational development
• Emergency management principles
• Incident Command System
• EMS technology systems including ePCR, CAD, scheduling, and asset management software such as ESO, Motorola, WhentoWork, and Operative IQ.
• Principles and practices of accounting, including budgets & payroll, and business acumen
• State and Federal regulations regarding necessary operational licensing

Skilled in:

• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships
• Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature
• Investigative and EMS billing techniques
• Business acumen and basic accounting principles
• Time management and leadership techniques
• Applying Incident Command Systems
• Assigning, prioritizing, monitoring, and reviewing work assignments

Ability to:

• Lead large multidisciplinary teams
• Make sound decisions under emergency conditions
• Analyze operational and clinical data

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