Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services

Division Chief Of Emergency Medical Services

The Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services oversees the planning, organization, direction, supervision, and evaluation of the Fire Rescue Department's Emergency Medical Services Division. Manages EMS operations, clinical quality assurance, medical protocol compliance, regulatory compliance, field performance, and related administrative functions. Works closely with the Fire Chief, Medical Director, command staff, and public safety partners to ensure effective EMS service delivery, patient care, and operational readiness. Responds timely to emergencies as requested or as needed and serves as part of Citrus County Fire Rescue's command staff team.

Essential Functions

• Drives and/or operates a county vehicle or equipment and must obey all safety policies, roadway rules, and laws.
• Supervises, plans, directs, and coordinates the work of assigned staff. Reviews and evaluates employee performance and completes performance evaluations. Counsels staff and initiates commendations or disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Oversees the direction, administration, operational readiness, and service delivery of the Fire Rescue Department's Emergency Medical Services Division.
• Responds timely to multiple-alarm fire scenes, mass casualty incidents, technical rescue incidents, hazardous materials incidents, natural or human-made disasters, and other major emergencies for the purpose of coordinating emergency medical operations.
• Remains available for Fire Rescue and EMS-related concerns, including response outside normal working hours as the Chief Officer on-call, as needed. Reports timely all sensitive information, significant EMS concerns, operational deficiencies, personnel matters, or major incidents directly to the Fire Chief.
• Works closely with the Fire Chief, Medical Director, and command staff to develop, implement, and evaluate EMS operational goals, objectives, policies, procedures, protocols, and service delivery strategies.
• Works closely with the department's Medical Director to coordinate EMS-related activities, including protocol development and revisions, medication changes, equipment implementation, quality assurance, quality improvement, credentialing, remediation, and clinical oversight.
• Oversees and evaluates EMS quality assurance and quality improvement programs to ensure compliance with medical protocols, documentation standards, clinical performance expectations, and applicable federal, state, local, and department requirements.
• Reviews patient care reports, medical records, performance data, response data, and other EMS documentation to identify trends, training needs, compliance concerns, and opportunities for service improvement.
• Maintains EMS-related reports, records, and statistical data. Responds timely to public concerns and prepares clear, concise, and timely reports, correspondence, presentations, and recommendations.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and standards, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), EMS licensing requirements, medical direction requirements, controlled substances processes, and department policies.
• Monitors EMS-related licenses, certifications, credentials, apparatus requirements, equipment readiness, and other regulatory requirements for personnel, vehicles, and EMS operations.
• Evaluates and directly oversees EMS programs and initiatives, including field training officers, high performance transport operations, community paramedicine, clinical remediation, new employee orientation, and field-based evaluations of EMS personnel.
• Coordinates with Training staff to identify EMS training needs, continuing education requirements, clinical competency concerns, protocol updates, and department-wide EMS education priorities.
• Develops, reviews, and updates EMS operational procedures, medical protocols, trauma transport protocols, clinical guidelines, equipment specifications, supply recommendations, and related administrative processes as needed.
• Works closely with the Division Chief of Administration to develop, review, and monitor the EMS Division budget, EMS grants, ambulance billing matters, revenue-related data, medical supply needs, and Capital Improvement Program items related to EMS operations.
• Provides technical, operational, and clinical leadership to supervisors and employees regarding EMS operations, patient care expectations, medical documentation, protocol compliance, field performance, and employee safety. Assists or directs investigations relating to EMS operations, patient care concerns, protocol deviations, documentation issues, complaints, accidents, conduct unbecoming, or situations that may lead to corrective or disciplinary action, as needed.
• Serves as a liaison with hospitals, medical facilities, EMS providers, public safety partners, the Medical Director, regulatory agencies, County Attorney's Office, and other internal and external stakeholders regarding EMS operations, regulatory matters, the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity ordinance, medical direction agreement, and system performance. Represents the department on committees, meetings, task forces, and work groups related to EMS operations, healthcare coordination, emergency response, regional EMS systems, and public safety initiatives.
• Monitors changing EMS industry standards, best practices, clinical trends, and applicable National Fire Protection Association, Florida Department of Health, and emergency medical services requirements. Makes recommendations for changes or implementation of department standard operating procedures to improve EMS service delivery, patient care, operational efficiency, accountability, compliance, and employee safety.
• Addresses civic associations, community groups, partner agencies, and other organizations to promote public awareness of EMS services, rescue-related activities, injury prevention, health initiatives, and programs offered by the Fire Rescue Department.
• Serves as part of Citrus County Fire Rescue's command staff team and contributes to the comprehensive countywide Fire Rescue emergency services program.
• Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Education, Training, and Experience
• Associate degree in Fire, Emergency Services, or other related field. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience as a full-time member of a career fire department, four (4) years of which must be at the rank of Lieutenant/Captain or higher.
• Certificates and Licenses
• Valid Florida Driver License or must obtain within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida.
• Successful completion of Level II Background screening is required. This screening is through The Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
• Clear and active State of Florida Paramedic license.
• Requires the following certifications from the State of Florida:
• Firefighter Certificate of Compliance.
• Fire Instructor II.
• Fire Officer II.
• Fire Officer III preferred.
• Must have the following certifications:
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
• Must have or be able to obtain within eighteen (18) months of appointment:
• CPR Instructor certification.
• ACLS Instructor certification.
• Fire Officer III.
• Live Fire Training Instructor I.
• National or State Safety Officer certification.
• Credentialed Paramedic under the department Medical Director.
• Successful completion of the Fire Rescue Abilities Test (FRAT) and Emergency Medical Services Abilities Test (EMSAT), as required by policy.
• Must have or be able to obtain within ninety (90) days certification in the following FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:
• IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS).
• IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response.
• IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System.
• IS-800.d: National Response Framework, An Introduction.
• Must have or be able to obtain within six (6) months certification in the following FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:
• ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents.
• ICS-400: Advanced ICS and General Staff.
• Skills and Abilities
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of fire rescue and emergency medical services administration, including planning, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of Rescue/EMS operations, clinical performance, compliance, documentation, and service delivery.
• Knowledge of Citrus County geography, street systems, response areas, healthcare facilities, hospitals, EMS receiving facilities, County and department rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to EMS operations.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, computer aided dispatch systems, automatic vehicle location systems, patient care reporting software systems, fire reporting software systems, resource management software systems, ambulance billing software systems, and communications networks.
• Ability to retrieve, analyze, interpret, and present data from various software systems, and prepare written, graphic, statistical, and multi-media reports, presentations, measurable objectives, and recommendations.