Meath County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed-term contract vacancies for the position of Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) shall be drawn.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer works as part of a multi-disciplinary team within the Emergency Services Directorate to deliver key local authority services. Assistant Chief Fire Officers work under the direction of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) or another officer designated by the Chief Executive. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer shall report to the Chief Fire Officer and undertake the duties as assigned to them by the Chief Fire Officer (or their nominee).

The role requires a clear knowledge and understanding of local authority services and its key stakeholders and relationships, local government structures and its democratic role and mandate, current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector, management and implementation of change.
 

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the officer by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other employees of a higher grade as required. An ACFO must undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required, or assigned, from time to time.

A non-exhaustive list of the Assistant Chief Fire officers’ duties and responsibilities are set out below:
Remediation of Defects in Apartments and Duplexes, may include:

• Form part of a newly established team to assess applictions under the Remediation of Defects in Apartments and Duplexes Scheme.
• Carry out Fire Authority functions associated with the Remediation of Defects and support the Council’s effective implementation of the Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Aprtments and Duplexes.
• Create and develop operating procedures that ensure that acceptable levels of fire safety in buildings is provided, pending completion of the full remedial works on developments within the scheme.
• Assess all applications included in the scheme which are located in county Meath in line with the Code of Practice for Remediation of Fire Safety Defects.
• Liaise with the Housing Agency, property owners and management companies, competent professionals and other teams in the Council, as appropriate, in the implementation of the scheme.

• Processing of fire safety certificate applications and use of Building Control Management System/BCMS to assist this process.
• Providing advice to design teams, building owners and occupiers on fire safety matters
• Carrying out of inspections under the Fire Services Acts, Building Control Act and other relevant legislation (this may also include the carrying out of during performance inspections, as required) and using professional judgement to assist in resolving fire safety deficiencies for the safety of patrons within buildings
• Carrying out inspections and risk assessments under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972.
• Delivering enforcement functions as an authorised officer under relevant legislation and representing the local authority appropriately in such activities, including within the Courts Service (and giving evidence in court, where required).
• Represent the Fire Authority in dealing with licence applications and before the Courts and providing professional expert opinion to the Courts if required.
• Special projects and work required to deliver on locally delivered objectives of national schemes and policies in the area of fire prevention/fire safety development/remediation.
• Educating the community on fire safety through Community Fire Safety campaigns 
• Give advice and talks on fire safety to all members of our community and actively engage with the community to enhance fire safety awareness and reduce fire injuries and fatalities.
• Other work as directed some of which may necessitate working outside of normal working hours.

• Management and support of Meath County Fire Service operational staff.
• Effective communications with interested parties on staffing issues and industrial relations concerns and/or implementation of agreements and national policy.
• Management and development of Fire Stations as an asset including buildings/facilities, building systems, fire service equipment.
• Management of fire service fleet and equipment, including servicing and maintenance ensuring optimal operational performance and safety. 
• Organising & attending training including on-station/drill training, local and national Fire Service Training Courses.
• Co-ordinating and assisting in managing the various elements of Meath County Council Fire & Rescue Service Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Management system i.e. Training Programme.
• Developing & updating Pre-Incident Plans and planning for new or emerging risks in the County.
• Participation, if required, in the Senior Fire Officers Roster in accordance with the 1996 Rostering Agreement (or as amended). This includes attending incidents as a rostered senior fire officer, on-station training and exercises out of normal working hours.

• Managing and operating the Fire Service occupational health and safety management system (including maintaining OHSAS 45001 accreditation with continuous improvement).
• Implementing a continuous improvement programme for occupational health, safety and welfare
• Carrying out risk assessments of equipment, training, work activities and implementing mitigation measures.
• Supporting staff welfare and ensuring compliance with policy and procedures to this end.

• Continuous improvement, review and implementation of Meath County Council Major Emergency Plan in line with National Framework for Major Emergency Management.
• Organising and participating in both local, regional, national MEM training, exercises and sharing of best practice.
• Active engagement with internal and external stakeholders for Emergency Planning including Principal Response Agencies.
• Work with affected industries on Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances/COMAH (Seveso III) Regulations
• Assisting in emergency preparedness learning and development for staff and stakeholders both inside and outside of Meath County Fire and Rescue Service.
• Assist development of Emergency Communications Strategies and Plans appropriate to need.
• Climate change adaptation activities.