WCDES- Program Administrator Fire Services

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Open Competitive

WESTCHESTER COUNTY

CIVIL SERVICE CAREER

OPPORTUNITIES

County Service · Westchester Medical Center ·Towns · Villages · School Districts

· Special Districts · Cities of Peekskill & Rye

Last Filing Date: 9/12/07

Date Posted: 8/16/07

JBCL: C3030

Exam #: 60-569

Exam Date: 10/27/07

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (FIRE SERVICES)

Westchester County

A NON-REFUNDABLE $25.00 APPLICATION FEE IS REQUIRED FOR EACH SEPARATELY NUMBERED EXAMINATION FOR WHICH YOU APPLY. SEE APPLICATION FILING FEE STATEMENT ON LAST SECTION OF ANNOUNCEMENT.

SALARY

$57,335 - Starting Salary

$76,420 - Maximum reached in four additional steps

RESIDENCE

There are no residence requirements to participate in the examination, but preference in appointment may be given to eligibles that have been residents in the appointing jurisdiction for 30 days prior to the examination and at the effective date of appointment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school or equivalency diploma and six years experience as a paid fireman.

NOTE: Verifiable experience as an active volunteer fireman may be substituted for experience as a paid fireman at the rate of two years of qualifying volunteer experience for one year of paid experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: (1) Completion of the prescribed minimum basic enforcement course applicable to Subchapter C of the NYS Fire Prevention and Building Code; (2) National Incident Management System 100, 200, 300 and Incident Systems 700; (3) Possession of a valid New York State driver’s license appropriate to the equipment operated; (4) New York State Certification as Firefighter II; (5) Depending on work assignment, must meet standards of OSHA regulation 1910.134 Respiratory Protection and National Fire Prevention 1500 mandates, and will be required to meet Federal, State and local standards with respect to health and safety; (6) An incumbent is expected to stay current by attending appropriate courses in firematics.

Note: The number of years of experience required in the minimum qualifications is based upon the presumption of full-time employment. Part-time experience will be prorated based on a 35 hour workweek.

ONLY EXPERIENCE GAINED AFTER ATTAINING THE MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL INDICATED IN THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING EXPERIENCE.

NOTE: If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

DUTIES

Under general supervision, incumbents of this position are responsible for administering program services relating to the three major functional areas with the fire services division of the Department of Emergency Services: Fire Brigade/Training/Cause and Origin; HazMat/Special Operations, and Fire Code Enforcement/Municipal Advisory Assistance. The aforementioned operations are provided for Westchester County and its all its municipalities. Responsibilities also include supervising the day-to-day operations and emergency response of the Grasslands Fire Brigade, Cause and Origin Team, Hazardous Materials Team; Fire Code Enforcement and safety inspections of all County-owned facilities, administering first aid training programs, and ensuring that the training center is well maintained and properly equipped for training at all times. Incumbents are cross-trained in all three major areas of operation to enable timely response to emergency situations as they arise. Incumbents must also direct the maintenance of and/or improvements to the physical plant of the Valhalla facility. Supervision is exercised over a small number of staff and maintenance personnel. Does related work as required.

VACANCIES

The eligible list established as a result of this examination will be utilized, where appropriate, for filling any current or future vacancies in all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Westchester County Department of Human Resources.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION

WRITTEN TEST is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Educating and Interacting with the Public - These questions test for a knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individual citizens and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

2. Fire Investigation - These questions test for a knowledge of fire investigation methods, principles, practices, and equipment. The questions cover such areas as the following: fire chemistry and behavior including accelerants and special materials; investigative equipment and procedures; burn patterns and other means of differentiating between arson and accidental fires; properties and characteristics of fires due to various causes, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, and weather-related; and evidence gathering, court proceedings, applicable laws, and the characteristics and motives of an arsonist.

3. Fire Prevention, Fire Inspections, and Fire Hazards - These questions test for a knowledge of the methods, principles, practices, and equipment of fire prevention, conducting fire inspections, and dealing with fire hazards. The questions cover such areas as the following: fire prevention campaigns; automatic and other extinguishment systems; alarms; dealing with building owners and managers; characteristics of combustible materials; recognizing proper and improper practices related to fire prevention; and codes and regulations related to fire prevention.

4. Firefighting Practices and Equipment - These questions test for a knowledge of firefighting methods, principles, practices, and equipment. The questions cover such areas as the following: aspects of the Incident Management System; building materials and construction types; fire cause and origin; building inspections; extinguishing agents and application procedures; fire behavior characteristics; fire suppression; hand and power tools; hazardous materials; weapons of mass destruction; hoses, nozzles, and water streams; ladders and elevating platforms; self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); fire scene size-up; and ventilation.

5. Hazardous Materials - These questions test for knowledge of the various types, properties, and classifications of hazardous materials, and weapons of mass destruction agents, materials, and methods. They also test for knowledge in such areas as proper methods for storing, transporting, and handling these substances, hazardous material incident management and containment techniques, and the proper response procedures to weapons of mass destruction incidents. The questions are technical in nature and will require you to demonstrate a working knowledge of properties of a variety of toxic substances.

6. Reading and Interpreting Plans and Specifications - These questions test for the ability to understand, analyze and perform computations based on technical information, specifications, codes, plans, sections, details and elevations pertaining to buildings and related facilities. Calculators will be helpful in answering some of the questions.

7. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

GENERAL NOTICE TO CANDIDATES FOR ALL CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS

1. Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, ‘Spell Checkers,’ ‘Personal Digital Assistants,’ ‘Address Books,’ ‘Language Translators,’ ‘Dictionaries,’ or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials to the examination location.

2. If you are filing for any other jurisdiction’s examination(s) (i.e. New York State, New York City, another County, Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, Mt. Vernon), that are being given on the same date as this examination, you are required to notify this office in writing no less than two (2) weeks prior to the examination date. Failure to provide such information may result in disqualification from one or more examinations in this series. There is NO reciprocity with New York City, and you must make a choice between the two jurisdictions.

3. Candidates who fail to receive either their admission notice or final disqualification notice by the Thursday prior to the examination are responsible for calling the Department of Human Resources (995-2117), for instructions.

4. ELIGIBLE LISTS - Lists may be established for a maximum of four years. The resulting eligible list will be used to fill appropriate vacancies as they occur in the agencies listed on the face of this announcement.

5. FOR COUNTY EMPLOYMENT - In accordance with Westchester County’s comprehensive Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Procedures, and commitment to maintain a safe, alcohol and drug- free work environment, you may be required to submit to a urinalysis and/or blood test.

6. FOR COUNTY EMPLOYMENT – If offered employment, you will be subject to the Westchester County Fingerprinting Policy under which your appointment may be conditioned on the results of a fingerprinting investigation.

7. This examination will be prepared and rated in accordance with Section 23(2) of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Law, rules and regulations dealing with the preparation and rating of examinations will apply to this examination.

8. Disabled and non-disabled veterans, who meet the criteria set forth in the Application for Examination, may be eligible for additional credits added to their earned scores if successful in examination. CREDITS MUST BE CLAIMED AT THE TIME OF FILING YOUR APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION AND YOU MUST ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR DD214 SEPARATION PAPERS. If claiming credit as a Disabled Veteran, attach form 102. If these documents are not submitted within sixty days of filing your application, your claim will be denied. "Active duty members of the Armed Forces have the right to request veteran credits prior to discharge. If you are currently on active duty you should check the appropriate box on the application and attach a letter requesting the use of credits with documentation verifying your active duty status: i.e. copy of military ID, military orders, official documents indicating current service, etc." See our website section "Special Rights for Veterans" for details regarding the use of these credits."

9. In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points on a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

HOW TO APPLY

APPLICATION FILING FEE

A $25.00 APPLICATION FEE IS REQUIRED FOR EACH SEPARATELY NUMBERED EXAMINATION FOR WHICH YOU APPLY. THE FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION (S) AND MUST BE RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE AT THE ADDRESS NOTED BELOW BY THE LAST FILING DATE.

SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES WITH YOUR APPLICATION. WRITE THE EXAMINATION NUMBER (S) AND THE APPLICANT’S NAME ON THE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

APPLICATION FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. IF YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED FROM OR FAIL TO APPEAR FOR THE EXAMINATION, YOUR FEE IS NOT REFUNDED. THEREFORE, WE URGE YOU TO COMPARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS CAREFULLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION AND FILE ONLY FOR THOSE EXAMINATIONS FOR WHICH YOU ARE CLEARLY QUALIFIED.

IF YOUR APPLICATION IS RECEIVED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED FEE, IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU. SHOULD YOU WISH TO REFILE WITH THE REQUIRED FEE, YOUR APPLICATION AND THE APPROPRIATE FEES MUST BE RETURNED PRIOR TO, OR POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN, THE LAST FILING DATE. (METERED MAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE LAST FILING DATE.)

THE APPLICATION FILING FEE IS SUBJECT TO BEING INCREASED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency. Documentation proving eligibility must be submitted with each application. All claims for application fee waivers are subject to verification.

You may obtain blank application forms in person and submit completed exam application forms to the:

WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

SUITE 100, MICHAELIAN OFFICE BUILDING

148 MARTINE AVENUE

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK 10601

Completed applications MUST be postmarked NO LATER THAN THE LAST FILING DATE and must have the required application fee attached; or, if not mailed, delivered to the above address together with the required application fee attached NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. on the last filing date.

NOTE: RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION - Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the appropriate box under “Testing Accommodation” on your application. We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date.

DISABLED APPLICANTS - If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application.

Candidates are responsible for reporting in writing, all changes in name and/or address directly to the “Recruitment and Selection Unit” at the above address. Please include examination number on all correspondence.

Candidates, who receive disqualification notices and wish to appeal such disqualification, must do so in writing.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. It is the policy of Westchester County to provide for and promote the equal opportunity of employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.

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