EXAM NUMBER 75-106

LAST DATE FOR FILING                       EXAM DATE

DECEMBER 10, 2008                            JANUARY 10, 2009

***APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED BY THE LAST FILING DATE***

CITY OF UTICA RESIDENTS:  $15.00 NON-REFUNDABLE FILING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY EACH APPLICATION.  MONEY ORDERS ONLY - NO CASH, NO PERSONAL CHECKS.

NON-RESIDENTS:  $30.00 NON-REFUNDABLE FILING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY EACH APPLICATION. MONEY ORDERS ONLY - NO CASH, NO PERSONAL CHECKS.

STARTING SALARY/RANGE:                               $88,802           Depending on Length of Service           

VACANCIES:   There is currently one (1) vacancy at the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill this vacancy and any vacancies as they occur in at the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire.                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must have continuous permanent competitive status for a period of one (1) year as a Deputy Fire Chief;  OR four (4) years as a Fire Captain for the City of Utica, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire immediately preceding the date of this examination.

DUTIES:  This is an important administrative position involving responsibility for assisting the Fire chief in the supervision and administration of the department.  Assistance in planning and directing all fire fighting and prevention activities, instructing and training of personnel, and maintaining high standards of performance throughout the department is a responsibility of the incumbent.  Work is performed within the limits of departmental rules in accordance with principles, policies, and objectives outlined by the Fire Chief.  Supervision is exercised over the work of all subordinate employees, and includes the evaluation of their work performance.  Does related work as required.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: 

1.                                                         Administrative Supervision  

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors.  Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives.  These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

2.         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.

3.         Fire administration job simulation exercise 

            This job simulation exercise tests for the ability to develop and maintain fire department programs and activities.  The questions will be based on a simulated set of administrative issues that a Chief Officer may be asked to analyze and respond to in a working day.  The questions cover such areas as organizational relationships, planning, staffing, managing resources, budgeting, public relations, rules and regulations, and political and social concerns impacting the fire service.

4.         Fire emergency job simulation exercise

This job simulation exercise tests for the ability to manage an emergency incident.  The emphasis is on command-level actions and decisions in handling the incident from start to finish.  The questions will cover such areas as principles and tactics of firefighting, accountability at a fire scene, hazardous materials, cause investigation, emergency medical care, community relations, and the incident command system, including interacting with other agencies and the media.

5.         Preparing Written Material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.  For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information.  You must then choose the best version.  For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order.  You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

PLEASE READ GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

THE USE OF A CALCULATOR IS PROHIBITED FOR THIS EXAMINATION.