This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Senior Rank Handbooks'.



POSITION DESCRIPTION 
SENIOR FIREFIGHTER 
OPERATIONS 
Job number: 
Various 
Business area: 
Operations 
Location: 
Various 
Reports to: 
Station Officer 
Version date: 
October 2012 
ORGANISATION CONTEXT 
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity established on 1 July 2017 under the Fire and 
Emergency New Zealand Act 2017. The role of our new organisation is to reduce unwanted fires, 
respond to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies including motor vehicle crashes, 
medical emergencies, hazardous substance related incidents, natural disasters and support increased 
community resilience. 
Our new, unified organisation provides a fire and emergency service that delivers for communities, and 
the firefighters who serve them, now and in the future. 
Senior Firefighters are members of a four-person crew, led by a Station or Senior Station Of icer. They 
are the most experienced non-supervisory members of fire crews and contribute to reducing the 
incidence and consequences of fire through risk reduction and response activities, and contributing to 
response activities associated with other emergency incidents. 
POSITION CONTEXT AND PURPOSE 
The purpose of the Senior Firefighter role is to contribute to reducing the incidence and consequences 
of fire by participating in fire prevention and fire loss reduction strategies within communities, 
contributing to maintaining a state of response readiness, undertaking response activities at a wide 
range of emergency incidents, assisting with post-incident recovery and restoration of response 
readiness. 
SCOPE OF JOB 
Financial delegations:  Nil 
Staff responsibility: 

Nil 
under the Official Information Act 1982
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & DELIVERABLES 
The job holder is responsible for delivering results in the following areas: 
Pre-Incident Preparation 
Undertake a range of activities and actions at an individual and crew level to ensure that the crew 
maintains a state of operational readiness that enables a timely and effective response to emergency 
incidents: 

Assist Of icer in developing and documenting a comprehensive understanding of the nature and
Released  risk profile of the response area to enable an effective response

Support Of icer in co-ordinating activities to ensure the maintenance of operational skills
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necessary for an effective response 
•  Co-ordinate the testing and maintenance of all equipment to Fire and Emergency New Zealand 
standards to ensure it is constantly operationally ready 
•  Maintaining a working knowledge of all relevant statutory obligations and operational procedures to 
ensure compliance 
•  Identifying the resources required to respond effectively based on the risk profile and escalates 
appropriately. 
1982
 
Incident Management 
Respond, as a member of a crew, to emergency incidents within Fire and Emergency New Zealand 
performance standards: 
Act 
•  Undertake all required activities at an emergency incident and as directed by the officer in charge. 
This can include activities such as: 
PROUD 

Establish water 
HISTORY 

Operate pump/specialist appliance 

Fire attack/exposure protection 
BRIGHT 

Search and rescue 

Salvage/recommission 
FUTURE 

MVA extrication 

Scene safety 

Isolate, contain, identify, make safe and decontaminate Hazardous Substances 
 

Patient Care 

General rescue 

Lines rescue 
Information 

Natural disaster events 

Medical response and medical assist 
•  Ensure safety and direction of the crew in the absence of the officer 
•  Undertake dynamic risk assessment - Identifying potential hazards, take steps to eliminate, isolate, 
minimize, report hazards to officer in charge and implement control measures 
•  Provide feedback to the officer regarding tactic effectiveness   
•  Operate specialist appliances such as Command vehicle, aerials etc. 
 
Post-Incident Management Official 
 
Undertake a range of activities post-incident response associated with clean-up, investigation and 
restoration of operational readiness: 
•  Ensures scene preservation to enable fire investigation to be completed 
the 
•  Monitors and ensure ongoing safety of crew during salvage  
•  Assisting in providing advice and support to victims 
•  Assist in the clean up and recovery of the incident site and restore the fire appliance and equipment 
to full readiness for the next emergency 
•  Assist OIC with operational debriefing to ensure future operational effectiveness, including post-
incident recording 
•  Report to OIC on firefighter welfare needs so these are addressed. 
  under 
Community Risk Reduction 
 
Undertake a range of activities focused on reducing fire risk within the Brigade's response area or wider 
community: 
•  Respond to public enquiries and provide advice on risk reduction to individuals, community groups, 
and businesses within the Brigade's response area or wider community 
•  Deliver national risk reduction initiatives and programmes at a local level including FireWise, Home 
Fire Safety Checks, other national initiatives as they are introduced 
•  Working with at-risk community groups to enhance fire safety knowledge and understanding. 
 
Administration 
Released  Undertake a range of administrative functions associated with the core roles of response readiness, 
incident response, and risk reduction. 
 
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•  Maintains all relevant Fire and Emergency New Zealand databases (including the core Station 
Management System - SMS) related to core operational, training, risk reduction and station 
maintenance activities 
•  Ensuring station supplies are maintained to appropriate levels to support effective running of 
brigade and operational response. 
 
Crew Leadership 
1982
 
Provide informal leadership to other brigade members in support of the Of icer in Charge and Area 
Management: 
•  Leads by example in maintaining personal and operational standards for dress, turnout, behaviour 
Act 
•  Assisting with providing crew members with individual coaching to enhance skil s and capability. 
 
PROUD 
Training 
HISTORY 
 
Contribute to crew training activities focused on ensuring the crew has the required skil s to respond 
BRIGHT 
effectively to emergencies and undertake risk reduction activities: 
•  Participate in al  prescribed training activities, including brigade exercises, station training activities. 
FUTURE 
•  Lead crew training activities. 
 
Any other duties consistent with the position as may be required from time to time by the Station 
 
Of icer/Senior Station Of icer. 
SAFETY, HEALTH & WELLBEING - RESPONSIBILITIES 
Information 
•  Taking responsibility for their own safety, health and wellbeing and for their colleagues and others 
they work alongside, as far as they are able 
•  Following policies, training and guidelines related to safety, health and wellbeing, including reporting 
of injury and near miss events. 
 
KEY RELATIONSHIPS 
Internal 
External 
Official 
•  Other crew and brigade members 
•  Communities 
•  Volunteer brigades within Area  
•  Community groups 
•  Other brigades within Area 
•  Other Emergency Service Partners 
the 
•  Area Management 
•  Building owners 
•  Fire Risk Management Of icers 
•  Businesses 
•  Volunteer Support Of icers 
 
•  Training Of icers 
 
 
  under 
 
 
Released 
 
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QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND EXPERIENCE 
Suitable candidates wil  possess the following skil s/attributes: 
Essential 
•  Successful completion of all Fire and Emergency New Zealand Career TAPS Programmes up to 
and including Senior Firefighter Level, or demonstrated competence to the same level 
1982
•  Minimum of 2 years secondary schooling Minimum of 4 years as a firefighter Qualified Pump 
Operator 
•  Significant knowledge and experience in applying fire suppression techniques Competent in the 
use of MS Of ice suite and other Fire and Emergency New Zealand IT based systems and 
communication tools 
Act 
•  Maintains ability to meet prescribed fitness standards and pass regular fitness assessment 
PROUD 
•  Sound interpersonal skil s and a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse 
audiences. 
HISTORY 
 
Desirable 
BRIGHT 
•  Qualified Emergency Driver 
FUTURE 
•  Qualified Specialist Appliance Operator/Driver 
 
 
 
 
 
Information 
Official 
the 
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PRACTITIONER: 
1982
Organises self and works with others to carry out tasks and duties. 
 
SELF 
INFLUENCE 
ETHICS 
RELATIONSHIPS 
STRATEGY 
PEOPLE 
RESULTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Act 
1. Focuses on own 
1. Contributes to 
1. Acts without 
1. Establishes good 
1. Gathers information 
1. Works 
1. Maintains a client 
development; 
positive work 
favouritism or bias.  
working 
from a variety of 
col aboratively as 
focus in carrying out 
identifies new 
outcomes aligned to 
 
relationships and 
sources. 
part of a team. 
work tasks. 
chal enges to extend 
organisational 
2. Adheres to 
trust with others. 
 
 
 
experiences. 
objectives. 
organisational 
 
2. Understands the 
 
 
values and code of 
2. Is aware of the 
relevance of 
2. Is open to the 
2. Adheres to 
2. Learns and reflects 
2. Contributes to team 
conduct. 
benefits of 
organisational 
perspective of 
procedural 
on how own 
goals and 
others. 
documentation and 
 
networking. 
context to the 
behaviours and 
understands how 
completes tasks. 
3. Leads by example 
 
workplace. 
 
work style impact 
they relate to 
and maintains a 
 
3. Supports the 
 
on others and on 
organisational 
high level of 
3. Operates within the 
development of 
3. Responds flexibly to 
work tasks. 
objectives. 
professionalism and 
limits and 
3. Problem solves, 
talent in others. 
changing demands 
 
 
impartiality; expects 
boundaries of their 
seeks advice and 
role. 
makes 
 
while remaining 
Information 
3. Actively seeks 
3. Communicates in an 
and encourages 
focused on the  
 
recommendations 
4. Strives to meet 
feedback from 
open and frank 
peers to apply the 
4.
objectives. 
Represents the 
after considering 
personal objectives 
supervisor and 
manner and gains 
same high 
organisational 
the facts. 
and is aware of 
 
peers and acts upon 
the trust of others. 
standards. 
position. 
 
performance 
4. Supplements 
it. 
 
requirements; seeks 
knowledge with 
 
4. Prioritises work 
4. Models behaviours 
tasks aligned with 
help when needed. 
technical expertise 
4. Demonstrates 
that are consistent 
the organisational 
 
from others. 
persistence; adapts 
with the values and 
strategic direction. 
5. Works with others 
approach when 
practices of the 
 
to achieve 
Official 
required and 
organisation. 
5. Understands the 
performance 
continues to work 
 
need to see the ‘big 
objectives. 
to achieve individual 
5. Shares information 
picture’ and 
 
and team 
with the team. 
recognises how 
6. Resolves inter-
the 
objectives. 
 
relationships and 
personnel and inter-
 
processes fit within 
group conflict 
it. 
constructively. 
5. Maintains an 
 
optimistic outlook; 
overcomes 
obstacles and 
recovers quickly 
from setbacks. 
under 
 
6. Recognises the need 
for and adapts to 
 
 
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