Job Title: Lateral Captain

District: Middleton Rural Fire District / Star Fire Protection District

Reports to: Battalion Chief

Date Last Revised: June 2, 2026

Job Summary

The Shift Captain directs, manages, supervises, plans for, and coordinates the activities and operations of a station within the Fire District. The Shift Captain responds to emergencies and has primary responsibility for incident supervision of on-scene personnel as well as command, control, and operational decision-making during the incident until the incident is upgraded with the appropriate support staff. This position reports directly to the Shift Battalion Chief, but the individual must take initiative and exercise independent judgment. This position is included in the collective bargaining agreement.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Participate in activities that promote Middleton and Star Fire Districts in a positive image;
• Provides effective leadership, mentorship, and supervision to subordinate field personnel, including interpretations and direction of fire district, and other applicable policies, SOG's/EOG's, and rules to ensure compliance and consistency;
• Conducts regular inspections of personnel, facilities, apparatus, equipment, and records to maintain operational readiness;
• Conducts annual and periodic performance evaluations and develops individualized career development plans for assigned personnel;
• Works collaboratively with the Battalion Chief to implement District goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards;
• Participates in and facilitates company-level training consistent with District training objectives;
• Promotes firefighter safety and risk management by identifying hazards and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies during emergency response activities;
• Maintains a professional, respectful, and positive work environment, addressing employee concerns and resolving interpersonal conflicts as needed;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with District administration, partner agencies, community organizations, and the public;
• Upholds and models the District's Vision, Core Values, and Communication/Behavior Agreement, responding to public and internal inquiries in a professional and timely manner;
• Completes all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties in accordance with District Policy and Procedures;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Incident Response

• Plans, organizes, directs and reviews daily activities at the fire station on an assigned shift; Confers with Battalion Chief to make necessary changes that ensure operational effectiveness;
• Responds to all emergency and non-emergency calls, develops strategies and commands tactical operations, and provides safety oversight at the scene as required until appropriate support staff arrive;
• Ensures all emergency response operations are conducted safely and in compliance with District policies and procedures and state/federal regulations.

Qualifications

Required 

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalency;
• Idaho Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification;
• ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800;
• Fire Incident Commander meeting NFPA 1026 (Blue Card Incident Command);
• Fire Officer I certification meeting NFPA 1021;
• Fire Service Instructor I certification meeting NFPA 1041;
• Incident Safety Officer certification meeting NFPA 1521;
• NWCG S-215 Fire Operations in the WUI;
• NWCG S-231 Engine Boss.

Lateral Candidates or Internal candidates who meet the lateral requirements

• Must meet all of the above general requirements, paired with one of the following experience pathways:
• Pathway A: Five (5) years of experience, including at least one (1) year serving as a Captain in a similar-sized organization.
• Pathway B: Seven (7) years of experience, including at least two (2) years serving as an Engineer, alongside the experience, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Possession of a National Registry EMT (or greater) certification; or the ability to obtain a State of Idaho certification within 90 days.

Desired

• Wildland ENGB qualification within two years, extension may be granted by the Deputy Chief of Operations;
• ICS 400 within one year, extension may be granted by the Deputy Chief of Operations.

Licensing

• Possess and maintain a valid Idaho driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of (in no order):

• Duties and knowledge required of an Engineer, Firefighter, and EMT;
• Fire Training programs and practices, including learning management software programs;
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, and the management of employees through subordinate supervision;
• Fire/EMS emergency scene operations to include strategy and tactics, and overall hazard mitigation;
• Geography of the Middleton and Star Fire Districts and surrounding areas;
• All Middleton and Star Fire District's policies and procedures;
• Principles and practices of fire service administration, including fire suppression operations, fire prevention, inspections, investigations, and loss mitigation activities;
• Current emergency and non-emergency communications systems, including all related equipment;
• Applicable State and Federal Laws, Codes, Regulations and Legislation, policies and procedures, basic knowledge of human resource policies;
• Budgeting, technical writing, and course development;
• Principles and techniques of making effective oral presentations;
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and OneDrive), Vector Solutions, Records Management Systems (RMS), and CAD.

Ability to:

• Lead, supervise, coordinate, and evaluate the work of others;
• Establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other District Employees, victims of disasters, EMS personnel, other emergency response agencies, and the public;
• Work effectively within a command structure requiring strict adherence to the following of orders;
• Work in a team environment as a team player;
• Show respect to fellow employees and customers;
• Add, subtract, multiply, divide and derive percentages;
• Communicate well with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions;
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Provide effective leadership and mentorship;
• Apply corrective action(s) fairly, effectively, and efficiently; BE NICE;
• Operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Independent judgment and creativity in the performance of assigned tasks;
• Must display a positive attitude consistent with the core values of the Middleton and Star Fire Districts;
• Mentor, coach, and provide constructive feedback of subordinate employees.

Soft Skills

• Provide leadership through adaptability/flexibility, anticipatory thinking, dynamic optimism, organizational/time management, decisiveness, proactive engagement, and resiliency;
• Support the long-term success of the Middleton and Star Fire Districts by improving operational processes, leading change responsibly, developing personnel, and promoting a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement;
• Coach performance through mentorship, personal and team development, conflict resolution, empowerment, and clear communication;
• Communicate to give direction and guidelines, provide feedback, and share knowledge and experience.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Uses tools and equipment that pertains to firefighting, fire training, medical and rescue situations;
• Uses standard office equipment, including a computer, in the course of the work.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Work is normally performed in an office or fire station environment but may occasionally be subject to outside environments that may include cold, heat, wind, rain and loud noise. The employee in this class may be subject to extreme environmental conditions and is subject to potential personal danger at emergency scenes from fire & smoke, traffic hazards, blood-borne pathogens, hazardous materials, etc.

• Requires riding in or driving motor vehicles;
• Requires clear vision to read printed materials and hearing speech to communicate in person, over the telephone, over a M.D.T. or through a two-way radio system;
• Requires strength and stamina to respond to emergency situations;
• Requires mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment and emergency situations to accomplish tasks;
• Works shifts as required to meeting staffing and deployment needs;
• Being awakened in the nighttime to respond to emergency situations.

Travel Requirements

The Shift Captain must be able to drive fire department vehicles to incident sites as needed and may travel by car or plane to classes and seminars.

Disclaimer

The Shift Captain must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately, and without causing a significant safety threat to self or others. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the District may make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential job functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800;
• Fire Incident Commander meeting NFPA 1026 (Blue Card Incident Command);
• Fire Officer I certification meeting NFPA 1021;
• Fire Service Instructor I certification meeting NFPA 1041;
• Incident Safety Officer certification meeting NFPA 1521;
• NWCG S-215 Fire Operations in the WUI;
• NWCG S-231 Engine Boss.
• Possession of a National Registry EMT (or greater) certification; or the ability to obtain a State of Idaho certification within 90 days.

• • Pathway A: Five (5) years of experience, including at least one (1) year serving as a Captain in a similar-sized organization.
  • Pathway B: Seven (7) years of experience, including at least two (2) years serving as an Engineer, alongside the experience, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.