Packet: Regular City Council Meeting (11/04/2025)

City of Tiffin – Fire Chief Assessment Center Process & Policy 2025 Assessment Center Process The assessment center typically used in the fire service utilizes a method of standardized evaluations of behavior from the result of numerous data inputs. The data collected comes from multiple areas of evaluations, which usually consists of oral, written, and tactical testing. Statistical aggregation is the most common method of scoring due to its easy quantification; however, scores must represent an analysis of job-relevant behaviors. The intended purpose of this assessment center focuses on all- hazards emergencies and the related behavioral dimensions associated with those constructs. The Tiffin Fire Department responds to and mitigates all types of hazards, and so the assessment center should reflect as many of the areas of familiarity that would be expected of a chief of the department to have. Competency of these job-related areas of testing will be measured using proficiency equivalents of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Scoring from these dimensions will show behavioral constructs that point out strengths and weaknesses of the candidate’s ability to perform the job description of Fire Chief. The multiple assessment center components used here follows the “Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations” ¹ endorsed by the International Taskforce on Assessment Center Guidelines. These components are constructed based on the department’s key objectives and strategies that support the Tiffin Fire Department’s Mission, Vision, and Values². Structural interviews, situational judgement tests, and simulation exercises are used, which require the candidate to display certain behaviors, demonstrating competencies related to a Fire Chief at the administrative position. Scoring in each component is systematic, including, but not limited to behavioral checklists and rating scales that are recorded for review by the assessment administrator. All procedures are described in the Tiffin Fire Department Assessment Center Policy on page 2 of this document which gives guidelines for evaluation purposes. ______________________________________ ¹ Rupp, D. E., Hoffman, B. J., Bischof, D., Byham, W., Collins, L., Gibbons, A., … Thornton, G. (2015). Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations. Journal of Management, 41(4), 1244–1273. doi: 10.1177/0149206314567780 ² “The mission of the Tiffin Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of Tiffin, including Clear Creek and Union townships, from fires, accidents, natural disasters and hazardous material incidents; to save lives by providing emergency medical services; to provide assistance to mutual aid partners and to prevent fires through prevention and education programs.” Ref: https:// https://www.tiffin-iowa.org/city_government/fire.php