Operations Section Chief Complex

OSCC Incident Position Description

The Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) manages incident operations through the operations section, establishing and directing branches, divisions, groups, and units as necessary to support operations. The OSCC leads the development and execution of the tactical assignments documented in the Incident Action Plan (IAP). The OSCC reports to the Incident Commander (IC) and works in the Operations functional area. 

Prepare and Mobilize

• Ensure individual readiness.
• Gather critical information pertinent to the assignment.
• Confirm mobilization status of operational team members and/or assigned resources.
• Review current IAP, if applicable, and obtain incident status from IC or ordering unit.
• Obtain incident update from current OSC regarding status of incident situation or branch operations before arrival.

Build the Team

• Develop initial strategy and ensure tactics are in alignment.
• Receive a host unit in-brief of the current incident status and review established Incident Management Team (IMT) guidelines.
• Ensure air operations section meets operational needs.
• Review the Delegation of Authority, Leaders Intent, Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) and/or other incident decision documents.
• Ensure distribution of IAPs and other relevant plans, maps, and local area information.
• Facilitate and coordinate the ordering of operational resources.
• Establish a common operating picture with Command & General Staff (C&G), IC, and assigned personnel.
• Facilitate Operation Section meetings.
• Establish organizational structure, reporting procedures, and chain of command for assigned resources.
• Ensure transfer of position responsibilities. Coordinate with outgoing OSCC, IC, or other appropriate personnel.
• Develop initial strategy and ensure tactics are in alignment.

Lead, Supervise, Direct

• Model leadership values and principles. Provide a positive influence. Emphasize teamwork.
• Establish and communicate objectives, priorities, work assignments, and performance expectations.
• Identify, analyze, and use relevant situational information to make more informed decisions and take appropriate actions.
• Adjust actions based on changing information and evolving situation awareness. Develop and implement contingency plans. Communicate changing conditions to assigned resources and C&G.
• Monitor performance and provide immediate and regular feedback to assigned personnel.
• Apply knowledge of leadership styles and methods to diffuse conflict.
• Provide field leadership, while making sound and timely decisions in complex and high stress environments.
• Develop and deliver appropriate messages to diverse audiences.
• Identify and provide training opportunities.
• Engage in public information distribution, ensuring communications align with operational progress, strategic objectives, and public safety in coordination with Public Information Officers.

Perform Command and General Staff (C&G) Responsibilities

• Interact, coordinate, and establish cohesiveness with all C&G personnel.
• Share pertinent operations information that may affect the team’s management of the incident.
• Prepare for and participate in strategy meetings to ensure alignment of host agency values, incident strategies, and probabilities of success.
• Formulate and communicate strategic plans and alternatives to IC for understanding and approval.
• Participate in IMT in-brief and closeout.
• Coordinate operational decisions with C&G personnel to reduce unintended impacts to other functional areas.

Perform Complex Incident Operations Section Chief-Specific Responsibilities

• Attend agency briefings and debriefings.
• Present effective operational period briefing(s). Clearly articulate strategy, tactics, locations, and work assignments.
• Provide daily briefings and debriefings to section personnel.
• Ensure host unit direction and policies are applied.
• Manage operational periods to achieve objectives (e.g., swing/night shifts).
• Personally observe and review current operations to prepare tactics for the next 24, 48, 72 hours and beyond.
• Ensure assigned resources receive Fire Weather Watches/Warnings, Spot Weather Forecasts, and Fire Weather Forecasts.
• Monitor and address air quality impacts on personnel and the public. Consider the potential for smoke impacts to roads, communities, and incident facilities.
• Report special occurrences (e.g., structure/improved property loss or damage, accidents, Incident Within an Incident, political contacts) to IC.
• Where feasible, incorporate new and emerging aviation technologies (e.g., Unmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS], Multi-Mission Aircraft [MMA]).
• Order or demobilize resources required to meet operational objectives.
• Establish a process within Operations Section for resource requests/releases for planning purposes.
• Inform IC regularly or as needed with status updates, evolving conditions or hazards that may require action, problems or unresolved issues, and accomplishments.
• Establish daily briefing/debriefing schedule with Operations Branch Directors and Division/Group Supervisors.
• Establish and/or identify branches, divisions/groups, and/or staging areas as appropriate.
• Identify the kind, type, and number of resources required to achieve operational objectives.
• Continually evaluate resource staffing levels, status, and tactical needs to determine if resource assignments are appropriate. Maintain appropriate span of control.
• Update priorities and make timely changes to current operations based on changing complexities or magnitude of the incident.
• Ensure assigned resources have all necessary equipment and supplies to meet the approved strategy. Estimate immediate and long-range operational resource and logistical requirements.
• Approve burnouts and seek approval from the IC for backfire operations.
• Evaluate the progress of operations based on situation reports and inputs from operations personnel.
• Validate the effectiveness and proper use of aviation resources, ensuring close coordination between aviation and ground personnel.
• Provide feedback to Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD)/Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) on preferred airspace use and any necessary restrictions.
• Ensure that IA delegations are clearly defined and easily identifiable using geographic features.
• Utilize GIS tools and analytics (e.g., snag hazards, fuels, fire history, fire behavior runs, Potential Operational Delineations [PODS], weather analysis) to develop strategic plans with increased probability of success.
• Develop management action points for critical values at risk, display strategic lines geographically, and articulate strategy verbally and in writing to diverse audiences.
• Evaluate the current situation and determine if the present plan of action will meet incident objectives. Advise IC and other appropriate IMT personnel.
• Use fire behavior prediction information to plan/organize tactical operations that are in alignment with the approved strategy.
• Ensure development and maintenance of a strategic operations map.
• Promptly provide C&G with analytics and known values to develop initial strategy.

Planning Duties

• Represent the Operations Section in the planning cycle (e.g., meetings, briefings, documentation).
• Complete the identified Operations sections of the Incident Status Summary (ICS 209).
• Participate in preparation of the IAP or other relevant plans.
• Utilize the Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS 215) to consolidate resource status, assignments, and operational resource needs.
• Coordinate IAP (ICS 204 WF) updates with the Resource Unit Leader (RESL) following IMT guidelines, including resource information for accountability, work assignments, special instructions (e.g., medical, READ), and communicate strategy (task, purpose, end state).
• Coordinate with Situation Unit to validate updates (e.g., division/branch boundaries, drop points, helispots, control line status).
• Coordinate with Operations Branch Directors (OPBD) and Division/Group Supervisors (DIVS) and provide a list of excess personnel and other resources to the Planning Section.

Communicate and Coordinate

• Ensure incident objectives, priorities, and tactics, including any changes, are communicated and understood throughout the Operations section.
• Provide timely communication within and across functional areas to coordinate support for operational needs (e.g. land use agreements, EERA, meals, security).
• Coordinate with OPBD(s) and DIVS(s) to recommend priorities for Safety Officers, Line Medics, READs, and FOBs.
• Determine the need for coordination with Long Term Fire Analyst and/or Strategic Operational Planner to ensure incident strategies consider critical values, responder risk, and probability of success.
• Maintain daily communication with AOBD/ASGS, ensuring aviation resources are aware of and follow prioritized aviation objectives.
• Facilitate effective coordination between aerial supervision and OSCC, confirming feedback is provided by aerial supervision both before and after shifts.
• Work with responsible land management agency and/or assigned Resource Advisors to mitigate impacts to natural, cultural, social, and other resources. Notify IC when such resources are discovered and document suppression impacts.
• Coordinate wildland urban interface (WUI) operations with local law enforcement, fire departments, and other agencies that are authorized to implement public evacuations, structure protection, traffic control, and road closures, in coordination with the Liaison Officer (LOFR).
• Establish communication channels that facilitate large scale coordination (e.g., multi-agency coordination groups, nearby incidents, geographic areas, adjacent land management units).

Manage Risk

• Ensure the Risk Management Process is established and maintained throughout the Operations section.
• Align tactical operations with strategic level risk management throughout the Operations Section.
• Coordinate with Safety Officers to assess responder risk and complete an Operational Risk Assessment Worksheet (e.g., ICS 215R).
• Communicate the major risk influencers (e.g., ground transportation, fire behavior, hit by and gravity hazards, aviation operations, human factors, medical response and capability).
• Lead strategic discussions with Safety Officer(s) to ensure risk mitigation measures are effective across the Operations Section.
• Plan for medical emergencies. Ensure assigned resources are prepared to execute the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF). Ensure familiarity with medical responders, communication procedures, and transportation plan.
• Support Incident Within an Incident (IWI) response based on procedures developed by the IMT.
• Consider after-impacts of high stress incidents (e.g., IWIs, LODD, large loss of structures) on responders and support personnel.
• Communicate incident strategies and tactics with the AOBD and implement through risk-informed decision-making.
• Monitor resources for signs and symptoms of smoke exposure, fatigue, illness, injury, and work/rest ratios, and communicate mitigation needs.
• Account for location, health, safety, and welfare of assigned personnel.
• Submit accident/incident reports with pertinent forms (e.g., SAFECOM, SAFENET, agency-specific forms) through the established chain of command.

Document

• Provide input into documentation and associated GIS products for strategic operations.
• Ensure comprehensive documentation of strategic adjustments and multi-agency coordination efforts.
• Follow IMT guidelines for the tracking and documentation of accountable property.
• Complete, authorize, ensure timeliness of, and route as required:
  • Incident Personnel Performance Rating (ICS 225 WF).
  • General Message (ICS 213).
  • Activity Log (ICS 214).
  • Crew Time Report (CTR), SF-261 (Watch: How to correctly fill out a CTR).
  • SAFECOM.
  • SAFENET.
  • Air Operations Summary (ICS 220).
  • Agency-specific forms.

Demobilize

• Provide staffing recommendations of resources to incoming OSC to ensure appropriate span of control and staffing for evolving incident complexity.
• Coordinate with other C&G personnel on changing operational staffing levels and evolving incident complexity.
• Coordinate with local unit on strategic alternatives and resource capabilities, if applicable.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the Incident Demobilization Plan, and coordinate with Demobilization Unit/Planning Section Chief.
• Assemble and submit relevant operations documents for the final incident package and closeout documents.
• Prepare the operations portion of the transition plan, including strategic information, ongoing risks, known hazards, and status of incident objectives.
• Brief assigned resources on demobilization procedures and responsibilities. Ensure incident and agency demobilization procedures are followed.
• Participate in transition meeting with incoming Incident Management Team (IMT)/local unit.
• Lead strategic level After Action Review (AAR) at the section level, including how to integrate feedback into future incident response. Participate in C&G AAR during demobilization, identifying key lessons for future incidents.
• During the transfer of command ensure continuity of operations, exchange critical information (e.g., safety, contacts, cooperators), and communicate transfer of authority through an established chain of command.

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