Director, Fire Safety Division

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Stow, MA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS) invites experienced, mission-driven leaders to apply for the position of Director of the Fire Safety Division (FSD). This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the Commonwealth’s most important public safety divisions, shaping fire prevention, code development, licensing, engineering, compliance, public education, and regulatory policy that protect lives and property across Massachusetts. As Director, you will lead a diverse and highly specialized division whose work influences fire and life safety in nearly every community in the state. The Fire Safety Division plays a central role in the development and administration of the Massachusetts fire code and related regulations, the licensing and oversight of regulated professions and businesses, fire protection engineering and plan review, code compliance and enforcement, public fire and life safety education, fire data systems, and the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Program. Your leadership will directly affect how DFS supports local fire departments, regulated industries, municipal officials, state agencies, and the public. This is a prominent leadership role within DFS. The Director serves as division head and as a member of the agency’s senior staff, working closely with the State Fire Marshal, Deputy State Fire Marshal, agency leadership, boards and commissions, legislators, and external stakeholders across government, industry, and the fire service. The successful candidate will be a strategic leader who can balance policy, operations, regulatory responsibilities, and public service while building trust and driving collaboration across a complex organization. The Director is responsible for guiding the division’s mission to preserve life and property from fire and explosion through prevention, regulation, investigation, education, technical assistance, and enforcement. This includes leading major operating areas such as Code Development and Code Administration, Code Compliance and Enforcement, Fire Protection Engineering and technical services, Public Education and Fire Data, Licensing and Administrative Support, and the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Program. The Director ensures that the division’s work is coordinated, consistent, timely, and aligned with agency priorities and statutory responsibilities. Key responsibilities include setting division goals and performance expectations, managing staff and resources, overseeing budgets and procurements, identifying and administering grant opportunities, and advancing continuous quality improvement across all division functions. The Director also plays a leading role in the development, interpretation, and revision of statewide fire safety regulations and related policy initiatives, in partnership with the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations and other boards, agencies, and stakeholders. This is a position for a leader who can see both the big picture and the operational details, and who is comfortable working at the intersection of law, policy, public safety, and service delivery. The role requires a strong communicator and thoughtful administrator who can represent DFS at a high level, support major statewide initiatives, and foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, innovation, and collaboration. The ideal candidate will bring senior leadership experience in fire service, code administration, engineering, public safety regulation, inspections, or a related field, along with the judgment and credibility to work effectively with both technical experts and executive decision-makers. This is an exceptional opportunity for a public safety leader who wants to make a lasting statewide impact. The Director of the Fire Safety Division helps shape the codes, systems, policies, and programs that improve safety for residents, firefighters, businesses, and communities throughout Massachusetts.

Requirements

• At least six (6) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management.
• Of the above, at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Senior leadership experience in fire service, code administration, engineering, public safety regulation, inspections, or a related field.
• Judgment and credibility to work effectively with both technical experts and executive decision-makers.
• Strong communicator and thoughtful administrator.

Nice To Haves

• A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead a diverse and highly specialized division whose work influences fire and life safety in nearly every community in the state.
• Play a central role in the development and administration of the Massachusetts fire code and related regulations.
• Oversee the licensing and oversight of regulated professions and businesses.
• Manage fire protection engineering and plan review.
• Ensure code compliance and enforcement.
• Lead public fire and life safety education initiatives.
• Oversee fire data systems.
• Manage the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Program.
• Support local fire departments, regulated industries, municipal officials, state agencies, and the public.
• Serve as division head and as a member of the agency’s senior staff.
• Work closely with the State Fire Marshal, Deputy State Fire Marshal, agency leadership, boards and commissions, legislators, and external stakeholders.
• Balance policy, operations, regulatory responsibilities, and public service.
• Build trust and drive collaboration across a complex organization.
• Guide the division’s mission to preserve life and property from fire and explosion through prevention, regulation, investigation, education, technical assistance, and enforcement.
• Lead major operating areas such as Code Development and Code Administration, Code Compliance and Enforcement, Fire Protection Engineering and technical services, Public Education and Fire Data, Licensing and Administrative Support, and the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Program.
• Ensure that the division’s work is coordinated, consistent, timely, and aligned with agency priorities and statutory responsibilities.
• Set division goals and performance expectations.
• Manage staff and resources.
• Oversee budgets and procurements.
• Identify and administer grant opportunities.
• Advance continuous quality improvement across all division functions.
• Play a leading role in the development, interpretation, and revision of statewide fire safety regulations and related policy initiatives, in partnership with the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations and other boards, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Represent DFS at a high level.
• Support major statewide initiatives.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

Benefits

• Outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.
• Work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed