Fire Chief

City of Lewisville, TX

34d

About The Position

The Fire Chief leads and oversees the Lewisville Fire Department under administrative direction from the City Manager's Office. The role is responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, emergency management, training, community risk reduction, and disaster preparedness, with the goal of protecting life and property through effective emergency response, prevention, education, and strategic planning. The Fire Chief coordinates with City departments, regional partners, outside agencies, and community stakeholders, provides complex support to the City Manager's Office, and serves as a member of the City's executive leadership team. The position provides executive leadership for department operations and staff; develops strategic goals, policies, service levels, and long-range plans; oversees performance, records, budgets, staffing, facilities, apparatus, equipment, technology, and training needs; and supports continuous improvement and accreditation. The Fire Chief coordinates legal, regulatory, interlocal, and risk-management matters; presents reports and recommendations to City leadership and governing bodies; serves as the Department's principal spokesperson; and leads the Department's response to major emergencies and disasters, including support for the City's Emergency Operations Center as required. The position requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and ten years of increasingly responsible municipal fire-service command and executive leadership experience, including at least eight years in an executive leadership position. A master's degree and specified executive leadership programs and credentials are preferred. Required certifications include Texas Commission on Fire Protection credentials, Texas paramedic certification, a valid Texas Class C driver's license or ability to obtain one, and appropriate ICS/NIMS certifications. The appointee must pass pre-employment screenings and maintain required certifications and qualifications throughout employment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, or a closely related field.
Ten years of increasingly responsible command and executive leadership experience in municipal fire service, including at least eight years in an executive leadership position such as Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Chief, or equivalent, in an organization of comparable size and complexity.
Certification as Head of Fire Department through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, or ability to obtain it within twelve months of appointment.
Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Structural Fire Protection Personnel Certification, at minimum.
Texas Department of State Health Services paramedic certification.
Valid Texas Class C driver's license or ability to obtain one within the required timeframe.
Incident Command System and National Incident Management System certifications appropriate for executive leadership.
Must pass post-offer drug screening, driver's license check, criminal history background investigation, employment and education verification, reference checks, and any other required pre-employment testing or background investigations.
Must maintain all required certifications and qualifications throughout employment.
A combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that enables successful performance may substitute for the specified education and experience requirements.
Knowledge of modern fire service administration, fire suppression, EMS, emergency management, incident command, fire prevention, community risk reduction, training, accreditation, budgeting, strategic planning, labor relations, personnel management, and applicable laws.
Skills in executive leadership, organizational strategy, leading diverse teams, operational performance evaluation, complex incident management, budget and capital program administration, communication, partnership building, issue resolution, and fostering a service-oriented culture.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Fire Executive Leadership, Emergency Management, or a related field.
Completion of nationally recognized executive fire-service leadership programs, such as the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, Texas Fire Chiefs Academy, IAFC Fire Service Executive Development Institute, or equivalent executive leadership training.
Texas Commission on Fire Protection Advanced Fire Officer certification.
Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Executive Fire Officer (EFO), or other nationally recognized executive fire-service credential.

Responsibilities

Direct, plan, coordinate, administer, and evaluate Fire Department programs, projects, systems, standards, and service delivery, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and policies.
Supervise department staff, set priorities and assign work, conduct performance evaluations, support employee development and training, promote accountability and workplace safety, and make or recommend hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination decisions.
Develop and implement strategic goals, objectives, policies, priorities, and service levels for fire suppression, EMS, prevention, training, emergency management, community risk reduction, and administration; allocate resources to community needs and consult the City Manager's Office on significant initiatives.
Develop long-range plans, evaluate trends in fire service and emergency management, recommend policy changes, and implement service delivery models aligned with City priorities.
Monitor departmental efficiency and effectiveness, response performance, staffing, deployment strategies, administrative systems, and service delivery; identify and implement improvements.
Oversee the development, maintenance, and security of department records, operational data, emergency response documentation, and performance reporting; analyze trends for decision-making, accreditation, and improvement.
Coordinate with the City Attorney's Office, regulatory agencies, healthcare partners, and governmental organizations on legal matters, emergency operations, compliance, interlocal agreements, and risk management.
Develop and administer operating and capital budgets; forecast staffing, apparatus, equipment, facility, technology, and training needs; monitor spending and steward public resources.
Coordinate with City departments, regional fire and EMS agencies, hospitals, emergency management organizations, public safety partners, and community stakeholders; prepare and present reports, recommendations, and presentations to City leadership and governing bodies.
Respond to sensitive and complex inquiries from City leadership, employees, citizens, and community organizations; act as the Department's principal spokesperson and maintain positive media and community relationships.
Provide executive leadership during major emergencies, disasters, and significant incidents; direct emergency operations and support the City's Emergency Operations Center as required.
Promote professionalism, safety, accountability, wellness, diversity, innovation, and continuous improvement; develop future leaders and support succession planning.
Advise City administration on public safety, emergency preparedness, community risk reduction, capital planning, and organizational resiliency; recommend improvements to policies, systems, procedures, and service delivery.
Perform other assigned duties and maintain regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work schedule.