Fire Chief

Parkland County

17d•Onsite

About The Position

Working within the Fire Services department and reporting to the General Manager, Community & Development Services Division, the Fire Chief provides executive leadership, direction, and oversight for Parkland County’s Fire Services and Emergency Communications Centre (ECC), including 911 call answer, fire dispatch, and operational communications. The position is accountable for all fire operations including emergency response delivery, life-safety programs, Safety Codes compliance, and long‑term strategic planning. The Fire Chief leads major emergency management responsibilities for Parkland County and the Summer Villages and provides authoritative advice to Council, CAO, and partner agencies on public safety and emergency management.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Service Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management or related discipline.
A minimum of eight (8) years of demonstrated executive-level leadership with strong business acumen, supporting effective strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance oversight across complex fire, emergency response, and communications operations.
Meet all minimum requirements as follows: NFPA 1001 Firefighter II; NFPA 1002 Pump & Aerial; NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I & II (III preferred); NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector I & II; NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator; NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor II; Standard First Aid with CPR.
Safety Codes Officer Fire Group B, C, and E (preferred).
Incident Command System 400, Incident Command, Operations Section Chief.
Skilled in analyzing operational, financial, and technical information and presenting it clearly to multiple audience levels, including Council, senior leadership, partner agencies, and the public.
Highly capable communicator and presenter who can synthesize complex subject matter into accessible, accurate, and compelling briefings tailored to both technical and non-technical parties.
Advanced understanding of emergency communications technology, including Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG911) systems, IP‑based call routing, and the telecommunications networks that support 9‑1‑1 call management. Proficient with Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) platforms, dispatching workflows, and integrated communications software used in modern Emergency Communications Centres.
Skilled in evaluating, implementing, and overseeing mission‑critical systems, ensuring reliability, interoperability, cybersecurity, and compliance with provincial and national standards.
Ability to primarily work in-person at the Acheson Fire Station – 11350 274 St., Acheson, AB.
A valid class 3 driver’s license with Q endorsement and satisfactory commercial driver’s abstract provided upon hire.
A satisfactory Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector screening is required upon hire, excluding candidates under the age of 18 and current Parkland County employees.
Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

Nice To Haves

Graduate-level education in leadership, public safety, or emergency management with professional development in adult education, Safety Codes, wildland fire behaviour, and/or emergency communications is considered an asset.