State Fire Marshal

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Stow, MA

10h

About The Position

The State Fire Marshal is the Commonwealth’s chief fire official and head of the Department of Fire Services (DFS), reporting directly to the Secretary of Public Safety & Security. The Marshal provides executive leadership and direction for statewide fire prevention, training, investigation, code enforcement, hazardous materials response, and other public safety programs. The role carries broad statutory authority and responsibility for agency strategy, operations, personnel, and resources, including an annual operating budget exceeding $64 million and statewide operations across DFS divisions and facilities in Stow, Springfield, and Bridgewater. The Marshal advises the Governor, the Secretary, and the Legislature on fire and life safety, emerging threats, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards; recommends changes to laws and regulations; and exercises statutory licensing and enforcement powers. The Marshal serves on statutory boards and commissions concerning fire safety, building standards, emergency response, and related policy. The Marshal is the Commonwealth’s principal advocate and public representative for the fire service, supporting fire and life safety education for local fire departments and the public and working with public health officials on strategic policy related to emergency response and health and safety. The Marshal directs DFS support to local incident commanders during major fires, explosions, hazardous materials events, and other emergencies, including CBRNE incidents. The role may require emergency response to large-scale, long-term, or multiple-fatality incidents, where the Marshal helps identify public safety dangers and coordinate statewide assistance. The Marshal is the Department’s primary public voice during major incidents and communicates with the media and public. Exposure to unknown hazards, dangerous physical conditions, and mental stressors is possible. The Marshal must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. As agency head and appointing authority, the Marshal oversees the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Fire Safety Division, Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division, and Administrative Services. The Massachusetts State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Section is assigned to the Marshal’s office. The Marshal also oversees facilities modernization, long-term capital planning, and major infrastructure initiatives, including the multi-year Bridgewater campus expansion. The Marshal advances the statewide Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) program with state and local partners. The program includes integrated training and exercises consistent with NFPA 3000; coordination among fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management, and public safety communications personnel; and promotion of unified command, coordinated response, and recovery planning. The Marshal provides executive direction for statewide fire training and education, fire prevention, fire protection engineering, community risk reduction, and public fire safety education. The role includes developing and modernizing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, using NERIS or other fire incident data to inform public policy and risk-reduction priorities, and guiding grant programs. The Marshal also directs legislative and regulatory initiatives, budget and resource planning, workforce planning, and the responsible management of public funds and state resources.

Requirements

At least eight years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a specialty, with at least five years in a managerial capacity.
Must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for performance of the position.
At least 10 years of management experience in the fire service, fire prevention, fire protection engineering, emergency management, or a closely related public safety organization, including substantial senior management or executive leadership responsibilities.
At least five years of experience managing non-field operations focused on policy development, budget management, staffing, and oversight of a public safety organization.
Ability to provide executive leadership and strategic direction to a large, complex public safety agency with multiple divisions and diverse statewide operations.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, resolve complex operational and policy issues, and uphold integrity and public accountability.
Knowledge of state and municipal government, administrative and legislative processes, regulatory responsibilities, statutory boards and commissions, and public policy development and implementation.
Understanding of emergency management and coordinated response to major fires, explosions, hazardous materials incidents, natural disasters, and other public safety emergencies, including incident command principles and interagency coordination.
Ability to lead a diverse and complex workforce, develop senior management, delegate authority, establish performance goals, and promote an effective organizational culture.
Ability to facilitate problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution, and team building.
Experience developing working relationships with elected officials, municipal fire chiefs, labor organizations, law enforcement agencies, regulated industries, and the media.
Knowledge of community risk reduction and use of fire incident data, including NERIS or comparable reporting systems, to identify emerging risks and inform priorities and policy decisions.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including legislative testimony, media communications, and public spokesperson duties during major emergencies and critical incidents.

Responsibilities

Lead the Department of Fire Services as agency head and appointing authority, setting priorities, establishing performance measures, resolving complex matters, and coordinating its legal, enforcement, regulatory, operational, and administrative functions.
Manage statewide fire and public safety programs, including fire prevention, training, investigation, code enforcement, hazardous materials response, and related services.
Advise the Governor and Secretary of Public Safety & Security on emerging issues and policy matters relating to fire safety, fire prevention, hazardous materials, and antiterrorism response.
Serve as the Administration’s liaison to the fire service community and its major organizations, and foster relationships with federal, state, and municipal partners.
Represent DFS through media interviews, public appearances, public service announcements, legislative testimony, and other public communications, including during disasters and public safety emergencies.
Direct DFS support to local incident commanders at major fires, explosions, explosive-device incidents, and hazardous materials emergencies; assess statewide risks and coordinate specialized assistance.
Oversee joint initiatives with the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, including fire and arson investigations, incident reporting, and personnel.
Implement state and municipal partnerships for hazardous materials response; review and approve training and equipment for designated districts and response teams; oversee income and approve expenditures of the statewide Hazardous Materials Mitigation Trust Fund.
Direct the General Counsel and staff in developing, reviewing, and advancing legislation and regulations relating to fire services, fire prevention, and other assigned public safety matters.
Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for statewide fire training and education; establish training priorities, evaluate program effectiveness, and ensure resources support accreditation.
Direct DFS administrative and programmatic functions, annual operating and long-term capital budgets, funding advocacy, fiscal management, workforce planning, employee performance, and facilities and infrastructure oversight.
Promote a respectful and inclusive workplace and establish expectations for ethical conduct, accountability, and employee performance.
Provide executive leadership in fire prevention, fire protection engineering, community risk reduction, and public fire safety education.
Use NERIS data and emerging fire trends to inform policy, risk-reduction priorities, and funding objectives for fire safety equipment and student fire education grant programs.
Lead development and modernization of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code.
Advance the statewide ASHER program with state and local partners, including integrated training and exercises consistent with NFPA 3000 and coordinated response and recovery planning.
Provide emergency response and statewide coordination for major, long-term, and multiple-fatality fires, explosions, hazardous materials, and CBRNE incidents.
Serve on statutory boards and commissions assigned to the Marshal.