Fire Chief

Fire Chief PositionThe City of Jersey Village is seeking an inspirational, proactive, forward-thinking, and service-minded Fire Chief to lead the Jersey Village Fire Department into its next chapter.This is an exciting opportunity to lead a modern, fully professionalized career fire department at a time of significant investment and growth. The successful candidate will join the City's Executive Team, report directly to the City Manager, and play a key role in shaping the future of fire and emergency medical services for the Jersey Village community.Jersey Village is a Texas Star Community of approximately 7,800 residents located just 21 miles northwest of Downtown Houston. The City offers a small-town quality of life with convenient access to the many amenities of the Houston metropolitan area.Governed under a Council-Manager form of government, Jersey Village is a full-service city providing Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Police, Parks and Recreation, and Water and Wastewater utilities.The City is financially strong and committed to investing in its future, with approximately $112 million in total citywide budgets and major capital projects underway.Serving the community since 1953, the Jersey Village Fire Department is a career department operating from a centrally located station. The department provides all-hazards emergency response, including structural firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, flood and swift-water rescue, and advanced life support through Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances.JVFD is an ISO Class 2 department, reflecting strong standards in training, staffing, and equipment. The department responds to an average of approximately six incidents per day, with emergency medical calls accounting for nearly two-thirds of total call volume. The incoming Fire Chief will have an opportunity to continue improving response performance and service delivery through the use of operational data and modern CAD analytics.The City has also made significant recent investments in the department, including two new front-line apparatus in 2025: a Pierce Velocity Engine and a Pierce Velocity/Ascendant aerial tower. With 21 full-time equivalent positions and a FY2027 operating cost of approximately $4.95 million, the department has a strong foundation upon which the next Fire Chief can build.The Fire Chief is responsible for the overall planning, direction, and coordination of the City's fire suppression and emergency medical services operations. The position oversees personnel, departmental budgets, facilities, apparatus, equipment, training, EMS operations, compliance, and strategic planning.The Fire Chief will:Lead and direct all activities of the Fire Department.Establish departmental goals, objectives, and performance measures.Prepare and administer annual operating and capital budgets.Provide managerial, technical, and operational recommendations to the City Manager.Prepare and present administrative, technical, and financial reports to the City Manager and City Council.Oversee EMS operations, including ambulance staffing, response performance, and service-level improvement.Maintain an effective working relationship with the EMS Medical Director and ensure compliance with clinical protocols and medical oversight requirements.Recruit, develop, and retain qualified personnel and support succession planning.Direct training programs for career and part-time personnel.Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, codes, and standards.Maintain the readiness of department facilities, apparatus, and equipment.Build strong relationships with neighboring fire departments, allied agencies, and mutual-aid partners.Oversee coordination between the Fire Department and Fire Marshal's Office.Use operational data to monitor and improve department performance and service levels.Serve as a member of the command staff during significant emergency incidents and events requiring activation of the Incident Command System (ICS/NIMS).Represent the department before the City Council, community, employees, media, and other stakeholders.The City is looking for a leader who combines strong fire service experience with exceptional leadership, communication, administrative, and interpersonal skills.The successful candidate will demonstrate:Visionary and forward-thinking leadership.Initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills.Experience leading organizational culture change in a fire service environment.A demonstrated record of leadership and administrative ability.The ability to build trust and work effectively with employees, City departments, City Council, community members, and partner agencies.The ability to listen, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively.Sound judgment and impartiality.The highest level of personal and professional integrity.A commitment to service excellence and the future of the organization.The successful candidate must possess:Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in fire science, public administration, emergency management, or a related field.At least 10 years of fire service experience, including a minimum of five years in a command-level position such as Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, or Chief in a career or combination fire department.Certification, or eligibility for certification, as Structure Fire Protection Personnel by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).Current EMT certification and strong working knowledge of EMS operations.A valid Texas driver's license, or the ability to obtain one.Preferred qualifications include:Master's degree.Executive Fire Officer (EFO) designation.Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation.TCFP Head of Department – Suppression certification.Paramedic certification.Hiring Range: $133,936 – $154,027Full Salary Range: Up to $177,130.70Salary will be dependent upon the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.The City offers a competitive benefits package, including:Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) with a 2:1 City matchMedical, dental, and vision insuranceFlexible Spending AccountLife and disability insuranceFlexible work schedulesOther competitive benefitsQualified candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references online.Application Deadline: Sunday, October 4, 2026The anticipated start date is early January 2027.The selection process is expected to include a written questionnaire for selected candidates, first-round interviews, and finalist interviews, if needed.Finalists will be subject to a criminal history, credit, and driver's license check. Following a conditional offer of employment, the pre-employment process may include a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, fit-for-duty physical, and drug screening.The City of Jersey Village is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce.