Assistant Fire Chief

Salary: $47.97 - $58.63 Hourly
Location : 1101 Cushman Street Fairbanks, Alaska 99701, AK
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-1811
Department: Fire
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Job Summary
***Open until filled. Note: This recruitment may close at any time once a sufficient candidate is identified.***

This position is responsible to the Fire Chief for the administration of a division or multiple divisions of the Fairbanks Fire Department, assisting the Fire Chief in the overall administration and direction of the Departments, and may act as Fire Chief as assigned.

Essential Job Functions / Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Essential Job Functions :

• Function at both a strategic and tactical level.
• Direct the administrative activities of one or more divisions of the department at the direction of the Fire Chief.
• Provide direct supervision of subordinate personnel.
• Assist in developing, drafting, and maintaining department budgets.
• Coordinate the review and modification of policies and procedures for the Department.
• Interpret rules, contractual agreements, and standing protocols that affect both individual divisions and the department.
• Respond to major emergencies and multi-alarm operations to provide direction as needed.
• Represent the Fire Chief with the public in assigned areas and perform related work as assigned.

The above examples are representative of functions performed by this class and are not intended to be all inclusive.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :
Candidates hired must satisfactorily demonstrate these factors during a prescribed probationary period for continued employment.

• Considerable knowledge of modern principles, practices, and procedures of fire prevention, fire suppression, EMS, and public administration.
• Ability to effectively oversee the functions of assigned areas.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage operations at emergency scenes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective internal and external working relationships.
• Ability to lead and grow the Department through leadership, mentorship, positive motivation, and employee development.

Minimum Qualifications


Candidates applying for this position must have the following:

• Ten (10) years of experience in professional fire and EMS organization, which should include three (3) years of supervisory experience at the Captain level or higher. Additional years of experience, in addition to the required ten, may be substituted for the supervisory experience.
• Firefighter I, Alaska EMT-1 (or NREMT)
• Associate Degree from an accredited institution in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Fire Officer I (or ability to obtain within an agreed upon time frame)
• Possess and maintain a valid State of Alaska driver's license throughout the duration of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or licensure as a State of Alaska Paramedic or NREMT-P
• Enrollment or completion of the National Fire Academy Managing Officer Program
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate discipline.

All new fire department candidates and current uniformed personnel are not permitted to use any tobacco products and must sign a "No-Tobacco Use" agreement for the duration of their employment with the Fairbanks Fire Department.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Working Conditions :
This position normally works under standard office practices, policies, and conditions. Work environment is frequently hectic and disruptive. Noise level in the office setting is typically moderate but may be very loud on scene of an active incident. Work includes performance in emergency and stressful situations. Interruptions to work are frequent. Work may include time outdoor with exposure to varying weather conditions. Daily schedules may be varied to accommodate department operations, workdays may be greater than 8 hours, and work outside of the standard workweek or outside of the normal daily schedule may be necessary to accommodate emergency or other atypical situations.

Physical Demands :
This position involves physically risky functions and emergency conditions.
Nature of work involved may include exposure to conditions that could cause injury, illness, or lost of life with possible exposure to materials including but not limited to fire, chemical spills, oil, fuel, hazardous materials, disease, and dangerous weather conditions.
Mental and physical fitness are required for completing the tasks involved with this position. Performance of work tasks can also involve standing and walking for long periods of time.
This position may be asked to wear protective equipment weighing over 50 pounds, includes a need to perform strenuous physical efforts during an emergency or training activities for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme heights, intense heat or cold, and smoke.
Visual Demands: Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The City of Fairbanks offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: Health care, Health Reimbursement Arrangement Plan (HRA), Flexible Spending Account, Dental care, Life Insurance, Long and short - term disability insurance options, pension, holidays, vacation, and deferred compensation plans.
Benefit packages are unique to each of our Union Contracts.