- A bachelor’s degree with a major in Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited university is highly preferred but not required. A master’s degree in Fire and Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field is desired.
- Viable candidates should possess a minimum rank of Deputy Chief (or a comparable rank), with extensive experience of at least 10 years that includes progressive responsibility with administrative, supervisory, and budgetary experience in fire prevention and suppression work – preferably within a large, complex urban municipal, county or state fire department or district.
- The required minimum certifications and license are Fire I & II, EMT-B Certification. Additional preferred certifications and licenses include: a) Chief Fire Officer Certification, b) Executive Fire Officer, and c) Paramedic Certification. All certifications must be current and remain through the duration of employment.
Appointed by and reporting directly to the City Manager, the Fire Chief oversees a full-service fire, emergency medical and rescue services department with nearly 1,500 full-time employees operating from 35 stations and one dedicated EMS operations facility housing dynamically deployed ambulances. KCFD is organized into seven battalions covering 318 square miles that is supported by a total budget of $321,536,809.
The Fire Chief must be well-versed in all operational and administrative aspects of comprehensive emergency service operations including fire suppression, fire prevention, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, ambulance response and transport services, and associated services.
The Fire Chief provides administrative direction for all Fire Department functions, operations, and personnel through the supervision of subordinate staff and review of their activities. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing the general operation of the department to determine efficiency, providing direction on major projects or problem areas, developing and implementing policies and procedures, administration of the merit system; administration of the labor relations program; and providing policy guidance.
Through study and consultation with the City Manager and elected officials, the Fire Chief is responsible for developing recommendations for the protection of life and property in the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fire Chief will exercise strategic and visionary thinking that will have long-term organization-wide application and impact, including the development and implementation of critical programs and supervision of multiple assigned functions, divisions, and significant resources.
Leadership Opportunities
The following list represents a few of the initial assignments being considered for the position of Fire Chief but is not intended to be all-inclusive.
- Organizational Assessment. Assess the structure, staffing, and operations of the Fire Department and present any recommended changes, if any, to the City Manager for review and dialogue.
- Develop Long-Term Strategic Plan. Work with key Fire personnel to learn about and better understand KCFD; collaborate closely with personnel to implement existing priorities and develop an updated Strategic Plan for KCFD.
- Assess Response Times. Assess current and future projected growth in response patterns and boundary changes to determine equipment, personnel, and/or facility needs.
- Maintain Employee Relations and Facilitate Leadership Development. Work to maintain and improve employee/labor relations with all employees and Union leaders in KCFD; provide leadership and development opportunities for employees to develop and progress through their career.
- Maintain and Improve the Culture of Organizational Excellence in Fire Department. Assess, maintain and establish an organizational culture that seeks continuous improvement, aspires to achieve excellence and supports the continued recruitment of a diverse and talented group of professional firefighters and support staff that are representative of the Kansas City community.