Division Chief

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs; Ontario; On-site; CAD 127,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue is seeking a Division Chief responsible for overseeing various teams, managing operations, and ensuring compliance with policies. The role involves collaboration with emergency services and requires strong leadership and project management skills. This permanent full-time position offers a competitive salary and benefits, including participation in the OMERS pension plan.

Benefits

OMERS pension plan

Sick and vacation entitlements

Comprehensive group benefits package

Qualifications

• 6 to 10 years of related experience in emergency services.
• Experience as an executive officer in Fire Operations, Prevention, or Training.
• Experience in managing a complex unionized operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage oversight of Fire & Rescue Prevention, Logistics, Training, and Community Safety teams.
• Lead incident command and support during emergencies.
• Ensure compliance with policies and develop operational plans.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Courage of Convictions

Performance Management

Education

College diploma or university degree in Fire, Health Sciences or Public Administration

Tools

NFPA 1001 – Fire Fighter – Level 2

NFPA 1021 – Fire Officer III and Fire Officer IV

NFPA 1035 – Fire and Life Safety Educator / PIO

NFPA 1006 – Technical Rescue

CFO Designation

Job description

Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue currently operates in a flexible command structure. Reporting to the Assistant Chief and / or Deputy Chief, the Division Chief is directly responsible for the management oversight of the Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Prevention, Logistics, Training, and Community Safety teams and functions.

Understanding the joint operational nature of these specialized functions, the Division Chief will regularly liaise and work in collaboration with senior management and members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, Chatham-Kent Emergency Medical Services, Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) and other key partners and stakeholders.

In addition to their own commands, each Division Chief takes a lead role in incident command and support, attending emergency scenes as and when required, taking part in an on-call rotation.

• Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies.
• Lead a team in a fast-paced and constantly changing unionized and non-unionized environment.
• Support the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief’s, and / or Deputy Chief’s in managing the day-to-day operations of the service.
• Builds and shapes the future of Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue by embracing and leading from a shared vision of excellence in service delivery.
• Manages all aspects of the Division performance on a continuing basis, assesses requirements and makes recommendations for changes that are required to improve efficiency and performance.
• Provides leadership and direction to assigned staff to ensure the Division's objectives and procedures are implemented.
• Effectively liaises and works with internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in critical strategic decisions including formulation of the Department’s strategic and operational plan, policies, procedures, regulations, and program objectives, be able to respond to local, provincial, and federal government.
• Effectively manages day-to-day labour relations matters, in collaboration with the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief’s and / or Deputy Chief’s and the Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighters Association (CKPFFA), including matters relating to grievance resolution, discipline, termination, and hiring.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to inclusion and diversity in all aspects of the division and CKFR operations by overseeing promotional protocols, championing change and diversity and facilitating professional development and training programs for all staff.
• Complete annual performance reviews and oversee the performance reviews for all personnel in the portfolio.
• Ensures compliance with Fire & Rescue and municipal policies while developing guidelines, procedures, and operational plans to address emerging risks and events.
• Completes and presents comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as required.
• Establish continuous quality assurance and improvement processes to ensure optimal service delivery.
• Maintains an up-to-date personal knowledge of technical developments as they pertain to the area of specialization, including applicable legislation, industry standards and procedures, regulations, and techniques.
• Ensure that the Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue customer service delivery meets or exceeds the standards expected by Council and the community.
• Fulfill the role of Command Officer or Senior Advisor on a rotational basis.
• Supports Senior Management during emergency situations as required.
• Represent Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the Department Operations Centre (DOC) or on-site for the coordination of resources during disasters and large-scale incidents.
• Works modified hours of work and schedules required to meet the needs and demands associated with the Division Chief position.
• May be required to travel outside the municipality for business purposes on an occasional basis as required.
• College diploma or university degree in a related program, preferably in Fire, Health Sciences or Public Administration, or a related program, with six (6) to ten (10) years of related experience.
• Experience as an executive officer in emergency services, including assignment in Fire Operations, Prevention and / or Training.
• Knowledge of Fire / Medical Priority Dispatch is preferred.
• Knowledge of Project Management principles.
• Several years' experience in managing large projects and completing project update reports.
• Several years’ experience in developing and implementing department standard operating procedures and guidelines.
• Several years' experience in managing a complex highly unionized operational environment including the various aspects of human resource management such as performance management, labour relations, progressive discipline, succession, and strategic planning.
• Support the negotiation and implementation of collective agreement.
• Previous experience working collaboratively on a multi-functional team.
• Ability to be flexible and assume responsibility for another portfolio at the direction of the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief’s and / or Deputy Chief’s.
• Experience as a Firefighter an asset.
• Experience in Incident Command / Senior Advisor at emergency scenes an asset.
• Demonstrated competency in courage of convictions.
• Strong performance management skills.

Certifications, memberships, licenses

Certification under the following NFPA Professional Qualification Standards is an asset :

• NFPA 1001 – Fire Fighter – Level 2
• NFPA 1021 – Fire Officer III and Fire Officer IV
• NFPA 1035 – Fire and Life Safety Educator / PIO
• NFPA 1006 – Technical Rescue
• CFO (Chief Fire Officer) Designation or Executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) would be an asset.

Work environment / hours of work

• This position works both indoors and outdoors.
• This position works weekday, afternoon, evening and weekend hours, and on-call after hours and on weekends.

Driver’s licence / vehicle requirements

Because of the responsibilities, this position requires the successful candidate to have a valid class G (or higher) Ontario driver’s licence; a driver’s abstract will be conducted by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. An acceptable driver’s abstract will : be an original document and current (within the previous thirty (30) days); have no more than four (4) demerit points; have no more than two (2) convictions for the same offence; have no criminal code convictions; have no ‘non-medical or administrative’ license suspension in the preceding three (3) years; because this position may be required to drive their own vehicle, a reliable vehicle is also required.

Background check requirements

Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check prior to commencement of employment. A background check may include the following : education / certification verification and employment reference check. Because of the environment this position will be working in, the successful candidate will be required to furnish an original Police Information Search (criminal reference check) (working with vulnerable persons) prior to commencement of employment; you must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a vulnerable police check.

This permanent full-time position has an annual salary of $127,776 to $150,663 and will receive benefits including : participation in the OMERS pension plan (mandatory) as well as sick and vacation entitlements. Following successful completion of a 3-month waiting period, candidates will also be entitled to a comprehensive group benefits package.

Applying for this Opportunity

Resumes must be received by 11 : 59pm (EST) on Thursday, May 8, 2025 To apply, please visit : www.ckcareers.ca .

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.