Fire Chief

whitby; Whitby; On-site; CAD 203,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Whitby seeks a Fire Chief to lead Whitby Fire & Emergency Services, delivering exceptional public safety across prevention, education, suppression and rescue. You will oversee staff training, emergency management, and ensure compliance with all laws and regulations.

The role reports to the CAO and sits on the Senior Leadership Team, balancing service delivery with municipal funding and policy alignment. Compensation ranges reflect senior leadership duties within Whitby.

Qualifications

• Graduate from the Ontario Fire College with required training like Company Officer Program.
• Possess CEMC professional designation; ECFO considered an asset.
• Completion of NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer 4 is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for Whitby Fire & Emergency Services.
• Ensure high-level leadership and coordination of all sections.
• Oversee training, prevention, and emergency management activities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Public administration

Strategic direction

Fire service knowledge

Education

Post-secondary Fire Service qualification (Diploma/ Degree)

Ontario Fire College graduate

CEMC designation

Job description

Our team is highly skilled, passionate about our community, and we care. Let's grow together.

Who We Are

In Whitby, we are dedicated to our work, our community, and each other. We work hard, we have fun, and we celebrate our successes.

The Town of Whitby is a community in transformation that is located in the heart of Durham Region in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Whitby is the second-largest municipality in the region and one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Located on Lake Ontario and only an hour east of Toronto, the population of Whitby is expected to grow from 140,000 to more than 200,000 by 2031. Whitby's Official Plan has been updated to establish new directions for Whitby's planned growth and development; the protection of our natural and built environments; urban design intensification; sustainability; community improvement; and, new employment within this time frame.

The Town of Whitby combines a small town atmosphere with the sophistication and amenities of a larger urban centre. Whitby boasts two beautiful heritage downtowns, one of the finest recreational harbours with an award-winning marina, year round sports and recreation activities, parks, trails, and a robust arts and culture scene, all of which are part of the extraordinary amenities that Whitby residents enjoy every day.

Whitby has an exciting and aspiring future, with a community that is welcoming, growing and transforming. On our team, you can expect to make a difference through your work and have a direct impact on shaping our growing community. Creating an inclusive environment where employees experience job satisfaction and have rewarding careers is important to us. We live our values and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, respect and engagement where people enjoy coming to work.

The Town of Whitby is a hybrid organization. This means staff are empowered to do their best work from various locations, as appropriate for the position.

We want to be the preferred employer for the most talented people who care about the Town of Whitby, and are excited and proud to serve our vibrant community.

Let’s grow together.

Position / Responsibilities

Reporting to the CAO, the Fire Chief is accountable for the overall senior leadership, strategic direction, and coordination of all sections within Whitby Fire & Emergency Services. The Fire Chief ensures the Fire Department operations continue to deliver exceptional customer service in the areas of public education, prevention, suppression and rescue services to the citizens of the Town of Whitby. The Fire Chief also oversees all staff training, and overall emergency management. The Fire Chief appropriately balances the delivery of emergency services with taxpayers' funding of services across the municipality.

This position is a member of the Senior Leadership Team which is responsible for moving forward the objectives of the CAO and Mayor and Council. In addition, the Fire Chief is required to ensure compliance and enforcement of all applicable statutes, by-laws and regulations related to the municipality and the fire service.

Finally, the Fire Chief is responsible for acting as the "Assistant to the Fire Marshal" with respect to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act; "Chief Fire Official" with respect to the Ontario Fire Code; "Authority having jurisdiction" with respect to applicable portions of the Building Code.

Overall duties and responsibilities of the Fire Chief must remain in alignment with requirements under various legislative bodies, including but not limited to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990, Employment Standards Act, 2000, and applicable collective agreements.

The compensation range for the role is $203,386 - $231,121 per year and this advertisement is to fill a vacancy.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will hold a Post Secondary Education Diploma/Degree in Fire Service(s), Business Administration, Public Administration or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible work experience. They will be a graduate from the Ontario Fire College, with completion of all legislatively required training, including but not limited to the Company Officer Program and hold a Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) professional designation. Completion of executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) professional designation and Completion of NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer 4 are considered assets.

The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in the fire service industry; and a minimum of five (5) years of senior leadership experience in the fire service working within a complex unionized environment. A combination of equivalent experience and education may be considered.

Extensive and progressive training as a Firefighter, Training Officer, Fire Prevention Officer and/or Senior Suppression Officer