General Manager, Fire Services / Fire Chief

City of Guelph; Guelph; Hybrid; CAD 166,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking municipality as the General Manager / Fire Chief, where you will lead a dedicated team and ensure the safety and resilience of the community. This role involves strategic oversight of fire services, promoting an inclusive workplace culture, and collaborating with various stakeholders. The City of Guelph is committed to fostering an environment that values integrity and service, and this position plays a crucial role in achieving the community's vision. If you are a strategic leader with a passion for public safety and community engagement, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Paid vacation days

Paid personal days

Hybrid work arrangements

Defined benefit pension plan

Extended health and dental benefits

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Parental leave top up program

Tuition assistance

Employee recognition programs

Qualifications

• Experience in managing Municipal Fire services.
• NFPA 1021- Fire Officer Level IV certification is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to fire services operations.
• Oversee fire code enforcement and inspections.
• Manage department budgets and performance monitoring.

Skills

Leadership

Emergency Management

Fire Prevention

Budget Management

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Post-secondary diploma or degree in Emergency Management

Fire Protection or Public Administration

Job description

Why Guelph

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

The City of Guelph is seeking an experienced, strategic, and community minded General Manager / Fire Chief to lead our Fire Services team. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services, the General Manager / Fire Chief serves as the senior leader of Guelph Fire Services and a key member of the City’s corporate leadership team. This role provides strategic direction, operational leadership, and fiscal oversight for fire protection, prevention, and emergency response services. With a strong commitment to the City of Guelph’s Strategic Plan and core values—Integrity, Service, Inclusion, Wellness, and Learning—the General Manager / Fire Chief plays a vital role in building a safe, resilient, and inclusive community.

Key duties and responsibilitiesLeadership

• Provide visible and positive leadership to staff, developing and nurturing a work environment that is inclusive, respectful and motivating for staff.
• Provide strategic leadership to all fire services operations, administration, fire prevention and education.
• Promote an inclusive and respectful workplace culture that values equity, diversity, and staff development through coaching, mentoring, and empowerment.
• Collaborate and liaise with other departments on complementary initiatives to achieve optimum results for the City and residents.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with all stakeholders including the Executive Team, General Managers and all City staff, as well as regional fire services, emergency service partners, provincial and federal agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the department at City Council and committee meetings, public events, and in the media as needed.

Department Management

• Establish long-term direction/strategic orientation for the department consistent with the City of Guelph’s Strategic Plan.
• Establish the annual work plan for the department and for staff, evaluate performance, monitor results, and provide coaching, training and development opportunities as needed.
• Promote and monitor Health and Safety for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Ensure compliance with Collective Agreements, City policies, Council resolutions / by-laws and other applicable federal and provincial legislation.
• Ensure operational readiness and compliance with all applicable legislation, including, but not limited to, the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Oversee fire code enforcement, inspections, and investigations of major incidents, ensuring accuracy and accountability.
• Respond verbally and in writing regarding issues from members of Council, the general public, media, departments, and customers.
• Recommend staff reports and presentations to the Deputy CAO, communicating information and recommending program changes.

Financial Management, Performance Monitoring and Measurement

• Responsible for the preparation, presentation and management of the department’s capital and operating budgets; monitor and report budget variance to the Deputy CAO; implement corrective action as required.
• Analyze and optimize both revenue and expenses and pursue grant funding to complement existing budgets.
• Consolidate and review departmental annual work plans and budget with recommendations to the Deputy CAO.
• Ensure compliance with all City policies and bylaws for purchasing/tendering.
• Review calls for tender and purchase requisitions requiring approval for the department on contracted services in accordance with established policies.
• Establish a quality assurance program to monitor the department’s annual performance against established departmental key performance indicators and industry best practices. Make recommendations and initiate corrective action as required.

Qualifications and requirements

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Emergency Management, Fire Protection or Public Administration or a related field.
• Considerable experience related to managing and overseeing a Municipal Fire service.
• NFPA 1021- Fire Officer Level IV certification (or equivalent leadership training) and Certification in Incident Management System (IMS) 300 or higher both considered an asset.
• Experience in emergency operations, fire prevention, inspections, investigations and dispatch coordination, and an ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Experience in developing and implementing fire strategic plans, community risk assessments, and public safety education initiatives.
• In-depth knowledge of applicable legislation, including the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Ontario Building and Fire Codes.
• Progressive leadership experience in a unionized environment, including labour relations and collective agreement interpretation, along with considerable experience leading and motivating staff.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, empowering and accountable work culture.
• Ability to successfully develop and manage budgets while achieving performance targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and develop strong working relationships with all levels of staff, stakeholders and the general public.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and quality customer service.
• A valid Class G driver’s license with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract before their start date to confirm their license is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if they meet our requirements.
• The successful candidate must provide and maintain a satisfactory Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening check.
• Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Hours of workThe regular work week will consist of 40 hours, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate must be available to be on call and provide after-hours response on a rotating schedule.

Pay/SalaryNon-Union Grade 11: $166,129.60 - $207,662.00

How to applyQualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.