ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER 2 - 81219

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 160,000 - 267,000; Full time

Job summary

State Fire Marshal's Office in Nashville, TN seeks an Assistant Commissioner 2 to provide executive leadership for Fire Prevention and related divisions. You will drive strategic direction, oversee seven Directors, and ensure fiscal integrity of multi-million dollar budgets.

As a senior leader, you will coordinate regulatory, licensing, and permitting functions, maintain cross‑agency relationships, and lead 275+ full and part‑time staff to advance public safety objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Leadership and management experience
• Exceptional written and oral communications and interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish priorities among changing agendas from multiple sections and external entities

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership for the Fire Prevention Division and related offices.
• Oversees seven Directors and coordinates cross‑agency initiatives.
• Maintains regular contact with local, state, and federal representatives and national codes organizations.
• Manages budget oversight for multiple operating budgets and grant funds to ensure fiscal integrity and alignment with priorities.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Executive Service

Closing Date: 10/08/2026

Who We Are And What We Do

The mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) is to prevent the loss of life and property due to fire. The SFMO falls under the Department of Commerce & Insurance.

Executive Service

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER 2

Department of Commerce and Insurance

Fire Prevention Division

State Fire Marshal's Office

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $160,128.00 - $266,544.00

Closing Date: 10/08/2026

Who We Are And What We Do

The mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) is to prevent the loss of life and property due to fire. The SFMO falls under the Department of Commerce & Insurance.

How You Make a Difference In This Role

Commissioner (AC) position is mission critical to ensure the successful day-to-day operations of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Job Overview

The AC of Fire Prevention is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operational effectiveness of the State Fire Marshals Office. The position directly oversees the divisions seven Directors.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrates dynamic leadership by balancing long term strategic planning with day to day operational oversight, fostering accountability across teams, and aligning fire prevention priorities with the goals of the executive branch.
• Provides oversight and direction of Fire Prevention Divisions program areas, which include the Administration Section; the Codes Enforcement and Electrical, Residential, & Marina Inspections Section; the Education & Outreach Section; the Grants Section; the Firefighting Commission (FFC); and the Tennessee Fire Services and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA).
• Provides oversight and direction of a state-wide staff of 275+ full and part-time fire and building, electrical, and manufactured housing inspectors, TFACA instructors, FFC coordinators, and fire prevention, administrative, and licensing personnel.
• Provides oversight and direction of the division's operations, which includes managing the SFMO operating budget of $13 million, the TFACA operating budget of $6 million, and the disbursement of $26 million in annual grant funds and $9 million in annual salary supplements to ensure compliance, fiscal integrity, and strategic alignment with departmental priorities.
• Provides oversight and direction of the divisions regulatory, licensing, and permitting functions.
• Maintains regular contact with relevant local, state, and federal representatives and national fire prevention and building codes organizations.

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred candidates possess a bachelor's degree, legislative and management experience, exceptional written and oral communications and interpersonal skills, and the ability to establish priorities among changing agendas from the multiple sections within the Division and external entities.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.