Fire Chief

TOWN OF LEE; Lee (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Lee seeks a Fire Chief/Ambulance Service Director to lead the Public Safety Department and its EMS/paramedic operations. You will direct fire suppression, emergency medical services, prevention programs, budgeting, staffing, and policy development.

This is a full‑time, 40-hour-per-week role reporting to the Town Administrator, overseeing firefighters, EMTs, and volunteers while coordinating with regional partners to ensure high-quality pre-hospital care and public safety services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration, business administration, or related field; NFPA 1021 Senior Fire Officer Level IV.
• Extensive experience in emergency medical services and leadership in public safety.
• Strong budgeting, supervision, and regulatory compliance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Directs fire and EMS operations, including fire prevention, medical services, disaster planning, and public education.
• Oversees department budgeting, payroll, facilities, equipment, and long-term capital planning.
• Supervises staffing, training, certification, and performance for firefighters and EMTs/paramedics.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

EMS protocols

Regulatory knowledge

Policy development

Multi‑agency coordination

Public safety administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science / Public Admin / Business Admin

NFPA 1021 Senior Fire Officer IV

EMT/Paramedic license preferred

Job description

Salary Range: $100,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually

TOWN OF LEE - JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title:FIRE CHIEF/AMBULANCE SERVICE DIRECTOR

Department: Public Safety

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

Administrative and supervisory work directing the operations of the Fire Department (Department) and the Ambulance Service (Service) to protect life and property and to deliver a quality standard of pre-hospital emergency care; and, all other related duties including Fire Prevention inspections and, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/ Paramedic work.

SUPERVISION

Reports directly to the Town Administrator. Responsible for all administrative functions of the Department and the Service in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

MAJOR DUTIES (essential job functions)

• Organizes, directs, supervises and coordinates fire and emergency medical services for the town; ensures effective and efficient provision of emergency and non-emergency services including, but not limited to, fire prevention and suppression, medical assistance, disaster response planning and management and public education.
• Oversees the preparation of and manages the Department and Service budgets; participates in the planning of long term capital expenditures; monitors expenditures, appropriation and accounts receivable balances to ensure compliance with budgetary constraints; approves payroll; and controls the use of Departmental and Service facilities, vehicles and equipment.
• Recruits, appoints and when necessary disciplines call firefighters and volunteer emergency medical responders. Appoints, and when necessary, removes, call firefighter officers. Recruits and recommends for hiring and promotion full-time and part-time emergency medical responders; and, when necessary, takes disciplinary action up to and including recommending termination.
• Supervises the firefighters and emergency medical responders training and monitors their timely recertification.
• Responds to emergency incidents and directs activities at the scene of major fires and related emergencies. Investigates the cause of all fires and explosions.
• Supervises and conducts cyclical and other inspections and reviews building plans required by the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code; and, issues permits for blasting and storage of explosives and flammables.
• Serves as an EMT/Paramedic.
• Coordinates plans and actions with other fire and emergency medical services, and supervises mutual aid responses.
• Writes and administers fire and emergency, pre-hospital service grants and Department and Service policies and procedures.
• Prepares technical specifications for items to be purchased through public bidding.
• Oversees the maintenance of all records and statistics, including departmental personnel files; and, prepares reports and licensing documents required by federal, state and local authorities.
• Attends meetings and conferences to inform the public and to gather and exchange information. Performs other similar or related duties as required or as situation dictates.
• Leads labor-management relations activities, including the administration and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, grievance resolution, and the maintenance of productive relationships with employee organizations and union leadership.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, work is often performed under varying field conditions with exposure to variable weather conditions and periodic exposure to personal injury. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanic parts and in precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. Noise level is moderate but can be loud at times when operating equipment. Errors could result in damage to equipment, possible injury of users, delay or loss of service and danger to public safety.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work requires heavy physical effort at times. Work may have to be performed under adverse conditions and at all hours of the day. On-call at all times and may require working for an extended period of time in situations such as snow storms, severe weather, water and sewer main breaks, etc.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job,

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, hear and smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 125 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Moderate physical effort is required to perform inspection work. Moderate to strenuous physical effort is required to perform work at the scene of fires or medical emergencies which require long periods of time working and standing; occasionally required to lift more than 125 pounds. During emergencies, the employee may be required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach with hands and arms and climb and balance while lifting, moving and positioning patients and equipment.

RECOMMENED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration, business administration, or a related field OR graduation from the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program
• Extensive experience in emergency medical services, often including prior work as an EMT or paramedic.
• Strong leadership, communication, and managerial skills to coordinate staff and operations effectively.
• Knowledge of EMS protocols, healthcare regulations, and quality improvement practices
• MFA Certifications: Firefighter 1 & 2, Fire Officer 1 & 2
• Valid Driver’s License
• Minimum 10 years in fire/EMS service, including at least 6 years in fire/EMS administration.
• At least 3 years in supervisory or management roles.
• Proven EMS system-level competence: protocols, quality assurance, staffing, budgeting, licensure compliance, and coordination with medical directors
• Demonstrated leadership in operational, administrative, and fiscal management of emergency services.
• NFPA 1021 certification at the Senior Fire Officer (Level IV) level
• Current EMT License (Paramedic License Preferred)
• CPSE Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO) designation or other recognized EMS leadership credential
• Ability to manage complex EMS systems and multi‑agency partnerships
• Proficiency in policy development, compliance, and regulatory standards (e.g., NREMT, state EMS directives)

POSTION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

Full-time position. 40 hours per week minimum. Morning, evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

TRAVEL

Travel is primarily locally during the business day, although some out of the areas travel may occur.