Fire Chief

City-of-Martinsville; Martinsville (VA); On-site; USD 134,000 - 222,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Martinsville seeks a Fire Chief to lead the Fire & EMS Department, directing operations, planning, and policy implementation. You will manage budgets, procurement, and staffing models for career and volunteer personnel, ensuring high standards of service and safety across the community.

The role requires executive leadership, strong incident command skills, and collaboration with city leadership and regional agencies to meet community fire and EMS needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Ten years of Fire/EMS experience with at least five years in a supervisory/managerial role.
• Certification requirements include Firefighter II, HazMat Ops, EMT-Paramedic (or equivalent), and leadership training.

Responsibilities

• Direct, administer, and evaluate all Fire & EMS Department operations.
• Provide executive leadership for planning, development, and succession.
• Oversee budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation for career and volunteer staffing.
• Represent the department in boards, public meetings, and interagency coordination.
• Act as Incident Commander and coordinate incident response at scenes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Budgeting & Finance

Incident Command

Emergency Management

Staff Supervision

Public Speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration or related field

Master’s Degree in Fire Administration/Public Administration/Business Administration (preferred)

Firefighter II certification

Hazardous Materials Operations certification

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - I/Paramedic (certification)

Fire Officer III (preferred)

VDFP Instructor I & II or equivalency

VDFP Fire Officer I & II or equivalency

NFA Executive Fire Officer (preferred)

Ten years of Fire/EMS experience with supervisory/managerial role

Job description

Job Title: Fire Chief
Department: Fire
Reports to: City Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $134,340.30 - $221,661.50

This is a management position

This is a full time position

NATURE OF WORK

Performs highly responsible managerial and advanced professional work directing, administering, and evaluating all operations of the Fire & EMS Department. The Fire Chief is responsible for assessing community needs related to fire suppression, emergency medical services, and emergency management, and for implementing policies, programs, and services to meet those needs in a fiscally responsible manner.

The position provides executive leadership for departmental planning, organizational development, and succession planning, and ensures effective delivery of emergency services through both career and volunteer personnel. The Fire Chief has final decision-making authority within the department, subject to City Manager approval for major policy or organizational changes.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Manager and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and performance outcomes. Direct supervision is exercised over the Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Emergency Management Coordinator, and other departmental personnel, as well as coordination with the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Company.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Assesses community needs and determines required emergency services for the City of Martinsville.
Provides executive leadership and sets a professional standard for ethics, performance, and organizational culture.
Develops and directs strategic plans, annual goals, departmental policies, and standard operating guidelines.
Oversees the delivery of emergency services through integrated career and volunteer staffing models.
Plans, directs, manages, and evaluates all Fire & EMS Department operations.
Implements career development and succession planning programs to ensure long-term organizational stability.
Assigns duties and provides direction to departmental leadership staff.
Oversees personnel management functions, including hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline, and evaluation processes.
Ensures compliance with all applicable City policies, state laws, and federal regulations.
Manages annual operating, capital, and special budgets in a fiscally responsible manner; monitors expenditures and financial performance.
Reviews and approves procurement, equipment specifications, and vehicle acquisitions in accordance with City policy.
Identifies training needs and ensures effective development programs are implemented and evaluated.
Serves as liaison and supervisor of the Volunteer Fire Company.
Represents the department on boards and committees, including the 911 Board of Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and other regional organizations.
Represents the department in public meetings, City Council sessions, community events, and interagency coordination efforts.
Oversees facility and apparatus maintenance programs.
Reviews and ensures compliance with occupational safety standards, including OSHA and NFPA requirements.
Responds to emergency incidents as needed, including fire suppression, EMS operations, and command-level incident management.
Serves as Incident Commander and directs all operations at emergency scenes.
Requests and coordinates local, state, and federal resources during major incidents.
Ensures compliance with patient privacy laws and departmental policies regarding protected health information.
Serves as departmental liaison with the news media and public information channels.
Responds to hazardous materials incidents and applies the Incident Command System (ICS) as required.
Supports hazardous materials operations, including identification, containment, evacuation, and coordination with specialized response teams.
Performs other duties as assigned by the City Manager.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF WORK

• Firefighter II certification.
• Hazardous Materials Operations certification.
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Intermediate or Paramedic certification.
• Fire Officer III certification preferred.
• Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) Instructor I and II, or equivalency.
• Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) Fire Officer I and II, or equivalency.
• NFA Executive Fire Officer program, preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field (required).
• Master’s Degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field, preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible Fire/EMS experience, including at least five (5) years in a supervisory or managerial role; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of fire suppression tactics, emergency medical services, and incident command systems.
• Thorough knowledge of OSHA regulations, NFPA standards, FLSA requirements, and applicable City ordinances.
• Extensive knowledge of fire prevention, inspection, and investigation practices, including building codes and enforcement procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of EMS protocols, billing systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of emergency management systems and coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, including FEMA, VDEM, VDH, and DHS.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage personnel effectively and fairly.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple complex projects and initiatives.
• Ability to prepare, analyze, and interpret reports, budgets, and operational data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, agency partners, employees, and the public.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-stress emergency environments and direct operations at incident scenes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made.
• The employee may be required to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, 50 pounds frequently, and 20 pounds constantly. Duties require climbing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, and grasping.
• Visual acuity is required for data analysis, emergency scene operations, and equipment use. The employee must meet departmental physical and agility standards required for firefighting and emergency response duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in both office and field environments, including fire stations, public facilities, and outdoor emergency scenes under all weather conditions.
• The employee is regularly exposed to hazardous environments, including smoke, heat, chemicals, bloodborne pathogens, and other emergency scene hazards. Personal protective equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), may be required. Noise levels vary from moderate in office settings to extreme in emergency environments.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid driver’s license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Completion of Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC).
• Complete National Emergency Management Basic Academy within 36 months of appointment. Classes to include:
  • E0101: Foundations of Emergency Management
  • E0102: Science of Disaster
  • E0103: Planning: Emergency Operations
  • E0105: Public Information Basics
  • E0146: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Training Office
• Enrollment in the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program within 2 years of appointment and successful completion within 6 years of appointment.

DISCLAIMER

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement and may be modified at any time based on the needs of the City.

Background Check Requirement

Completion of a background check is required as a condition of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Martinsville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Drug-Free Workplace

The City of Martinsville is a Drug-Free Workplace. Post-offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when the criteria outlined in City policy are met.

E-Verify

The City of Martinsville participates in the Federal E-Verify Program.

Work Authorization

The City of Martinsville is currently unable to provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Recruiting Agencies

The City of Martinsville does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or independent recruiters. Resumes submitted without a signed recruiting agreement for a specific position will become the property of the City, and no placement fee will be paid.