Fire Chief

International Association-Fire Chiefs; Montgomery Township (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401 Pension plan

457 plan option

Disability insurance

Leave benefits

Holidays

Job summary

International Association-Fire Chiefs seeks a Fire Chief in Montgomery Township, PA to direct fire protection, emergency management, EMS first response, and Fire Marshal functions. The Chief provides technical and administrative leadership, manages career and volunteer personnel, and aligns services with township ordinances and bargaining agreements.

Reporting to the Township Manager, the candidate will lead organizational change, balance volunteer traditions with professionalization, and

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in Fire Administration or Public Administration with significant operations experience.
• Experience leading a combined career and volunteer fire department.
• Extensive experience with collective bargaining units and associated contracts.
• Pre-employment checks, physicals, and assessments as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate fire protection, emergency management, EMS first response, and Fire Marshal functions.
• Lead and mentor both career and volunteer staff, fostering a unified department.
• Ensure adherence to township ordinances, policies, and the collective bargaining agreement.

Skills

Leadership

Emergency management

Public administration

Fire service management

Communication

Collective bargaining

Strategic planning

Ethical decision-making

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration or Public Administration

Master’s Degree in Public Administration or Fire Administration

Tools

NFPA 1001 Firefighter I & II

NFPA 1021 Officer III

NFPA 1041 Instructor I

NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector

NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator

Pro-Board/IFSAC certifications

Job description

Job Details

• Full Time.
• Position hiring salary range: $140,000-$155,000.

Benefits

• Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision Plans.
• 401 Pension Plan (Township contributes 8% and employee contributes 4%).
• Employee optional 457 available.
• Short and long-term disability insurance.
• Vacation. personal, sick, bereavement leave.
• Township approved holidays.

The Fire Department

Montgomery Township provides continuous 24-hour, seven-day-per-week emergency services to the community through a combination fire department. The department is comprised of a well-trained career division that works in partnership with a dedicated and well-trained volunteer organization. This combination of career and volunteer personnel provides the department with a strong operational foundation and enhances its ability to respond effectively to a wide range of emergency incidents.

The Community

Montgomery Township is a well-established suburban community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located approximately 25 miles north of Center City Philadelphia. Its location provides residents with convenient access to the economic, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area while maintaining the character and amenities of a well-planned suburban community.

With an estimated 2025 population of approximately 26,210 residents, Montgomery Township has experienced measured population growth while retaining a strong residential character. The community includes established neighborhoods, newer residential development, commercial centers, professional services, restaurants, retail destinations, and a range of community facilities.

The Position

Reporting directly to the Township Manager, the Montgomery Township Fire Chief is responsible for directing and coordinating the Township’s fire protection, emergency management, technical rescue, EMS first response, and Fire Marshal functions. The Fire Chief provides technical and administrative leadership for all services provided and is responsible for the protection of life and property through the effective management of all departmental operations, programs, and personnel, including both career and volunteer members.

The Fire Chief serves as the Township’s principal executive responsible for Fire Services, Emergency Management, and Community Risk Reduction and provides general supervision and direction over all departmental employees and members. The position fulfills these responsibilities in accordance with applicable Township ordinances, policies, and collective bargaining agreement.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for this position will be a principled, humble leader who inspires trust, develops others (without regard to gender, race/ethnicity), communicates with honesty, values accuracy, exercises sound judgment, and consistently places the mission, the department, and the community above personal interests/ambitions.

The ideal candidate will possess traits, characteristics, and experience that includes:

• Extensive experience operating in and managing a combination fire department system.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated integrity through honest, ethical decision-making, and consistency in both words and actions. Leads with transparency and earns credibility through accountability.
• Strong communication skills and a record of bridging gaps between career shifts, volunteer and career staff, and internal departments.
• The ability to restore trust and rebuild confidence among career personnel, volunteers, Township leadership, and the community through fairness, transparency, accuracy, consistency, and follow-through. Understands that trust is earned through actions over time.
• Exercising sound judgement through thoughtful, well-informed decision-making. Carefully evaluates information, seeks diverse perspectives, and makes decisions based on facts rather than assumptions, personal beliefs, or emotion.
• Extensive experience working in and managing a collective bargaining unit.
• Demonstrated humility through leading with confidence rather than ego. Welcomes feedback, acknowledges mistakes, shares credit, and places the success of the department above personal recognition.
• A record of managing and implementing organizational change through consensus building with all stakeholders.
• Demonstrated fiscal and administrative proficiency.
• Is a servant leader who views leadership as an opportunity to support, mentor, and develop others. Creates an environment where people feel valued, safe, respected, and empowered to succeed.
• Demonstrated experience in Emergency Management.
• Ability to balance volunteer traditions with professionalization efforts.
• The ability to effectively partner with the Township Manager and the Board of Supervisors.

Minimum Position Requirements

• Four-Year Degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field and ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in fire department operations, with at least five (5) years in a command level leadership position (e.g. Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief or above).
• Previous experience as a Fire Marshal.
• NFPA 1001 Firefighter 1 and II; Hazardous Materials Operations; NFPA 1041 Fire Services Instructor I; NFPA 1021 Officer III; NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800.
• Pro-Board and IFSAC equivalent certifications are eligible.The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a fire certification reciprocity system.Certification reciprocity must be accomplished within twelve (12) months.
• NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector certification; NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator certification.
• Current and valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania driver's license (or ability to obtain).
• Extensive experience working at all levels within a combination career and volunteer fire-rescue system.
• Extensive experience working with collective bargaining units.
• Successful completion ofpre-employment background checks, pre-employment physical, assessments, or tests, as applicable, required.

Preferred Position Requirements

Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Fire Administration or a closely related field.

• Chief Fire Officer credential through The Center for Public Safety Excellence.
• Graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Officer Program.
• NFPA 1030, Credentialed Fire Plan Examiner ability to obtain within 12 months of appointment.
• Current PEMA Local Level Emergency Management Certification ability to obtain within 12 months of appointment.

Key Recruitment Dates and Information

• This is an open recruitment process.
• Initial reviews of resumes will occur the week of September 7, 2026.
• The recruitment will close on September 14, 2026, at 5:00 pm eastern time.

The hiring process may include

• Initial Screening of Applications
• First Round Interviews
• Written Question Exercise
• Final In-Person Assessment Center.