Fire Chief

City of Lewisville, TX; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lewisville is seeking a Fire Chief to lead the Lewisville Fire Department, directing fire suppression, EMS, prevention, emergency management, training, and community risk reduction. You will set strategic direction, manage budgets, and coordinate with City leadership and regional partners to protect life and property.

You will provide executive leadership during emergencies, develop long-range plans, monitor performance, and represent the department with transparency and integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Fire Administration or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Certification programs such as EFO/CFO preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Fire Department's programs, standards, and service delivery, ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
• Supervise staff with performance evaluations, training, and hiring decisions.
• Develop strategic goals and allocate resources to meet community needs and priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for fire suppression, EMS, prevention, and emergency management.
• Monitor department performance, staffing, deployments, and budgeting; drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with City Attorney’s Office, regulatory agencies, and partners on legal and risk matters.
• Lead during major emergencies and coordinate with the City’s Emergency Operations Center when needed.
• Advise city leadership on public safety, preparedness, and capital planning.
• Prepare reports and present recommendations to City Manager and City Council.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Administration or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

United States of America (Exempt)

POSITION SUMMARY

Fire Chief, City of Lewisville

Summary

Under administrative direction from the City Manager’s Office, the Fire Chief is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and overseeing the activities and operations of the Lewisville Fire Department, including fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, emergency management, training, community risk reduction, and disaster preparedness. Ensures the protection of life and property through effective emergency response, prevention, education, and strategic planning. Coordinates assigned activities with other City departments, regional partners, and outside agencies; provides highly responsible and complex support to the City Manager’s Office. Actively participates as a member of the City’s executive leadership team.

Duties

• Directs the activities of the Fire Department, including planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, and service delivery; ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and departmental policies.
• Supervises department staff by establishing priorities, assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring employee development and training, promoting accountability, maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, and making hiring, promotional, disciplinary, and termination decisions or recommendations.
• Plans, develops, and implements strategic goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, training, emergency management, community risk reduction, and administrative operations; establishes service levels and allocates resources to meet community needs while consulting with the City Manager’s Office on significant operational initiatives.
• Provides strategic leadership for the Department by developing long-range plans, evaluating emerging trends in the fire service and emergency management, recommending policy changes, and implementing innovative service delivery models that support the City’s strategic priorities.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental operations, response performance, staffing models, deployment strategies, administrative systems, and service delivery methods; identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and directs implementation of operational enhancements.
• Directs the development, maintenance, and security of departmental records, operational data, emergency response documentation, and performance reporting; analyzes trends to support strategic decision‑making, accreditation efforts, and continuous organizational improvement.
• Coordinates with the City Attorney’s Office, regulatory agencies, healthcare partners, and other governmental organizations regarding legal matters, emergency operations, compliance issues, interlocal agreements, and risk management.
• Manages and participates in the development and administration of the Department’s operating and capital budgets; forecasts staffing, apparatus, equipment, facility, technology, and training needs; monitors expenditures and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Coordinates departmental activities with other City departments, regional fire and EMS agencies, hospitals, emergency management organizations, public safety partners, and community stakeholders; prepares and presents reports, recommendations, and presentations to the City Manager, City Council, and other governing bodies.
• Responds to and resolves sensitive and complex inquiries from the City Manager, City Council, employees, citizens, and community organizations; serves as the Department’s principal spokesperson on fire and emergency services matters and maintains positive relationships with the media and community.
• Provides executive leadership during major emergencies, disasters, and other significant incidents; directs emergency operations and supports the City’s Emergency Operations Center as required.
• Promotes a culture of professionalism, safety, accountability, wellness, diversity, innovation, and continuous improvement while developing future leaders and supporting succession planning throughout the organization.
• Advises City administration regarding public safety, emergency preparedness, community risk reduction, capital planning, and organizational resiliency; recommends improvements to policies, systems, operational procedures, and service delivery to enhance organizational effectiveness and community outcomes.
• Performs other duties as assigned; regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work schedule is essential.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Comprehensive knowledge of modern fire service administration, fire suppression, emergency medical services, emergency management, incident command systems, fire prevention, community risk reduction, training, accreditation standards, budgeting, strategic planning, labor relations, personnel management, and applicable federal, state, and local laws governing fire and emergency services.

Skill in:

Providing visionary executive leadership; developing organizational strategy; leading large and diverse teams; evaluating operational performance; managing complex emergency incidents; administering budgets and capital improvement programs; communicating effectively with elected officials, employees, labor organizations, partner agencies, the media, and the public; building collaborative partnerships; resolving complex organizational issues; and fostering a positive organizational culture focused on service excellence, accountability, and innovation.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, or a closely related field. Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Fire Executive Leadership, Emergency Management, or a related field is preferred.
• Completion of nationally recognized executive fire service leadership programs such as the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, Texas Fire Chiefs Academy, IAFC Fire Service Executive Development Institute, Executive Fire Officer Program, or equivalent executive leadership training is preferred.

Experience

• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible command and executive leadership experience in municipal fire service, including at least eight (8) years in an executive leadership position (Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Chief, or equivalent) in an organization of comparable size and complexity.

Any combination of related, education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job is an acceptable substitute for the above specified education and experience requirements.

Certifications

• Certification as Head of Fire Department through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, or the ability to obtain certification within twelve months of appointment.
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Basic Structural Fire Protection Personnel Certification (minimum).
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Officer Certification (Advanced Fire Officer preferred).
• Texas Department of State Health Services paramedic certification
• Valid Texas Class C Driver License or ability to obtain within required timeframe.
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) certifications appropriate for executive leadership.
• Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Executive Fire Officer (EFO), or other nationally recognized executive fire service credentials are preferred.

Conditions of Employment

Must successfully pass a post‑offer drug screening, driver’s license check, criminal history background investigation, employment verification, education verification, reference checks, and any additional pre‑employment testing or background investigations required by the City. Must maintain all required certifications and qualifications throughout employment.

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