Fire Chief

Amelia, County of (VA); Virginia; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fire Chief will lead Amelia County Fire & EMS, overseeing fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and prevention. Reporting to the County Administrator, the chief provides executive direction, builds partnerships with volunteer personnel, and guides strategic planning and budget development to support a modern, safe department.

The ideal candidate will have proven success in transitioning a volunteer or combination system, strong incident command, and the ability to communicate transparently with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education, training and experience demonstrates capability.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible fire/EMS experience, including at least 5 years at battalion chief level or above.
• Demonstrated field response and incident command experience.
• Must be at least 21 years old and hold a Virginia driver's license with acceptable record.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and direction for all operations of Amelia County Fire & EMS.
• Establish departmental policy, direct operational and capital planning, administer the department budget, and supervise personnel.
• Coordinate with career and volunteer personnel to ensure system effectiveness and readiness.
• Operate with transparency with elected officials and the public, including during challenging situations.

Skills

Combination system leadership

Volunteer coordination

Incident command

Budget planning

Public communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in fire administration / emergency services management / public administration

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Amelia County is building something. Over the past several years, the county has moved from an all-volunteer fire and emergency medical services system to a combination system, added career staffing, and begun the work of establishing the formal structure a modern department requires. That work is underway now: a unified guideline book, a supervisory rank structure, reformed dispatch protocols, a multi-year capital plan, and an ordinance formally establishing the department. The Fire Chief will inherit that foundation and is expected to build on it.

This is not a caretaker position. Amelia County is looking for a chief officer who wants to build a department and stay to see it mature. The county's volunteer fire department and emergency squad are the reason service has been delivered here for generations, and they remain central to how the system works. The next Fire Chief will lead the organization and will earn, rather than assume, the working relationships that make a combination system function.

The Chief reports to the County Administrator, serves as the county's principal advisor on fire and emergency medical services, and is accountable for the performance of the entire system.

The Chief will provide executive leadership and direction for all operations of Amelia County Fire & EMS, including fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, hazardous materials response, and fire prevention. Establishes departmental policy, directs operational and capital planning, administers the department budget, and exercises supervisory authority over career personnel and operational authority over volunteer personnel operating within the county system. Work is performed with wide latitude for independent judgment and is evaluated by the County Administrator through conferences, reports, and the results the department produces.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The successful candidate will have built or rebuilt something before. Specifically, we are looking for evidence of:

• Success leading in a combination system, including genuine credibility with volunteer personnel. Prior volunteer service is valued.
• Experience guiding an organization through transition, particularly from volunteer to combination staffing.
• The judgment to distinguish between what must change now, what can wait, and what should be left alone.
• A track record of building budgets and capital plans that hold up under scrutiny.
• Comfort operating transparently with elected officials, volunteer leadership, and the public, including when the news is not good.
• Command presence and sound decision-making at incidents, not solely administrative capability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in fire administration, emergency services management, public administration, or a related field. Equivalent education, training, and experience that demonstrates the required capability will be considered.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible fire and emergency medical services experience, including at least five (5) years at battalion chief level or above, or equivalent command level leadership.
• Demonstrated field response and incident command experience.
• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and possess and maintain a valid Virginia driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

CERTIFICATIONS

Equivalent education, training, and experience that demonstrates the required capability will be considered. Certifications held from another state or accrediting body will be considered where Virginia reciprocity is available and the county will consider a reasonable timeline to obtain them.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• The Fire Chief may not hold membership in a volunteer fire or emergency medical services agency after employment begins.
• Designated as essential staff. Requires availability and response outside normal working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Subject to a comprehensive background investigation including criminal history, sex offender registry, driving record, credit history, education verification, and employment references.
• Subject to pre-employment medical evaluation and substance abuse testing, and to recurring testing per county policy.
• Must pass a physical fitness evaluation and maintain fitness through annual evaluation.
• Must maintain all required certifications throughout employment.
• Must complete a probationary period in accordance with county personnel policy.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily administrative and performed in an office setting, with regular field and incident scene activity. The position carries the inherent risks of emergency response. Must be able to don and operate in structural firefighting personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus as conditions require. Physical demands include walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and lifting or moving objects involving exertion of up to fifty (50) pounds regularly and up to one hundred (100) pounds occasionally. Requires clear vision at close and distance range, depth and color perception, and hearing adequate to receive detailed information in person and by radio. Performance of essential functions may involve exposure to extreme heat and cold, smoke, hazardous materials, unsafe structures, heights, confined spaces, traffic hazards, bloodborne pathogens, and other adverse environmental conditions.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Amelia County provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the county.