Fire Chief- City of Walker, MI

SGR; Walker (MI); On-site; USD 112,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Walker seeks a transformative Fire Chief to guide a growing department through organizational change and a shift to 24/7 staffing. You will lead full-time and paid-on-call personnel, build trust with staff, city leadership, and partner agencies, and uphold safety-first operations.

Reporting to the City Manager, you will shape strategy, modernization, and succession planning while ensuring compliance with NFPA standards and applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or related field.
• At least eight years of upper-level admin experience in fire/public safety.
• Firefighter Training Council Instructor certification.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Ability to pass comprehensive background, physical, and psychological exams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as department’s chief operating and administrative officer.
• Provide leadership for full-time and paid-on-call personnel.
• Guide organizational change and modernization toward 24/7 operations.
• Establish trust with employees, city leadership, and partner agencies.
• Ensure safety-focused decision making and operational readiness.

Skills

Clear communication

Leadership

Mentoring

Operational judgment

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or related field

Firefighter Training Council Instructor certification

Fire and Arson Investigator certification, or ability to obtain after appointment

Job description

Are you a collaborative, forward-thinking fire service leader who can guide a growing department through organizational change, strengthen its leadership structure, and support the transition to a sustainable 24/7 staffing model? If so, apply to be the City of Walker’s next Fire Chief! We’re looking for an exceptional, relationship-focused leader who is:

• A clear communicator who builds trust with employees, City leadership, partner agencies, and the public
• An experienced mentor who develops personnel and strengthens organizational capacity
• A decisive, safety-focused administrator with sound operational judgment
• Adaptable, accountable, and prepared to lead a department through continued modernization

The City of Walker is a thriving suburban community located in Kent County, adjacent to Grand Rapids, Grandville, Ottawa County, and Alpine Township. The Walker Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire prevention, public education, emergency response, training, inspections, investigations, records management, and regional mutual-aid services. Reporting to the City Manager, the Fire Chief serves as the department’s chief operating and administrative officer and provides overall leadership for full-time and paid-on-call personnel. The ideal Fire Chief candidate will be both an organizational builder and a steady, experienced operator. Walker needs a Fire Chief who can establish trust, create structure, and promote sustainable performance while the department continues its transition to a full-time, 24/7 operating model.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or a closely related field
• Increasingly responsible experience with a fire department comparable to or larger than the City of Walker’s department
• At least eight years of upper-level administrative responsibility within a fire department or public safety organization
• Firefighter Training Council Instructor certification
• Valid Michigan driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and ability to maintain both throughout employment
• Knowledge of modern firefighting, emergency response, training, fire prevention, equipment, and apparatus
• Knowledge of budgeting, personnel administration, labor relations, purchasing, and operations management
• Ability to successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation, physical examination, and psychological examination
• Ability to report to the City of Walker within one hour

Preferred:

• Fire and Arson Investigator certification, or the ability to obtain it as soon as possible after appointment
• Experience using data to assess community risk and organizational vulnerabilities
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, change management, succession planning, and organizational innovation
• Experience guiding a department through conversion from paid-on-call operations to a full-time, 24/7 staffing model
• Familiarity with NFPA standards, fire prevention codes, municipal ordinances, and applicable state and federal regulations

The salary range is $111,529.90–$144,988.91, depending on experience and qualifications.

For more information on this position, contact:

Rudy Jackson, Senior Vice President Executive Recruitment