Fire Chief - Lexington Fire Department

Kentucky League of Cities; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 137,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

Lexington Fayette Urban County Government in Lexington, KY seeks an experienced fire service executive to oversee the Division of Fire and Emergency Services. This appointed position leads planning, organizing, directing, and supervising complex operations to ensure community safety.

The role requires a Master’s degree in fire science or a related field and at least six years of progressive firefighting and supervisory experience, with on-call duty and weekend/holiday availability, plus

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in fire science, municipal fire service administration, fire prevention, and fire fighting techniques or a related field.
• Six years of progressively responsible firefighting and supervisory experience or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Responsibilities

• Develops and administers policies and guidelines for the division.
• Directs enforcement of statutes, codes, policies, and regulations for community safety.
• Directs investigations of fires and assists in arson investigations.
• Directs EMS provision in compliance with laws.
• Responds to major fires or emergencies.
• Directs inspection and condemnation of hazardous structures.
• Evaluates staffing and expansion needs.
• Evaluates construction needs for stations and equipment.
• Advises on staffing and budgeting.
• Represents the division at meetings and speaks on its behalf.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Policy development

Supervisory experience

Education

Master’s degree in fire science or related field

Job description

Lexington Fayette Urban County Government | Lexington, KY

Date Posted: 9/21/2026 6:07:57 PM

Description:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this classification is to perform administrative work of complex difficulty in planning, organizing, directing, and supervising the activities of the Division of Fire and Emergency Services. This is an appointed position.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in fire science, municipal fire service administration, fire prevention, and fire fighting techniques or a related field
• A minimum of sixyears of progressively responsible fire fighting and supervisory experienceoran equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and administers policies and guidelines for the operation and administration of the division
• Directs the enforcement of statutes, ordinances, codes, policies, and regulations to assure the safety of the community
• Directs investigations to determine the cause of fires and assists in investigation of arson incidents
• Directs the provision of emergency medical services in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies
• Responds to and directs the activities at scene of major fires or other emergency operations.
• Directs the inspection and condemnation of hazardous structures
• Evaluates and recommends staffing and recommends need for expansion of services, manpower levels, working conditions, etc.
• Evaluates and recommends need for construction of fire stations and the purchase of apparatus and equipment
• Confers with and advises assistant fire chiefs and other personnel on problems relating to fire fighting and other related services
• Prepares and reviews necessary reports, records, and correspondence
• Prepares and submits budget requests and administers the division's budget in accordance with program goals and objectives
• Represents the division at various internal and external meetings; speaks on behalf of the division as required

SPECIAL LICENSE/CERTIFICATION

• All certifications and licenses must be maintained as a condition of employment.
• Valid driver's license
• Must possess certification in Kentucky as a firefighter or be able to obtain the certification within sixmonths

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be accessible for on-call duty and ability to work weekends and holidays as assigned and on emergencies
• Subject to random drug testing
• Must comply with CAO Policy 23 "Acquisition of Real Property From Property Owners under Certain Notices and/or Orders." Specifically, sections I (a), II (a), which state that employees and their immediate family members shall not own residential real property in Lexington, Fayette County, in which they do not reside; nor own an ownership interest in a business that manages, maintains or oversees the management or maintenance of any residential, rental real property in Fayette County. Also, section IV (a), which states that every employee in the Division of Building Inspection, the Division of Code Enforcement, the Fire Prevention Bureau, the Division of Engineering must complete a "Disclosure of Real Property and Business Interests" form for all real property owned by the employee as well as his/her immediate family members in Fayette County, and property owned in Fayette County by a business in which the employee or immediate family member has an ownership interest. Employees must also disclose property located in Fayette County which he/she manages or maintains or has any ownership interest in business which manages or maintains property in Fayette County.
• Must be able to operate urban county government equipment and vehicles in a safe, prudent, and responsible manner.
• All positions require drug testing before employment and may require a post-job offer physical as stated in Ordinances 21-14(b), 22-13 and 23-16.
• Pursuant to the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and to sections 21-52, 22-34 and 23-50 of the Code of Ordinances, all employees must remain drug and alcohol free when reporting to work, while at work and while engaged in any work related activities.
• Based on Federal Regulations 19-10 this position may be eligible for and offered the hepatitis vaccinations. In addition, employees will be required to sign a statement stating they have accepted or declined the hepatitis vaccination.

Salary Information: $136,685.12 to $217,929.92 annually. This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.
Application Deadline: 10/05/2026

Lexington Fayette Urban County Government
Human Resources
200 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507