Fire Lieutenant

City of Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Wilmington's Fire Department seeks a Fire Lieutenant to supervise personnel, coordinate fire suppression and EMS activities, and ensure safety and accountability during emergencies.

The role includes training, reporting, committee work, and maintaining equipment, with advancement through the promotional process and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Requires Associate’s degree or higher and relevant fire service certifications.
• WFD internal candidates must meet special internal criteria and promotion requirements.
• External candidates must have 6+ years in a career fire department with officer experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervises personnel by prioritizing and assigning tasks, ensuring tasks are completed and conducting evaluations.
• Directs fire ground operations during emergencies with units and equipment.
• Ensures safety and accountability of personnel and citizens during operations.
• Performs administrative tasks: writing reports, serving on committees, maintaining records, reviewing policies.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Training delivery

Public relations

Leadership

Report writing

Fire suppression

Education

Associate’s degree

NCOSFM Certified Firefighter

Fire Officer 1 Certification

EMT certification

Hazmat Operations certification

NIMS IC 100

NIMS IC 200

NIMS IC 700

Blue Card certification

NFA Safety Officer

Job description

The Wilmington Fire Department is hiring Fire Lieutenants

The purpose of this position is to protect life and property of the citizens of Wilmington. Performs supervisory and technical duties in the areas of fire suppression, emergency medical care, hazardous materials incidents, fire personnel training and public relations. This is accomplished by exercising a high degree of judgment and initiative while making critical fire and life safety related decisions, supervising personnel, overseeing housekeeping duties and equipment maintenance, and assuming responsibility for the apparatus. Other duties include serving on committees, acting as Fire Captain, completing reports, testing equipment and apparatus, attending continuous professional training, inspecting hydrants, and coordinating monthly training. Performs all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary at the discretion of the Battalion Chief.

Selection Components

Career Plan Report

The Career Plan Report shall be a document that details the candidate's professional growth. The document will describe the candidate's Experience, Formal Education, Professional Development, and Organizational Commitment. The assessment must be completed in accordance with the specific guidelines included in Section 8 of the Promotion Process Engineer/ Lieutenant/ Captain/ Battalion Chief/ Assistant Chief (210). Assessment documentation will be supplied to candidates at required WFD Candidate School sessions outlined below.

WFD Candidate School II

All candidates submitting an application must attend one of the virtual sessions below in order to meet this requirement for qualification. Participant attendance will be taken at beginning of the meeting.

• October 26, 2026 at 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EST
  Join the meeting now
• October 27, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EST
  Join the meeting now

Testing Phases

Candidates who pass the minimum qualification screenings of the process will continue through the following phases:

• Phase I (by closing date Nov 1): Career Plan Report – Top 15 candidate scores move forward
• Phase II (tentative Nov 18‑19): Fire Problem – 40% of final score
• Phase III (tentative Nov 18‑19): Management Problem – 30% of final score
• Phase IV (Nov 18‑19): Presentation – 30% of final score

Phases II-IV require candidates to have a passing score of 70% or higher to move forward.

Final List

The cumulative scores obtained in phases II‑IV of the process with determine the final ranking of the candidates. A candidate that scores less than 70% at any phase, or overall, will not be eligible for the final list. This selection process will produce a certified roster in rank order. When a vacancy occurs the Fire Chief will select the top candidate on the certified list unless a written disciplinary action has been taken or poor performance has been documented as per the Promotional Procedures for Lieutenant. In the event of a tie after the final score, promotion will be determined by the final score provided on the Career Plan Report. The eligibility roster generated by this promotional process will expire 1 calendar year from the certification date.

For external candidates selected for hire, the anticipated Lieutenant orientation date will be February 8, 2027

• Supervises personnel by prioritizing and assigning tasks, ensuring tasks are completed, conducting performance evaluations, identifying training needs, coordinating, and presenting training for personnel, administers disciplinary actions in accordance with the City policy, responding to citizen complaints and employee grievances, writing reports, keeping personnel records, maintaining a state of readiness, and communicating to personnel.
• Commands fire ground operations during emergencies by directing subordinates in all aspects of fire ground activities, using apparatus and equipment for fire suppression and control.
• Ensures the safety and accountability of all personnel and citizens during emergency operations.
• Performs non‑emergency operations and public relations by assisting the Fire and Life Safety division and working with the public to protect life and property.
• Performs administrative tasks by writing reports, serving on committees, maintaining records, and participating in the review of departmental policies and procedures.
• Will perform all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary.

All Applicants Must Possess:

• Education and experience:
  • Internal Candidates:
    • Have an associate’s degree with a minimum of 2 years as an Engineer in the Wilmington Fire Department or graduate with a WFD internal certificate with a minimum of three years and meet the minimum of 61 points on the Career Planning Report from the areas of Formal Education and Experience
  • External Candidates:
    • Have an Associate’s degree and minimum of 6 years with a career fire department with 2 of those years as an acting company officer.
• Minimum Requirements for all candidates:
  • Valid driver’s license by application close
  • NCOSFM Certified Firefighter or IFSAC/Pro-Board-Certified Firefighter
  • NCOEMS EMT credential or National Registry EMT with the ability to obtain North Carolina reciprocity
  • Pro Board/ IFSTA Hazmat Operations certification
  • NIMS IC 100, 200, and 700 certifications
  • WFD Candidate School II
  • Pro Board/ IFSTA Fire Officer 1 Certification
• Additional Requirements by Applicant Type
  • Internal Applicants (Current Employees):
    • Must possess Class B in state you currently reside
    • Must possess Blue Card certification
    • Must possess NFA Safety Officer
    • Must have completed the Lieutenant Task Book
    • Have no more than two points on record for a preventable vehicle or nonvehicle accident within 12 months of the closing date
    • Have no formal disciplinary action above a first written reminder within 12 months of the closing date
    • Most recent annual performance rating must be “Meets Expectations” or better
    • Must provide a letter from his/her immediate supervisor recommending the candidate for the position and stating that the candidate meets job requirements as outlined in the Lieutenant's job description and is ready for the position
  • External Applicants:
    • NC Class B must be obtained within six (6) months of hire
    • NFA Safety Officer certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire
    • Lieutenant Task Book must be completed within six (6) months of hireBlue card certification completed within six (6) months of hire
    • NCOSFM Emergency Vehicle Driver Certification within six (6) months of hire
    • Driver Operator & Pumps or IFSAC/Proboard within six (6) months of hire
    • Fire and Life Safety Educator 1 certification within six (6) months of hire

Additional Information:

• Continued employment is contingent upon obtaining and maintaining all required certifications and credentials within the specified timeframes
• Failure to meet certification requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination

Internal candidates:

• A driving history and a criminal history check will be performed on all internal candidates who are placed on the certified roster for promotion.

External candidates:

• Required documentation submitted to HR

  • Copy of a High School Diploma, High School Transcript or GED Certificate. Note: Copy of a College Diploma and/or official or unofficial transcript may be attached in lieu of High School Diploma and/or HS Transcripts. Continuing education credits are not accepted

• Driving History Check, Personal and Professional Reference Checks, Fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check

  • This position has been identified to interact with children and must comply with NC G.S. 153A-94.2(b) requires an applicant for employment that "works with children in any capacity, must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI." These checks must be conducted in accordance with G.S. 143B-1209.26 (Download PDF reader), the statute which authorizes the SBI to provide a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check to cities and counties.

• Post-offer Pre-Employment Physical, Stress Test and Drug Screen

Internal candidates: