Fire Training Chief

City-of-West-Fargo; West Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of West Fargo seeks a Training Chief to oversee all fire department training, credentialing, and related administrative duties. The role directs training and evaluation across fire, EMS, rescue, and emergency response, ensuring policies and procedures are properly applied.

The position focuses on developing training plans, supervising instructors, and coordinating multi‑agency drills, with responsibilities spanning documentation, compliance, and strategic training initiatives.

Qualifications

• Eight (8) consecutive years of progressively responsible experience in the fire service, including supervisory or training leadership responsibilities.
• Firefighter I & II certification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1001.
• Fire Instructor I certification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1041.
• Fire Officer I and II certification or qualification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1021.
• National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification or equivalent state licensure.
• FEMA IC S-300 certification.
• FEMA IC S-400 certification.
• North Dakota EMS Instructor Coordinator certification, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• ISFSI Live Fire Fixed Facility Credential, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• ISFSI Training Officer Credential, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Leads, plans, coordinates, and evaluates all fire, EMS, rescue, and emergency response training programs for the department.
• Develops, implements, and maintains department training plans, lesson plans, recruit academy curriculum, and continuing education programs.
• Maintains departmental training records, certifications, credentials, and compliance through the department's learning management and training systems.

Skills

Emergency leadership

Training leadership

Policy interpretation

Training program coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Emergency Services, Public Administration, or related field

Tools

Learning management system

Job description

Under limited supervision, the Training Chief performs complex emergency service and administrative work at a senior command level with responsibility for a broad range of administrative and technical activities and related work as required. This person is responsible for properly interpreting and applying applicable policies and procedures to the functions of the fire department. The Training Chief directs all training and credentialing efforts of the department.

• Leads, plans, coordinates, and evaluates all fire, EMS, rescue, and emergency response training programs for the department.
• Develops, implements, and maintains department training plans, lesson plans, recruit academy curriculum, and continuing education programs.
• Maintains departmental training records, certifications, credentials, and compliance through the department's learning management and training systems.
• Ensures department training and credentialing complies with applicable local, state, federal, accreditation, and departmental requirements.
• Supervises, coordinates, and evaluates department instructors and training personnel.
• Coordinates and delivers department-wide drills, exercises, live-fire training, and multi-agency training events.
• Researches, develops, and recommends training policies, procedures, standard operating guidelines, and best practices.
• Assists the Fire Chief with strategic planning, organizational development, and implementation of department training initiatives.
• Represents the department on local, regional, state, and professional training committees and participates in interagency training initiatives.
• Maintains required certifications and instructor credentials necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Other Duties

• Assists with department accreditation, ISO, and regulatory compliance activities related to training and credentialing.
• Completes special projects as assigned by the Fire Chief.
• Works safely, follows established safety practices, and identifies and reports unsafe work conditions.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned

• Eight (8) consecutive years of progressively responsible experience in the fire service, including supervisory or training leadership responsibilities.
• Firefighter I and II certification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1001.
• Fire Instructor I certification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1041.
• Fire Officer I and II certification or qualification accredited by IFSAC or Pro Board and meeting NFPA 1021.
• National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification or equivalent state licensure.
• FEMA IC S-300 certification.
• FEMA IC S-400 certification.
• North Dakota EMS Instructor Coordinator certification, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• ISFSI Live Fire Fixed Facility Credential, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• ISFSI Training Officer Credential, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fire Instructor II certification.
• Fire Officer III certification.
• Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Emergency Services, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience managing a department training program, recruit academy, or learning management system.
• Experience developing training curriculum and supervising instructors.
• Experience coordinating multi-agency or regional training exercises.

Work Environment/Conditions

Work is typically performed in both office and field settings. Requires frequent driving. Occasional night and weekend duties are necessary. Frequent exposure to potentially hazardous physical stress, fire, adverse weather and hazardous substance is required. The worker will be subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, noise, hazards, atmospheric conditions, oils, exposure to blood borne pathogens, and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus.

Regular contact with the public, external civic and volunteer organizations; volunteer fire officers; and various government agencies is required. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

Physical and/or Mental Demands/Requirements

This is sedentary work; however, may require frequent lifting and/or moving up to 40 pounds and occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 125 pounds as necessary during emergency response; work requires fingering, grasping and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work and observing general surroundings and activities. Also requires walking, running, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling over terrain and buildings as necessary during emergency response. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.