Visionary Fire Chief & Community Safety Leader

Oklahoma Municipal League, Inc.; Port Arthur (TX); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Oklahoma Municipal League, Inc. is seeking a Fire Chief for Port Arthur, TX, to lead a full-service fire department and deliver service improvements aligned with city goals.

The role requires a senior-firefighting background, strategic leadership, and collaboration across public partners. The Chief will manage operations, budget, and cross-department initiatives while reporting to the City Manager and aligning with the community’s coastal industrial needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Business, Fire Protection, Fire Technology, Emergency Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years firefighting/safety or related field in a comparable or larger community; at least 4 years in a command level.
• Texas Driver’s License or ability to obtain.
• Texas Intermediate Firefighter Certificate and EMT-Basic or higher (or equivalent).
• TCFP Certification as Head of a Suppression Fire Department within one year of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct all department activities including fire suppression, prevention, EMS, and support services.
• Lead personnel, manage the budget, and coordinate with other departments and agencies.
• Serve as a management representative in collective bargaining and provide staff assistance to senior city leadership.

Skills

Command experience

Communication skills

Mentoring

Leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

TCFP Head of Suppression Certification (within 1 year)

Job description

Listing Description
Are you an experienced, community-minded fire service leader ready to command a full-service department in one of Texas’s most vital industrial and coastal cities? If so, apply to be the City of Port Arthur’s next Fire Chief! We’re looking for an engaging, visionary leader who is:
• A proven fire service executive with command experience in a comparable or larger, combination fire-and-rescue organization
• A trusted communicator who builds credibility and collaboration across the department, the community, and local, state, and federal partners
• Committed to mentoring, training, and developing a diverse, professional workforce

Port Arthur is a coastal Texas city with a diverse, small-town feel and a strong industrial backbone. Known for its rich Cajun, Creole, and Vietnamese heritage, Port Arthur offers residents an affordable lifestyle with access to nature, culture, and economic opportunity.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Fire Chief is the Fire Department’s Chief Administrative Officer in all matters relating to the office’s official powers and duties. The Chief plans, organizes, and directs all department activities — fire suppression, prevention, emergency medical first response, and support services — while leading personnel, managing the budget, and coordinating with other departments and outside agencies. As Chief Operational Executive, the Chief leads programs and activities consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the City, continuously improving service-delivery efficiency and response to meet or exceed community needs. The Chief responds to major incidents, directs suppression activities, serves as a management representative in collective bargaining, and provides highly complex staff assistance to the Assistant City Manager, City Manager, and City Council.

Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Business, Fire Protection, Fire Technology, Emergency Management, or a related field
• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional firefighting, safety and risk management, or a closely related field in a comparable or larger community, of which at least four (4) years must have been at a command level (Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, or Fire Chief)
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate Texas Driver’s License
• Texas Intermediate Firefighter Certificate (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) or comparable, and a Texas DSHS-approved EMT-Basic certification or higher (or equivalent)
• TCFP Certification as Head of a Suppression Fire Department within one year of appointment

Preferred:
• Master’s degree in a related field and a minimum of six (6) years in a command-level position
• Chief Fire Officer Designation, National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer, Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Certification, or a related TCFP designation

The salary range for this position is $133,203 – $195,561, depending on experience and qualifications.

Please apply online: https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment/port-arthur-tx-fire-chief/

For more information, contact:
Marsha Reed, Senior Vice President
[e-mail] | 806-789-9641