JOB TITLE: FIRE CHIEF
Department: Fire Department
Status: Full-time
FLSA: Exempt
Pay Rate: $75,000 -$86,000
Position Summary
The Fire Chief provides executive leadership, administrative direction, and overall management of the City of Cairo Fire Department. Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Fire Chief is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating all departmental operations, personnel, programs, and resources to ensure the protection of life and property throughout the community.
The Fire Chief exercises strategic leadership, develops recommendations and policies to enhance fire protection and emergency response services, and ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and City policies. Responsibilities include overseeing departmental operations, directing major projects and initiatives, managing personnel matters, evaluating organizational effectiveness, resolving operational issues, and fostering a culture of safety, professionalism, and service excellence.
Essential Functions
- Plan, organize, assign, and direct all activities and operations of the Fire Department.
- Manage all personnel matters, including recruitment, hiring, training, discipline, promotion, performance evaluation, and termination.
- Review daily staffing, apparatus, and equipment needs to ensure operational readiness.
- Oversee inspections throughout the City to identify and mitigate fire hazards.
- Investigate suspected arson incidents and coordinate with the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office as needed.
- Attend budget workshops, City Council meetings, and other public meetings as required.
- Develop, administer, and monitor the department's annual budget and expenditures.
- Prepare specifications and recommendations for the purchase of department equipment, vehicles, materials, and supplies.
- Administer and enforce fire prevention laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances, including those related to public assembly safety and the storage and handling of flammable materials and explosives.
- Oversee the issuance of permits, including burn permits and other fire-related approvals.
- Advise and collaborate with the City Manager regarding departmental operations, policy recommendations, strategic initiatives, and assignments.
- Serve as the department's primary spokesperson and public representative.
- Represent the department in matters involving fire prevention, suppression, rescue services, emergency management, and community safety.
- Develop and implement plans, policies, and programs to maintain operational efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness.
- Work beyond a standard 40-hour workweek, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations, without additional compensation as required by assigned duties.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of modern fire prevention, suppression, rescue operations, emergency response, communications, training, and equipment maintenance practices.
- Thorough knowledge of the City of Cairo's geography, including streets, water distribution systems, fire hydrants, and significant fire risks.
- Proficiency in the operation and application of firefighting equipment, including hoses, ladders, axes, saws, ropes, generators, extinguishers, and related apparatus.
- Ability to effectively lead, supervise, and develop personnel at all levels within the department.
- Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with employees, elected officials, partner agencies, and the public.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver presentations and public addresses.
- Demonstrated fiscal management skills, including budgeting, purchasing, personnel cost management, and equipment lifecycle planning.
- Knowledge of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating system and the ability to develop programs and initiatives that support favorable community fire protection ratings.
- Ability to analyze complex situations, make sound decisions under pressure, and effectively resolve operational and personnel issues.
Required Education, Training, and Experience
- Associate degree in Fire Science or a closely related field from an accredited institution; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
- Current Georgia certifications, including First Responder, NPQ certification(s), and other certifications required by state and local regulations.
- Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in a fire service organization.
- Previous experience serving in a fire officer leadership role.
- Previous supervisory, administrative, or management experience preferred.
- Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
Leadership Expectations
The Fire Chief is expected to embrace, demonstrate, and promote the City's core values and organizational culture by:
- Maintaining the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism.
- Training, developing, mentoring, and supporting all suppression, transport, and administrative personnel.
- Encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and employee engagement.
- Leading by example and fostering accountability at all levels of the organization.
- Promoting workplace safety and institutionalizing a strong safety culture throughout the department.
- Pursuing innovative funding opportunities and alternative revenue sources, including grants, partnerships, and other available resources.
- Supporting continuous improvement, succession planning, and professional development initiatives.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
The Fire Chief must be able to work effectively in high-stress, dangerous, and emergency environments, including exposure to extreme weather conditions, hazardous materials, smoke, noise, and other adverse circumstances.
Work may involve frequent exposure to wet conditions, uneven terrain, dust, fumes, vibration, poor ventilation, confined spaces, and both indoor and outdoor environments. Occasional exposure to hazardous machinery, electrical hazards, elevated work areas, and extreme temperatures may occur.
The position requires the ability to perform or supervise emergency response activities, including emergency medical care when necessary. Duties may involve rapid and repetitive movements, sustained physical exertion, climbing, lifting, carrying, bending, and other physically demanding activities performed safely and efficiently.
This position routinely requires extended work hours, evening and weekend availability, attendance at emergency incidents, and 24-hour on-call availability as needed to support departmental operations and community emergency response efforts.
application information:
Applications may be obtained from City Hall - Human Resources Department or online at https://syrupcity.net/hr/page/city-employment-application
Please submit resume and applications to: Autumn Waters - Human Resources Director awaters@cairocity.net
The City of Cairo is an Equal Opportunity Employer Certified Drug-Free Workplace.