Fire Chief

Fire Chief

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Fire and Safety Services-Administration, MN

Job Type

Unclassified

Job Number

2026 Fire Chief

Department

Fire & Safety Services

Opening Date

09/01/2026

Closing Date

9/30/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

The City of Saint Paul is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next Fire Chief.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly respected fire department, shape the future of public safety, develop the next generation of fire service leaders, and serve one of Minnesotas most vibrant and diverse communities.

The Fire Chief provides executive leadership for the Saint Paul Fire Department and is responsible for ensuring the department is prepared to meet the evolving needs of the community. The Chief will lead with a commitment to operational excellence, employee development, community partnership, innovation, accountability, and exceptional public service.

Explore the Opportunity

We invite you to learn more about this exceptional opportunity through our Fire Chief Position Profile.

The Position Profile provides an in-depth look at:

• The City of Saint Paul and the community we serve
• The Saint Paul Fire Department
• The role and scope of the Fire Chief
• Key leadership priorities
• The experience and leadership qualities we seek
• Compensation and benefits

The Position

The Fire Chief serves as the senior executive leader of the Saint Paul Fire Department, providing strategic and operational leadership for the departments emergency response, prevention, preparedness, workforce, and administrative functions.

The Chief works closely with City leadership, employees, labor partners, community members, and regional public safety partners to advance the departments mission and ensure Saint Paul remains prepared to meet the needs of its residents.

What Were Looking For

Saint Paul is seeking a proven fire service leader with the experience, judgment, strategic perspective, and leadership presence to lead a complex urban fire department and shape its future.

We are looking for someone who is:

• A Strategic and Forward-Thinking Leader
• An Operationally Strong and Decisive Leader
• A Collaborative and Trusted Partner
• A People-Focused Executive
• A Community-Centered Public Servant

Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: The City of Saint Paul is dedicated to dismantling systemic racial, cultural, and economic barriers that prevent people from fully enjoying and participating in our community and ensuring fairness in opportunities and outcomes for all individuals. At the City of Saint Paul, we want our workforce to reflect the diverse city that we serve. Our leaders are guided by an unapologetic equity agenda, which promotes the belief that true equity is building a city that works for all of us. We encourage you to apply as we are most interested in finding the best candidate for this job.

Position Requirements

• A bachelors degree, or higher degree. Preferred degree programs include Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field. Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Substitution experience must reflect increasing leadership responsibility and include command-level duties (District or Battalion Chief or higher).
• Thirteen (13) years of experience working in a full-time paid fire department.
• Three (3) years of command experience certified as a District or Battalion Chief or above, in a full-time paid fire department. Such command-level experience shall include the areas of fire suppression, rescue, fire investigations, emergency medical services, or emergency response planning and exercise using an all-hazards approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an organization that provides advanced life support services and one that operates a high-volume EMS system.
• Demonstrated leadership in budgeting, strategic planning, and intergovernmental coordination.
• Experience working in a unionized environment, including labor relations and collective bargaining.

How to Apply

• Submit a City of Saint Paul online application by the closing date.
• Upload or submit the following required documents via the online application system. (Zip files and web links will not be accepted. Each uploaded attachment is limited to 10MB.)
• Resume - Detailing professional experience, leadership responsibilities, accomplishments, and relevant qualifications.
• Cover Letter - Describing your interest in serving as Saint Paul's next Fire Chief and the leadership experience, perspective, and qualifications you would bring to the role.

Learn more about our Hiring Process

This posting is open to anyone who meets the position requirements. This is an unclassified position, therefore, is not governed by City Service Rules.

Final Selection Process: An experienced examining committee comprised of fire service professionals, public-sector leaders, community representatives, and other civic stakeholders will conduct an initial interview and evaluation of candidates. Following the committee's review, its recommendations will be provided to Mayor Her for consideration. The Mayor will conduct a final interview and select Saint Paul's next Fire Chief.

Condition of Employment: This position requires a background check which may include criminal history, employment history, driver's license check, credit check, and proof of education as a condition of employment.

Human Resources Contact Information:

Chrissy Hauge at 651-266-6512

Email: christine.hauge@stpaul.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The City of Saint Paul is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Veterans, women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Information You Provide: Information you provide as part of the application and selection process is subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13). Your application, resume, supplemental responses, and other information submitted for consideration may be reviewed by Human Resources staff and members of the Qualifications & Examining Committee for purposes of evaluating your qualifications and conducting the selection process.

Some information provided by applicants is classified as public data under Minnesota law, while other information is private and is not available to the public. Applicant names are generally private until an applicant is certified as eligible for appointment or becomes a finalist. The City will maintain and disclose applicant information in accordance with applicable law and City policy.

The City of Saint Paul offers a competitive benefits package for permanent, certified positions. Temporary positions are not eligible for benefits.

Benefits vary with each position and the collective bargaining agreement. Benefits may include:

City Paid Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Vacation/Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Life Insurance
• Subsidized Metro Bus Pass
• Deferred Compensation
• Retirement Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Disability Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long Term Care Insurance

For a detailed overview, visit General Benefits.

01

Describe your full-time, paid, command-level fire service experience at the district/battalion level or above. Include the size and complexity of the organization(s) you have led, the population served, number of employees supervised, and your responsibilities for operational and administrative functions. Describe how your experience has prepared you to lead a complex urban fire department at the executive level.

02

Describe your leadership experience across the following areas: fire suppression, rescue, fire prevention, fire investigation, emergency medical services, advanced life support, hazardous materials, management information systems, and all-hazards emergency response planning. In your response, identify the areas in which you have had direct executive responsibility and describe how you have integrated these functions to improve organizational readiness and service to the community.

03

Describe your highest level of responsibility for managing an organizational or departmental budget. Include the approximate size of the operating and capital budgets, the number of employees and functions supported, and your role in budget development, allocation, monitoring, and presentation to executive leadership, elected officials, or other governing bodies. Describe a significant fiscal challenge or opportunity you addressed, including how you made strategic decisions, identified efficiencies, prioritized competing needs, secured external funding, or otherwise maximized available resources. What was the outcome?

04

Describe your experience leading in a collective bargaining environment and developing productive labor-management relationships. Describe a significant conflict, grievance, or other challenging issue you worked through with a labor representative. What was your role, how did you balance the interests of employees, the organization, and the community, and what was the outcome? In addition, describe how you have strengthened workforce culture, employee development, equity, or opportunities for advancement.

05

What has been the most significant organizational improvement or transformation resulting from your leadership? Describe the challenge or opportunity, the vision you established, the concerns or resistance you encountered, and how you built support and implemented the change. What measurable results did you achieve, and what did you learn? Finally, how would you apply those lessons to the opportunities and challenges facing the Saint Paul Fire Department?

Required Question

Employer City of Saint Paul

Address 25 West Fourth Street, Suite 200 City Hall Annex

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55102

Phone 651-266-6500

Website http://www.stpaul.gov/jobs