Job Abstract

SALARY: Commensurate with experience

Baltimore County, Maryland, seeks an accomplished fire service professional to lead the Baltimore County Fire Department. The position offers an opportunity to lead efforts to provide fire protection, emergency medical services, and emergency rescue to more than 800,000 residents and visitors. The department includes more than 1,000 paid emergency response personnel, housed at 25 career stations. Career personnel work alongside volunteer firefighters from the County's 29 volunteer companies. The department responds to approximately 150,000 incidents annually.

A successful candidate has a proven track record of leadership in a fire/emergency response agency, with demonstrated success in improving public safety and emergency response. Strong organizational management skills and an ability to bolster morale among firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The ideal candidate will possess an ability to build trust and respect with the community and will embrace transparency and modern emergency response and preparedness principles. A collaborative and inclusive leadership style is a must. The Fire Chief reports directly to the County Executive and the Deputy County Administrative Officer, or other senior staff designee.

NOTE: Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume, directly to: recruitment@baltimorecountymd.gov Please state in the subject line, the title of the position for which you are applying.

Under the direction of the County Executive,

• Provides strong leadership that will earn the confidence of department members and inspire them to achieve organizational goals.
• Creates a shared vision, articulates the department’s priorities, and develops processes to benchmark success.
• Oversees the safe, efficient, and effective provision of fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical operations of the department.
• Provides oversight and management of administrative functions, such as logistics, safety, staffing, fire prevention, and training.
• Gathers, evaluates, and utilizes data to improve department operations. Assesses, develops, designs, implements, and evaluates existing systems; implements strategic and innovative ideas as needed.
• Directs the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the department.
• Participates in union contract negotiations and maintains a productive labor/management process.
• Ensures departmental compliance with Federal and State requirements and other applicable standards and regulations.
• Appropriately delegates assignments and manages duties and activities of both sworn and civilian personnel.
• Develops long and short-term objectives for the department. Implement departmental strategic plan.
• Formulates fire protection, fire prevention, emergency medical, and emergency preparedness strategies for the department.
• Utilizes statistics and data driven techniques to evaluate performance of the Department and to promote change.
• Develops strategies and partnerships with key stakeholders to combat the growing epidemic of opioid overdose.
• Possesses a participative leadership style in working with labor and volunteer organizations.
• In partnership with the Office of Budget and Finance, manages the fire department budget, ensuring strong expenditure controls and financial management policies are in place.
• Fosters effective communication and positive relationships with the County Executive, Senior Staff, County Council, and other officials regarding fire department matters.
• Attends frequent public meetings with community members and elected officials.
• Ensures a fair and effective system of discipline and strong accountability mechanisms throughout the department.
• Builds a department that embraces inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace.
• Coordinates with partner departments on emergency preparedness and public safety operations.
• Performs other related duties as directed by the County Executive.

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Management, Fire Science, Fire Protection Engineering, or related field, plus a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible fire and emergency response experience; five years in a supervisory capacity. Additional progressive fire and emergency response experience may substitute for the required education. Additional fire and emergency response experience may not substitute for the required supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Management, or related field. Additional specialized certifications, such as completion of the Executive Fire Officer Program.

Persons appointed to this classification may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime when scheduled.

Physical and Environmental Conditions
The work of this classification includes travel to various investigation sites.

Medical Examination and Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for an appointment to a position in Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination and drug screen and an employment background investigation, including, but not limited to a criminal background, education, and fingerprint check.