Fire Chief

Make an impact: 

Salem Fire is truly an all-hazards organization that provides fire suppression (structural and wildland) and prevention, advanced life support emergency medical services, technical rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials, aircraft rescue and firefighting emergency services (ARFF), and SWAT medic support. Utilizing these services, Salem Fire responds to over 32,000 calls for service annually.

The City Council also recently approved a significant project to bring emergency medical transport services back within the fire organization. Planning for this process has already begun, and full implementation of the service within the City structure is targeted for July 1, 2025. This project is of critical importance in the overall emergency services operation and has far-reaching implications including financial ramifications, response time impact, staffing, and community-wide health and safety.

Salem Fire Department operates from 11 primary stations, in addition to a training/EMS center and ancillary facilities. The Department has nearly 175 allocated positions on the traditional fire side of the house - including 168 emergency response personnel and 5 civilian/administrative staff (with two chief officer/command staff positions currently unfilled).

Learn and grow:

The City and the firefighters bargaining unit successfully concluded negotiation of a new 3-year contract that establishes the new schedule in addition to other positive changes. With this contract, Salem Fire member salaries will be in the top layer of fire salaries regionally. A foundation for post-employment health benefits was previously established through a Medical Expense Reimbursement Program - the first of its kind in Oregon. Relationships between the firefighters bargaining unit and command staff are strong, effective, and positive.

The Salem Fire Department is an active community partner and has established mutually beneficial relationships with community organizations and emergency response partners. The Salem Police Department has a Chief that joined the City three years ago, and the relationship and working interaction between the two public safety departments is strong.

What you will do:

The City of Salem is seeking a deeply experienced and highly qualified fire service professional to lead the Fire Department into its next chapter of public service excellence. Salem Fire is a sophisticated emergency services provider with a strong and competent staff, appropriate resources, and support from the City Council and City management. The retiring Chief has built strong relationships within the City organization and the Salem community, and has made tremendous strides in positive cultural change within the department. The incoming Chief will have an opportunity to improve service provision and response, strengthen relationships, participate in revenue enhancement planning for the City, advance fire station planning and construction in areas of growth and need, and update the most recent strategic plan and standards of cover.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

The new Fire Chief will be a member of the City Manager's Executive Leadership Team that consists of 7 other department heads and three key program managers that report directly to the City Manager. The Executive Leadership Team operates with a "first team" mentality and are all competent professionals who bring an extraordinary commitment to public service. They truly bring Salem's tagline, "at your service" to life. The Fire Chief is an at-will employee and serves at the discretion of the City Manager.

They will serve as a highly active and visible presence, within the department, among City management and elected officials, within the community, and across the fire service industry. The Chief will strive to align the Salem Fire Department with the values and needs of the citizens of Salem including providing equitable service to all community members.

Work involves responsibility for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and coordinating, all Fire Department services. Responsibilities involve:

• Working with the City Manager, City Council, and community members in determining Fire Department service level policies and programs; monitoring public need and reactions to Fire Department services through community groups and interaction with citizens.

• Provide administrative framework to provide a fully trained and proficient workforce and effective equipment to deliver the services identified by the community.

• Designation as the appointing authority for selection of all Fire Department staff and is responsible for complying with Civil Service Commission rules.

• Resolve administrative and policy problems for the Fire Department and to work with other governmental agencies in providing fire suppression, prevention, 9-1-1 dispatch services, emergency management and emergency medical transport services.

Work is subject to review for results and conformance with City Council policies by the City Manager. Work is performed based on program changes assigned by the City Manager consistent with data driven principles of modern fire protection measures and modern emergency medical procedures. Supervision is exercised over all fire personnel through subordinate supervisors. The Fire Chief, like all city department directors, will be retained with an employment contract.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.

• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.

• Competitive pay.

• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.

• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.

• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

• Voluntary long-term care.

• Employee wellness program.

• Employee assistance program.

• Employee health clinic (Free "Urgent Care" Services).

• City Vehicle for use.

• Position schedule is Monday - Friday, but some after-hours meetings and events will also be expected on an as needed/scheduled basis.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check and drug test (including marijuana).

• Must have an Oregon Driver's license and have a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Science or related field supplemented by a Master's degree in Fire Science or successful completion in the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer course, and ten years of experience of a progressively responsible nature in professional urban fire protection, suppression, and emergency medical services including experience supervising others, or any equivalent combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledges, skills, and abilities in order to perform the essential job functions.

What you will bring along:

• Must be energetic, enthusiastic, and well-rounded chief officer bringing knowledge and experience of best practices in fire/EMS service, with a proven history of building effective relationships with line staff, command staff, the City's department head team, and external stakeholders.

• Ability to effectively lead, mentor, and coach a large emergency services operation, while serving as an active and engaged team member in the broader City enterprise.

• Demonstrate genuine and exceptional communication skills, financial acumen, consistent and effective labor relations practices, and the ability to leverage opportunities for growth and innovation while honoring and maintaining the department's past successes and advancements.

• Possess the skill to work collaboratively with regional and statewide partners, expanding the participation and presence of Salem Fire.

• Consistent, creative, adaptive, and tactful communicator and leader with a proven record of building and maintaining trust with a significant degree of autonomy.

• Must be able to thoughtfully consider adaptation of services, both in traditional and non-traditional roles.

• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills and a strong commitment to the growth and wellbeing of personnel.

• Fostering an environment where feedback is valued and considered, providing clear communication of expectations and goals, and working regionally on planning, resource management, training, and personnel attraction and retention are highly desired initiatives.

• Ability to manage and grow a sophisticated municipal fire and emergency management operation.

Key Success Measurements:

• Deploy and deliver ambulance service on July 1, 2025 with ongoing successful operations.

• Recruit and select vacant command staff members and create a well-functioning forward focused department management team.

• Champion efforts to create a diverse workforce reflective of our community.

• Play a leadership role in efforts to build community support for additional revenue to grow service capacity to better meet community needs.

• Continue to build an "At Your Service" culture throughout the Salem Fire Department.

• Maintain and build on the collaborative working relationship with all bargaining units.

• Bring a "first team mentality" to the Executive Leadership Team.

• Be willing to explore innovative approaches to service delivery to better meet the needs of all members of our community.

• Be an active and visible member of the community.

• Update and renew the department's strategic plan and foster its implementation.

About us:

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments:

Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members.

The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Fire Chief or view by clicking here.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green "Apply" button to complete your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

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For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.