Fire Chief

Job description

Wea Twp. Fire Department is seeking a strong leader to continue positive changes made to the department in recent years. In January 2025, Wea Twp. Fire Department fully transitioned to a combination fire department from a volunteer fire department. The Fire Chief will be responsible for leading and directing the daily activities of a combination Fire Department, made up of 11 full-time personnel, and 18 volunteer firefighters. The Fire Chief will report directly to the Wea Township Trustee and will be responsible for providing regular updates to the Trustee regarding the fire department operations, budget, expenditures, and short- and long-term outlooks.

As the leader of the department, you will oversee personnel and departmental development to provide the best services possible to our stakeholders. You will be responsible for building relationships with outside departments and attending internal and external meetings as needed. As the Chief of a combination department, you will also be responsible for attending regular monthly volunteer meetings and training events.

The Fire Chief is responsible for ensuring the operational effectiveness of the department which includes all aspects of fire service delivery, to include emergency response, training, community risk reduction, fire prevention, and public relations. The Fire Chief will be expected to respond to major emergencies, such as structure fires, natural disasters, and any other emergency that might require assistance from a command perspective, during and after normal working hours.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead and manage the fire department’s personnel and operations.
• Develop and implement fire prevention and safety programs.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Coordinate response to emergency incidents and provide effective disaster management.
• Participate in community outreach and fire safety education initiatives.
• Prepare and manage the department’s budget and resource allocation.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide training for fire department staff.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other emergency services and organizations.
• Oversee the maintenance and operation of firefighting equipment and facilities.
• Conduct investigations into fire incidents and report findings.
• Prepare reports for governmental bodies and stakeholders regarding fire incidents and departmental performance.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fire science, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Eight years of experience with at least four years of administrative and supervisory responsibilities in an organized full-time fire department.
• Advanced leadership training in emergency management.
• Proven leadership and management experience in a fire service environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to make quick decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Indiana or IFSAC Firefighter I/II, Haz-Mat Awareness/Operations
• Indiana or IFSAC Fire Officer III.
• Indiana or IFSAC Fire Instructor II
• Indiana or National Registry EMT-Basic
• Experience in budget management and resource allocation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Extensive experience in firefighting and emergency response.
• Physical fitness to perform firefighting and rescue operations.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Indiana or IFSAC Fire Officer IV
• Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Centers for Public Safety Excellence
• Executive Fire Officer (EFO) designation from the National Fire Academy

Send Cover Letter, Resume, List of Three References, and Department Application to mstackhouse@weafire.com Applications can be found at https://weafire.com/