Fire Chief - Fire & Rescue Department

The Fire Chief serves as the executive leader of the Denton County Fire & Rescue Department and is responsible for the overall direction, management, and performance of fire protection and emergency medical services within the assigned emergency response zone (ERZ). This position provides strategic, operational, financial, and administrative leadership while ensuring the department remains prepared to protect lives, property, and community resources.

The Fire Chief will be responsible, during the first two years of employment, for developing, establishing, licensing, and staffing a newly created fire department. The Fire Chief oversees fire suppression, rescue operations, emergency medical services coordination, hazardous materials response, community risk reduction, and training. The Fire Chief collaborates with the County Fire Marshal's Office and Office of Emergency Management for fire prevention, fire investigation, community risk reduction, and disaster response. The position serves as a key advisor to the Commissioners Court and County leadership on public safety priorities, operational risks, resource needs, and long-term planning.

Examples of Duties: Directs the day-to-day and long-range operations of the County Fire & Rescue Department by leading and developing personnel, providing clear direction, coaching, mentoring, and accountability. Provides leadership for fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and training activities. Develops and implements departmental goals, policies, procedures, response protocols, and performance standards. Ensures personnel, facilities, apparatus, equipment, technology, and communications systems remain operationally ready. Provides command leadership or executive oversight during major emergencies, disasters, and critical incidents. Advises the Commissioners Court regarding public safety priorities, operational capabilities, staffing needs, service delivery, and strategic initiatives. Directs workforce planning, recruitment, employee development, succession planning, performance management, and employee relations. Oversees departmental budgets, capital planning, facilities, apparatus replacement planning, grants, and resource allocation. Maintains collaborative relationships with municipal fire departments, emergency service districts, law enforcement agencies, emergency management organizations, healthcare providers, and regional partners. Supports the Office of Emergency Management with disaster recovery, continuity planning, and countywide preparedness efforts. Establishes accountability measures and performance metrics to evaluate organizational effectiveness. Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, standards, certifications, policies, and records management requirements. Represents the County in public meetings, regional committees, community events, and professional organizations. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Denton County offers a full range of employee benefit programs for eligible employees, retirees, and their families. These programs include group health plans for medical and dental coverage; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); life; disability, and long term care insurance; and flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care reimbursements. The County also provides retirement benefits. Full time employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and employees may also participate in a retirement savings program (Deferred Compensation). In addition to these "basic employee benefits" and retirement services, employees benefit from a variety of other programs including 12 paid holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, a Wellness Program, and more.

Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field; ten years progressively responsible full-time fire service/emergency services/public safety experience including at least five years supervisory/command-level/senior management/executive leadership; TCFP/IFSAC Advanced Structural Firefighter (Master Structural Firefighter preferred); Head of Suppression Department certification required within 12 months; EMT-B Certification from Texas Department of State Health Services (EMT-P preferred); valid driver's license

Salary: Salary Depends on Qualifications

Application Deadline: Continuous