Fire Chief - Kansas City, Missouri

This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  

Kansas City, Missouri is a dynamic and thriving city of over 500,000 residents, anchoring a metropolitan area of 2.5 million people across 18 counties. Kansas City blends urban energy with suburban charm and rural beauty, offering diverse and vibrant neighborhoods and an unparalleled blend of history, creativity, and modern progress. The City’s world-famous barbecue and jazz heritage, coupled with a thriving arts scene, provide a rich cultural backdrop that draws visitors and residents alike.

Appointed by and reporting directly to the City Manager, the Fire Chief oversees a full-service fire, emergency medical and rescue services department with nearly 1,500 full-time employees operating from 35 stations and one dedicated EMS operations facility housing dynamically deployed ambulances.  KCFD is organized into seven battalions covering 318 square miles that is supported by a total budget of $321M.   

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The following list represents a few of the initial assignments being considered for the position of Fire Chief but is not intended to be all-inclusive.

·Organizational Assessment.  Assess the structure, staffing, and operations of the Fire Department and present any recommended changes, if any, to the City Manager for review and dialogue.

·Develop Long-Term Strategic Plan. Work with key Fire personnel to learn about and better understand KCFD; collaborate closely with personnel to implement existing priorities and develop an updated Strategic Plan for KCFD.

·Assess Response Times. Assess current and future projected growth in response patterns and boundary changes to determine equipment, personnel, and/or facility needs.

·Maintain Employee Relations and Facilitate Leadership Development.  Work to maintain and improve employee/labor relations with all employees and Union leaders in KCFD; provide leadership and development opportunities for employees to develop and progress through their career.

·Maintain and Improve the Culture of Organizational Excellence in Fire Department. Assess, maintain and establish an organizational culture that seeks continuous improvement, aspires to achieve excellence and supports the continued recruitment of a diverse and talented group of professional firefighters and support staff that are representative of the Kansas City community.

The annual salary range for this position is $148,668 - $324,600 with a starting salary commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience and professional achievement. 

The City of Kansas City, Missouri offers a comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, life and long-term disability insurance, defined benefit retirement plan, 11 paid holidays, vacation and sick time accrual starting the first day of hire, up to eight hours of paid leave annually to volunteer in area schools and designated charities, deferred compensation plan, car allowance, and other ancillary benefit options. Click here to view the full list of benefits offered by the City. Residency within Kansas City, Missouri is required within nine months of appointment. Reimbursement of relocation expenses is negotiable.

A bachelor’s degree with a major in Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited university is highly preferred but not required.  A master’s degree in Fire and Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field is desired.  

Viable candidates should possess a minimum rank of Deputy Chief (or a comparable rank), with extensive experience of at least 10 years that includes progressive responsibility with administrative, supervisory, and budgetary experience in fire prevention and suppression work – preferably within a large, complex urban municipal, county or state fire department or district.  

The required minimum certifications and license are Fire I & II, EMT-B Certification. Additional preferred certifications and licenses include: a) Chief Fire Officer Certification, b) Executive Fire Officer, and c) Paramedic Certification.  All certifications must be current and remain through the duration of employment.

This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  For more information, please contact Yolanda Howze at Yolanda.Howze@bakertilly.com or 312-240-3401.