Fire Chief

AN OUTSTANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Leading one of the nation’s largest fire departments in one of its most dynamic major cities presents a rare and consequential leadership opportunity. The City of Austin is seeking an accomplished, forward-thinking fire service executive to lead the Austin Fire Department through its next chapter – building on a strong foundation while preparing the organization for continued growth, increasing wildland-urban interface challenges, and the evolving demands of a dynamic metropolitan community.

The next Fire Chief will lead through collaboration, relationships, and innovation, ensuring Austin Fire remains an exceptional organization ready to meet the needs of the community today and well into the future.

People in Austin enjoy the wide variety of what the city offers, including restaurants, museums, and nature trails, attending world class arts, culture and sporting events at The University of Texas of Austin, browsing uniquely local retailers and vintage shops, and cheering on Austin FC at Q2 Stadium. Austin is thriving and is fueled by an influx of people and businesses, making Greater Austin one of the country's fastest-growing regions.

Austin is currently the 13th largest city in the U.S. and is projected to be the 3rd largest metro in the U.S. by 2100.

Located at the edge of the Texas Hill Country -- rolling terrain of limestone bluffs, springs, rivers, and lakes -- Austin’s climate is ideal for year-round jogging, cycling, hiking on the city’s many trails, or swimming at Barton Springs Pool or one of the area’s many other swimming holes. There are several excellent golf courses in the area, as well as opportunities for rowing, kayaking, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, disc golf, mountain biking, fishing, and more.

Austin has something for everyone.

To learn more about the dynamic City of Austin, visit austintexas.gov.

The Austin Fire Department is one of the 20 largest fire departments in the nation, with 54 stations and over 100,000 calls for service handled annually. Austin Fire provides its services with over 1,350 sworn firefighters, 135 professional staff, and is authorized for 60 cadets. Funding its operations is an FY 2027 budget of $61.4 million. The department is organized across the following five branches:
Operations, Specialized Functions (Homeland Security and Wildfire), Prevention & Technology, Member Services, and Management Services, with each led by an Assistant Chief. The Fire Chief is directly supported by a Chief of Staff, to whom the Assistant Chiefs report.

Reporting to an Assistant City Manager for Public Safety, the Austin Fire Chief serves as the administrative head of the Austin Fire Department and provides strategic and operational leadership for the City’s fire prevention, suppression, and emergency response services. The Chief directs, plans, and coordinates department activities while establishing policies, service priorities, staffing levels, and organizational practices that protect life and property and deliver effective service to Austin’s diverse and growing community.

Key responsibilities include provides executive leadership for the Fire Department, establishing departmental goals, programs, policies, staffing priorities, and service strategies; leads the City’s efforts to preserve life and property through effective fire prevention and suppression services; monitors and evaluates departmental methods, procedures, and service delivery; serves as the lead administrator for sworn and non-sworn employees and builds organizational capability through recruitment, selection, training, evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and employee development;

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