MT – Fire Chief – Sky Fire Department – First Review

Fire Chief Big Sky Fire Department Big Sky, Montana Salary Range: $190,000 – $205,000

Big Sky sits in the Madison Range of southwest Montana, tucked between Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park and surrounded on three sides by national forest. Lone Mountain rises above 11,000 feet over an alpine valley that stretches from the Gallatin River canyon up to ski terrain at 7,400 feet, a landscape that defines daily life here as much as it draws visitors from around the world.

Big Sky’s roughly 3,600 year‑round residents include working families, longtime locals, seasonal professionals, and a growing population drawn by the lifestyle and the work. In peak season, that number climbs past 20,000 as visitors arrive for skiing at Big Sky Resort, one of the largest ski areas in North America, along with fly fishing on the Blue Ribbon Gallatin, hiking and biking across thousands of acres of public land, and quick access to Yellowstone’s west entrance.

The Big Sky Fire Department (BSFD) is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and operates as a single fire district spanning both Gallatin and Madison counties, with funding drawn primarily from property mill levies within the district and supplemented by Big Sky Resort Area District resort-tax allocations and state and federal grants. The Department operates on a budget of approximately $10 million, with $2.35 million dedicated to capital acquisitions.

BSFD is staffed by 41 FTEs plus seasonal personnel. The organization is structured under the Fire Chief with four Division Chiefs, three Battalion Chiefs, and a full‑time Training Captain. BSFD is a full-service, all-hazards career agency protecting 79 square miles from two stations staffed 24/7/365. BSFD delivers ALS transport emergency medical services with inter‑facility transport capability, structural and wildland fire suppression, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and a robust Community Risk Reduction program.

In 2025, BSFD responded to 1,560 emergency incidents, with approximately 48% being EMS related.

Reporting to the elected Board of Trustees, the Fire Chief serves as the chief executive officer of the Big Sky Fire Department, providing executive level leadership across daily administration, operations, asset and risk management, finances, and regulatory compliance. The Chief is responsible for the safe and effective delivery of all department services and leads the development of policies, strategic plans, and the annual operating and capital budgets.

The role also requires cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with the Board, the Big Sky Resort Area District, mutual aid partners, federal land management agencies, IAFF Local 4732, and the broader community.

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Business, or Public Administration, OR a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college AND graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program or designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO). A minimum of five (5) years of directly related departmental or administrative management experience, and three (3) years of professional strategic planning, project management, or program development, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

(Please see the complete position profile for preferred education and experience.)

Big Sky Fire Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply by June 28, 2026.

For questions, call .

to view the full Position Profile.

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