Fire Chief

The Fire Chief is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to the only university owned and operated fire department in the UC system, ensuring the safety and well-being of a UC campus that is the largest in geographic size. The Fire Chief is in a highly influential position that requires strong leadership, innovative vision, advanced management skills, technical expertise, and a commitment to all aspects of fire and emergency response, mitigation, risk reduction.

Under the Fire Chief’s leadership, the UC Davis Fire Department is classified as an ISO Class 1 fire agency, a distinction held by less than 1% of all US fire departments. Leads a large, complex, 24/7 operation and through subordinate managers, leads programs that have critical impact upon the UC Davis campus and community overall. The Fire Chief has significant responsibility for formulating and administering policies and programs, managing significant human, financial, and physical resources, and functions with a very high degree of autonomy.

Oversees the accountability and stewardship of department resources and the development of systems and procedures to protect organizational assets. The Fire Chief leads the on-going development, partnerships, and operations of the campus Health 34 initiative. A first of its kind program providing 24/7 support and resource navigation for the community’s behavioral health and basic medical needs delivered by a team of health educators and providers.

With mental health an emerging campus concern, Health 34 improves the wellbeing of the UC Davis community. It’s innovative approach to care is considered a model program, and as the creator of the initiative, the UC Davis Fire Chief helps other universities and regions develop similar programs. The Fire Chief serves as Executive Director of the department’s pre-hospital care educational offerings which include the nation’s top-ranked Emergency Medical Technician and accredited Paramedic Certification Programs for campus affiliates and the general public.

The position also ensures the campus’ robust AED program, Stop the Bleed kits, public access Narcan lockers, and other safety resources are appropriately deployed and accessible. In addition, the Fire Chief has regional responsibility as head of the host agency for the West Valley Regional Fire Training Consortium (5 Yolo County fire departments plus training agreements with City of Sacramento Fire & El Dorado County Fire agencies), serves as Chair of the Yolo County Automatic Aid Chiefs, and manages the deployment of UC Davis Fire resources throughout the State of California as part of the mutual aid system.

The Fire Chief has oversight of the Fire Department, consisting of approximately 150 full-time, part-time, student, and contract employees: 25 sworn personnel, 15 Student Firefighters, 25 Student EMTs, a 27 person EMS/Pre-hospital Care Division, and a 68-person cadre of instructors within the West Valley Regional Fire Training Consortium.

Apply By Date

June 30, 2025 by 11:59p PDT; screening and selection can begin at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Required to hold a valid California driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in fire protection, safety, or closely related field.
• Must be 21 years or older and a U.S. Citizen.
• Command level and supervisory experience in an organized fire/ems agency.
• Experience and skills to effectively manage and resolve conflict.
• Advanced knowledge of contemporary fire/ems industry issues and workforce. Knowledge of applicable industry regulations. A working knowledge of the Firefighter Bill of Rights (FBOR).
• Skills to understand and interpret the rules and regulations of the fire department, pertinent ordinances, applicable State and Federal laws. Oral and written communication skills to develop written narratives, reports, memoranda, correspondence, department policies, procedures, and related material and convey them to a diverse community.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, training, and…