Division Chief (Internal Applicants Only

Division Chief

The Division Chief is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the activities of an assigned division within the Fire District. This position provides leadership and oversight of Battalion Chiefs and assigned personnel and is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of emergency and non-emergency services. Responsibilities may include fire suppression operations, emergency medical services, training, special operations, fire prevention, community risk reduction, or other assigned functional areas.

The Division Chief assists the Assistant Fire Chief with strategic planning, policy implementation, personnel management, budget administration, and organizational development. The Division Chief serves as a key member of the District's management team and is responsible for ensuring operational readiness, employee development, regulatory compliance, and the accomplishment of District goals and objectives.

The Division Chief is responsible for representing and supporting the Mission, Vision, and Values of the District and is expected to make positive contributions to the organization through effective leadership, communication, collaboration, and implementation of District initiatives.

A Division Chief is a sworn, public safety officer classification responsible for the administration and management of an assigned division and the supervision of Battalion Chiefs and other assigned personnel. This classification serves as a mid-level executive manager responsible for translating District strategic objectives into operational outcomes.

This class is required to work a 40-hour work week and may work beyond regularly scheduled hours when necessary for emergencies, special projects, meetings, deployments, or other operational needs.

The Division Chief serves as an Incident Commander during major emergencies and may assume command of complex incidents requiring multi-company, multi-agency, or extended operations.

This classification is distinguished from the Battalion Chief by its responsibility for managing multiple battalions, programs, and District-wide initiatives. The Division Chief is responsible for organizational consistency across all three shifts. It is distinguished from the Assistant Fire Chief in that the Assistant Fire Chief has broader responsibility for multiple divisions and overall District administration.

Receives direction and supervision from the Assistant Fire Chief. Exercises direct, technical, and functional supervision over Battalion Chiefs and assigned personnel. Responsible for the administration, development, evaluation, and accountability of assigned programs and divisions. Performs as Incident Commander at emergencies until relieved by a higher-ranking Chief Officer. May act on behalf of the Assistant Fire Chief when designated.

Essential Functions (include but are not limited to the following):

• Ensure consistency in policy implementation, personnel management, operational practices, training standards, and service delivery across all shifts and assigned battalions;
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the activities of an assigned division, battalions, programs, and personnel to ensure the efficient delivery of emergency and non-emergency services;
• Develop and implement division goals, objectives, performance standards, strategic initiatives, and operational priorities consistent with District goals and objectives;
• Assist the Assistant Fire Chief in developing, implementing, and evaluating District policies, procedures, programs, and operational initiatives;
• Respond to and assume command of major emergency incidents, significant events, disasters, and complex multi-agency operations, providing strategic oversight and support to incident management personnel;
• Review emergency incidents, operational activities, and after-action reports to identify trends, ensure operational effectiveness, improve firefighter safety, and implement corrective actions when necessary;
• Ensure operational readiness of assigned personnel, stations, apparatus, equipment, facilities, and programs through continuous evaluation, inspection, monitoring, and corrective action;
• Develop, prepare, and present high-quality reports, studies, recommendations, budget requests, strategic plans, presentations, correspondence, and other written materials, which may be confidential or sensitive in nature;
• Research, analyze, and evaluate operational issues, organizational challenges, industry trends, and service delivery methods, and provide recommendations to executive leadership;
• Develop, administer, and monitor assigned budgets; forecast staffing, apparatus, equipment, training, facility, and program needs; and ensure expenditures remain within authorized appropriations;
• Monitor and evaluate division performance, service delivery outcomes, workload demands, staffing levels, deployment models, and organizational effectiveness;
• Coordinate personnel assignments, promotional development, special assignments…