Fire Chief

Learn More About the Position, Organization, and Community

The City of Leawood seeks a principled, approachable, and visionary leader who combines operational expertise with a strong commitment to people, service, and organizational excellence. The ideal candidate will be an experienced executive who understands the evolving role of modern fire and emergency services, and can effectively balance strategic leadership, organizational development, and operational excellence while fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Lead with Character

• Lead with integrity, humility, and professionalism.
• Build trust with transparency, communication, and accountability.
• Champion the City's values and contribute to a "One Leawood" culture.

Develop People

• Foster a positive, supportive and high‑performing workplace culture.
• Develop future leaders and invest in employee growth.
• Support succession planning and employee engagement initiatives.

Build Partnerships

• Collaborate effectively across departments and with regional partners.
• Build strong relationships with residents, businesses, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively and build consensus among diverse groups.

Lead Strategically

• Balance operational excellence with long‑term strategic planning.
• Embrace innovation while maintaining a commitment to exceptional service.
• Use data, technology, and continuous improvement principles to enhance service delivery.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative and relationship-focused leader who embraces a One Leawood philosophy. They will work effectively across departments, build strong partnerships with residents, businesses, regional agencies, and elected officials, and foster a culture of trust, transparency, accountability, and exceptional service.

The next Fire Chief will possess the strategic perspective necessary to guide the department into the future while honoring its strong foundation and traditions. They will be committed to developing employees, supporting succession planning, leveraging innovation and technology, and identifying opportunities to enhance service delivery, operational effectiveness, and community risk reduction efforts.

The next Fire Chief will be expected to:

• Build strong relationships with department personnel, City leadership, and community stakeholders.
• Assess organizational strengths and opportunities while maintaining the department's high standards of service.
• Balance station and staffing needs and public expectations with existing resources.
• Advance succession planning and leadership development efforts.
• Support strategic planning initiatives and future service delivery needs.
• Continue fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement.

Required: Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, along with at least ten years of progressively responsible experience in a career fire service organization, including a minimum of five years in a supervisory or command‑level leadership role. Candidates must hold the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing and possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Preferred: A master's degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, or a related field is preferred. Highly desirable qualifications include possession of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing, completion of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, designation as a Kansas Certified Emergency Manager, and demonstrated executive‑level experience leading organizational change, strategic initiatives, succession planning, accreditation efforts, and community risk reduction initiatives.

The Leawood Fire Department is a highly respected, internationally accredited organization dedicated to delivering…