Assistant Commissioner

Executive Service Closing Date: 10/08/2026 Who We Are And What We Do

The mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) is to prevent the loss of life and property due to fire. The SFMO falls under the Department of Commerce & Insurance.

Annual Salary: $ - $

The mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) is to prevent the loss of life and property due to fire. The SFMO falls under the Department of Commerce & Insurance.

Commissioner (AC) position is mission critical to ensure the successful day-to-day operations of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

The AC of Fire Prevention is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operational effectiveness of the State Fire Marshals Office. The position directly oversees the divisions seven Directors.

• Demonstrates dynamic leadership by balancing long term strategic planning with day to day operational oversight, fostering accountability across teams, and aligning fire prevention priorities with the goals of the executive branch.
• Provides oversight and direction of Fire Prevention Divisions program areas, which include the Administration Section; the Codes Enforcement and Electrical, Residential, & Marina Inspections Section; the Education & Outreach Section; the Grants Section; the Firefighting Commission (FFC); and the Tennessee Fire Services and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA).
• Provides oversight and direction of a state-wide staff of 275+ full and part-time fire and building, electrical, and manufactured housing inspectors, TFACA instructors, FFC coordinators, and fire prevention, administrative, and licensing personnel.
• Provides oversight and direction of the division's operations, which includes managing the SFMO operating budget of $13 million, the TFACA operating budget of $6 million, and the disbursement of $26 million in annual grant funds and $9 million in annual salary supplements to ensure compliance, fiscal integrity, and strategic alignment with departmental priorities.
• Provides oversight and direction of the divisions regulatory, licensing, and permitting functions.
• Maintains regular contact with relevant local, state, and federal representatives and national fire prevention and building codes organizations.

Preferred candidates possess a bachelor's degree, legislative and management experience, exceptional written and oral communications and interpersonal skills, and the ability to establish priorities among changing agendas from the multiple sections within the Division and external entities.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.