Fire Chief

The Village of Sussex (population 12,162) is seeking its next Fire Chief to lead the Sussex Fire Department. The Fire Department has a proud history of providing fire and emergency medical services to the Sussex community and mutual aid to the surrounding areas since 1922. In 2022, the Department transitioned from a volunteer department into a combination department staffed with full and part-time members. In addition to EMS and fire suppression, the Sussex Fire Department also provides other services, not limited to: fire inspection, fire prevention, fire & life safety code compliance, and public education & outreach programs. The Fire Department has a combination of full-time staff (13, including the Chief), part-time staff, and paid-on-call staff and has an annual operating budget of nearly $2 million. Currently, the Department is authorized for one Lieutenant, three full-time firefighter/paramedics, and one part-time firefighter/paramedics per 48-hour shift.

The Fire Chief is appointed by the Fire Commission and reports to the Village Administrator and Fire Commission. Candidates should have a thorough knowledge of modern fire suppression/prevention techniques, emergency medical services, principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment. Considerable knowledge of budget preparation and administration, personnel management, staff supervision, evaluation, and professional development is highly desirable. Candidates should also have well-developed communication and customer service skills and a proven ability to collaborate and maintain a welcoming approach with the public, staff, the business community, and elected officials. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of collaboration and shared services with an outcome of saving money and improving services. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in fire science or closely related field and 10 years of Fire or Emergency Medical Service work experience, seven of which must be in a supervisory position. Qualified candidates will have EMT-Basic and Fire Fighter II certification as well as a valid WI Driver’s license. The successful candidate must maintain a response time of 30 minutes or less. The salary range is $93,500 to $140,542, DOQ.

Qualified candidates should submit a completed employment application, resume, and cover letter online using the link below. A first review of applications will take place on Friday, March 27th. The position is open until filled.

The Village is an equal opportunity employer.