Fire Chief

Salary

$201,204.00 Annually

Location

Hilo, HI

Job Type

Appointed Position - Exempt from Civil Service

Job Number

2026-01A

Department

Fire

Division

Administration

Opening Date

03/15/2026

Closing Date

4/14/2026 11:59 PM Hawaii

Duties Summary

THE COUNTY OF HAWAI'I FIRE COMMISSION

ANNOUNCES THE VACANCY OF:

FIRE CHIEF

The Fire Chief is the administrative head of the fire department, and shall be responsible for performing firefighting, water safety, and emergency services in order to save lives and property from fires and from emergencies arising on land, on the sea and hazardous terrain. The Chief shall train, equip, maintain and supervise a force of firefighting, water safety, and emergency services personnel. The Chief shall monitor the construction and occupancy standards of buildings for the purposes of fire prevention and life safety. The Chief shall provide educational programs related to fire prevention and life safety. The Chief shall appoint a deputy fire chief and the private secretaries to the fire chief and the deputy fire chief. The Chief shall have such other powers, duties and functions as may be required by ordinance, including those provided in Hawai'i County Code, Chapter 2, Article 5, Section 2-14.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Shall be a citizen of the United States and resident of the State of Hawai'i for at least one (1) year immediately preceding appointment. [Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 78-1(b)]
Shall have a minimum of five (5) years of training and experience in fire control, including at least three (3) years of experience in a responsible administrative capacity. [Hawai'i County Charter, Article VII, Chapter 4, Section 7-4.3(c)]
Shall have a combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (scan and attach a copy of your official college transcript and/or proof of experience, including certifications or training, to your application). [Hawai'i County Charter, Article VII, Chapter 4, Section 7-4.3(c)]
Shall possess a valid State of Hawai'i driver’s license (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver’s license at the time of hire. (You will be required to submit your valid driver's license at the time of hire.)

Note: Foreign transcripts must be accompanied by an official credential evaluation report to determine U.S. equivalency. (Scan and attach a copy of your official credential evaluation report to your application.)

INTERVIEW AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION:
Applicants will be subjected to a selection interview by the County of Hawai'i Fire Commission. The person selected must pass a pre-entry medical examination with the County Physician and a drug screening test.

Supplemental Information

Scan and attach the following required document to your on-line application:

cover letter
resume

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS:
Please ensure that the email address and mobile phone number you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails and text messages or fail to check your email box or NEOGOV account INBOX in a timely manner. Checking your NEOGOV account INBOX daily is recommended and is the most secure method to check on notices sent to you. This is a new feature created by our vendor, NEOGOV.

Please add info@governmentjobs.com to your contact list. Open your NEOGOV account using your user name and password. In the upper right hand corner of the account is your name, and under your name, click on INBOX to view all notices sent you. The notices will appear here in the INBOX even in the event you don't receive it on your cell phone, computer, or other electronic device. This is the best way to check and view all notices sent to you.

You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully submitting your application. Failure to receive this confirmation email, indicates that your application was not submitted.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii

E-mail:jobs@hawaiicounty.gov

Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Employee benefits are for full-time employment and include the following from the date of hire: