Fire Chief - Department Director

The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.

Distinguishing Features of Work

The City of Wichita is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Fire Chief. This is a high-impact role with the largest city in Kansas and a Top 50 U.S. city, offering the opportunity to lead a large and complex public safety organization that provides critical fire, emergency medical, and disaster response services.

Leading the largest fire department in the state, the Fire Chief will shape the direction of a highly skilled workforce dedicated to protecting life and property. This role offers significant scale and visibility, with direct impact on public safety outcomes and service delivery across a growing and dynamic community.

The Fire Chief reports to the City Manager, and works closely with the City Council, labor representatives, and executive leadership team to align departmental strategies with organizational priorities. This is an opportunity to strengthen operational readiness, support workforce development, and advance a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Wichita offers a unique combination of professional opportunity and community impact. The City values leaders who bring practical solutions, build strong relationships, and maintain a clear focus on results.

The Role

The Fire Chief leads all aspects of the City’s fire department and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. This position is responsible for setting direction, establishing priorities, and ensuring effective delivery of fire and emergency services.

Core areas of responsibility include fire suppression, fire prevention, training, investigations, emergency medical services, and departmental administration.

This role requires a leader who can operate at both a strategic and operational level, providing clear direction while ensuring effective execution. The Fire Chief oversees personnel, training, equipment, and emergency response operations while promoting accountability, readiness, and continuous improvement.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership: Aligns departmental strategies with City priorities and long-term public safety needs.

Operational and Technical Expertise: Applies knowledge of firefighting, emergency response, and prevention to improve performance and outcomes.

Relationship Management and Communication: Builds trust, communicates clearly, and works effectively with employees, leadership, and stakeholders.

Leadership and Team Development: Develops staff, sets expectations, and fosters a high-performing team environment.

Problem Solving and Decision Making: Navigates complex situations, manages risk, and makes timely, informed decisions.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and consistent application of standards.

Adaptability and Innovation: Leads through change and leverages best practices and technology to improve service delivery.

Examples of Work Performed

• Plans departmental operations with respect to equipment, facilities, apparatus, staffing and supervises plan implementation.
• Directs the improvement of work methods and enforcement of rules and regulations.
• Sets the standard for high employee morale and engages with employees at fire stations.
• Prepares budget estimates of anticipated expenditures.
• Assigns personnel and equipment, evaluates needs, and requisitions new apparatus, equipment and communication systems.
• Evaluates readiness of department staff and develops programs to enhance overall well-being.
• Oversees training academy and the proper training of recruit classes.
• Establishes a fair promotional process for employee advancement.
• Responds to alarms and directs operations at the scene of large emergencies.
• Ensures thorough investigation of fires and directs follow-up, leading to the arrest and conviction of arsonists.
• Directs the inspection of properties for fire hazards, enforces fire prevention regulations, and ensures elimination of fire hazards by consistent, firm and equitable code administration.
• Directs departmental in-service training of personnel.
• Sets high expectations and demands accountability in all facets of department operations.
• These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive.
• Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements of Work

• Thorough knowledge of modern firefighting methods and ability to apply this knowledge to varied fire control and prevention problems.
• Working knowledge of the use of a wide variety of fire apparatus.
• Working knowledge of relevant emergency response standards, laws, rules and regulations.
• Working knowledge of uniform fire prevention procedures, building and fire codes.
• Thorough knowledge of developments in firefighting and fire prevention techniques and of the principles of Fire Department administration.
• Knowledge of "best practices" used by mid-sized to large urban fire departments across the nation.
• Possesses excellent coaching, mentoring and management skills.
• Ability to plan and implement long-term programs in administration, employee training, fire prevention, and disaster planning.
• Ability to direct the pre-fire plan process in industrial and commercial buildings.
• Technical understanding of Homeland Security requirements and coordination.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with fire associates, employees of other Departments, representatives of other organizations, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, City officials (both elected and appointed), and the general public.
• Ability to communicate high standards of expectations for performance and be willing to hold individuals accountable.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Possession of and ability to maintain a valid Kansas driver's license.

Experience and Training

Required Experience and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration, or a related field
• 10 years of progressive experience in a fire department serving a mid-sized to large community
• 4 years of command-level experience (Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, or equivalent)

Preferred Experience and Training

• Master’s degree in public administration, fire science, or a related field
• 15 or more years of fire service experience
• 7 or more years in senior command or executive leadership roles
• Advanced executive training such as the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program or Chief Fire Officer designation

Key Experience Expectations

• Demonstrated leadership in complex emergency response environments
• Experience managing large teams, multiple divisions, and departmental operations
• Background in labor relations, including working with union-represented employees
• Experience with budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational leadership

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf (Download PDF reader)