Fire Chief

Position Overview

Fire Chief 

IMPORTANT: To be considered for employment, applicants must click the application link below and complete their application through our official recruitment system. Applications submitted directly through this job posting will not be accepted.

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The Town of Vail seeks a highly motivated and experienced fire service professional to serve as the next Fire Chief.  The Vail Fire Chief will provide vision, direction, and leadership in developing innovative approaches to delivering quality emergency response services.  The Chief oversees a full range of fire and emergency services, including: Structural and Wildland Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Care, Community Safety Awareness, Hazardous Material Response, Fire Code Enforcement, Technical Rescue, and Community Partnerships.  As a member of the Town Manager’s Senior Leadership Team, the Chief will actively bring professional insights and an overall desire to continually improve our community.

VFES consists of three divisions: Fire Prevention/Administration/Fire Suppression and Wildfire Response/Mitigation. 

Additional details regarding the position, requirements & our community can be found here: Vail Fire Chief Recruitment Brochure. 

Skills / Requirements

Vail is a guest service–oriented, world-class resort community. We know that our employees make all the difference in setting the standard for excellence in alpine destinations. That’s why we’re seeking passionate individuals who take pride in their work and strive for excellence in everything they do.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive full-time fire service experience in a comparably complex organization
• At least 3 years in an administrative or managerial leadership role (typically Battalion Chief or higher)
• ICS-400 certification
• Hazardous Materials Incident Commander certification
• Valid driver’s license (Colorado driver’s license required within 30 days of appointment)
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check, psychological evaluation, drug screen, and physical examination

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Administration or related field
• Experience in wildland fire management and fire prevention
• Chief Fire Officer designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence
• National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program completion
• NFPA Fire Officer II and/or III certifications

Culture / Lifestyle / Benefits

The Town of Vail is a values-based culture that is nurtured by our employees’ strong desire to foster teamwork, take ownership in Vail’s future, and an overall pride in serving their community. To find out more about our community, please visit our website www.vail.gov and click on Vail Information.  

The Town of Vail offers a competitive benefits and compensation package including medical, dental, vision, employer-paid life and disability retirement plans, generous vacation benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development opportunities, and lifestyle benefits that range from a tennis pass, golf pass, and other ski pass/wellness benefits.