Regional Fire Chief

Lamont County’s administration building is located in the Town of Lamont which is located approximately 30 kilometres from the City of Fort Saskatchewan along Highway 15 and 50 kilometres east of Edmonton. While the population of the County is approximately 3,700, the Fire and Emergency Management serves a population of just over 9,000 throughout the County and area. The primary economic sectors influencing the County include energy, oil and gas infrastructure, industrial and commercial, agricultural (crops, livestock and products), and tourism. Lamont County is home to current and proposed major industrial facilities. Major companies include Cenovus, Graymont, Inter Pipeline, Western Asphalt and MEG Energy. Agricultural value-added industries include farm equipment sales/service, fuels and fertilizers, livestock products/services, grain handling and hauling facilities. Major employers include Pioneer Grain, Viterra, and NBI Feedyards. Independent businesses operating in Lamont County include a broad range of retail products, consumer services, restaurants and construction products/services. Also, throughout the County there exists a variety of education institutions, indoor and outdoor recreation, sports and leisure experiences and event facilities, medical services and seniors care facilities.

Lamont County Emergency Services

Lamont County and its regional municipal partners have a long history of collaboration with respect to fire and emergency services management. In 2016, the provision of fire services for Lamont County, the Towns of Lamont, Mundare and Bruderheim, and the Villages of Andrew and Chipman, became the responsibility of Lamont County. Furthermore, in 2021 through a Ministerial Order in Council, the Lamont County Regional Emergency Management Partnership was established for Lamont County, the Town of Lamont, the Village of Andrew, the Village of Chipman, and the Town of Mundare.

Operational Structure of Lamont County Emergency Services

• Full time Fire Chief, full time Deputy Fire Chief, admin support, 3 paid-on-call District Chiefs, and approximately 90 paid-on-call officers and firefighters.
• Capital Assets – 6 Pumpers, 3 Command Vehicles, 5 Rescues, 3 Tankers, and 3 Brush Trucks.
• Accredited Regional Fire Training Center (outdoor practice facility shown in image)

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Lamont County, and based out of the Lamont County administration building located in the Town of Lamont, AB, the Regional Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management leads, manages and directs the protective services department in all aspects of fire department operations, fire investigations, inspections, and public education. This position plays a critical role in overseeing emergency services and emergency management program delivery to support Lamont County’s Strategic Plan and commitment to excellence in municipal government and customer service.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership to the department for the purpose of aligning services and programs with the County’s corporate strategic and business plans.
• Provide expertise, guidance, and recommendations to the Chief Administrative Officer, senior administration team, elected officials and organizational leaders in all aspects of emergency services and emergency management.
• Participate in Lamont County’s senior administration team and champion and support County-wide partnership initiatives.
• Participate in and provides administrative support to the Lamont Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee.
• Lead the development and implementation of the department’s business plan, budget and human resource planning to ensure effective emergency services programs closely linked with Lamont County’s strategic direction, corporate business plans and County values and beliefs.
• Foster effective collaborative relationships with Council, senior administration team, department staff, other County departments, and other stakeholders.
• Direct the overall administration, financial, human resources (including training), and communication functions of the department.
• Establish, model, support and encourage a collaborative and healthy work environment including personal accountability, a unified culture, team alignment, engaged employees, respectful conduct, employee and volunteer recognition and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor department staff emphasizing strategic thinking skills, building effective working relationships and collaborative approaches.
• Ensure effective and efficient approaches to resource management throughout the department to provide cost-effective service delivery, customer satisfaction and risk management.
• Promote and help develop and grow the utilization (“the business”) of the Fire Training Facility.
• Develop and maintain strong and positive relationships with all levels of government, mutual aid partners including other municipalities, industry, the business community, and various non-governmental organizations.
• As a member of the senior leadership team, provide support to additional duties as may be assigned.
• Extensive knowledge of the theories, principles, and administration of emergency services department management, including the political and policy factors that influence the emergency services’ department programs and their development supported by significant operational experience.
• Considerable breadth and in-depth knowledge of planning and reporting processes, business planning and fiscal frameworks, and best practices in emergency services and emergency management.
• Extensive knowledge of the functions, principles and policies for municipal government administration and operations.
• Skilled in diplomacy and relationship management relevant to private or public leaders e.g. CAO’s. Elected Officials, CEO’s.
• Experience with divisional or departmental level financial and budget management along with proven accountability in achieving operational budget targets.
• Strong leadership skills including the ability to establish and maintain a high-performance team in a positive, safe, and healthy work environment.
• Capacity and experience negotiating and managing intermunicipal or multi-organizational fire or emergency service agreements.
• Proven ability to assess complex/sensitive situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks and make sometimes controversial or difficult decisions that are in the best interests of the organization.
• Proactively identify the need and opportunities for change and build support for major changes to direction of services or business practices.
• Strong business and political acumen.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in strategic planning, organization, financial / budget management, interpersonal, problem-solving, change management and conflict resolution.
• Excellent communication skills: verbal, listening, presentation and written.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years’ experience in fire service in a supervisory / management position with progressively responsible roles in an organization.
• Post-secondary education in emergency services, leadership, management and or business.
• ICS 400, required.
• Safety Codes Officer Group A minimum, with Group C2 and / or Group B2 preferred.
• Director of Emergency Management (DEM) Certification from AEMA, preferred.
• Extensive training in fire and emergency services technical skills.
• Valid class 1, 2, or 3 Alberta driver’s license with air brake endorsement.
• Standard First Aid and Level C CPR.

Lamont County welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including candidates from diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.

Compensation

Competitive compensation will be commensurate with skills and experience, and an attractive benefits package. Further details will be discussed in a personal interview. The successful finalist will be subject to a criminal record check, with vulnerable sector search, drivers abstract, and drug and alcohol testing.

Submit resume and cover letter in confidence to: