Deputy Fire Chief

Position Type:

Regular Full Time (RFT)

Closing Date:

October 31, 2025

Salary/Wage Range:

$112, $140,551.00

Working for the City of Burlington

A great career is closer than you think. Come work for the City of Burlington, where you'll be joining an innovative and progressive workplace focused on building a 21st century city that respects the diversity of our residents, visitors and employees; and prioritizes continuous opportunities for you to learn and grow.

We don't just spend time attracting the best talent. We spend time and resources to keep the best talent. This may include: flexible working hours, mobile and hybrid working arrangements, a great pension and benefits package, as well as programs to foster innovation and leadership.

Hours of Work

35 hours per week

Department

Fire

Location

This position is required to work in person at Fire Headquarters. Work location is subject to change at the discretion of the City due to operational demands.

Position Overview

Note: Compensation

• An additional Deputy Premium will be added onto base salary
• Target Compensation can vary up to $185,000
• Position is eligible for annual performance and market adjustments

Burlington Fire is a high-performing and progressive organization recognized for its innovation, professionalism, and strong sense of community. Our team is dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment through excellence in service delivery, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

We are seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking individual for the position of Deputy Fire Chief, Operations. This is an exceptional opportunity for a high-calibre professional with determination, strategic insight, and political awareness to contribute to the leadership of a modern and progressive fire service.

Confidence operating within a political environment, an open and engaging leadership style, and a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and collaboration will be essential in building effective relationships with staff, City colleagues, and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and supervision of all activities within the Operations Division, including the leadership of both career and volunteer fire suppression personnel.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic and operational leadership for all fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response operations.
• Leads and manages career and volunteer suppression personnel to ensure effective service delivery and professional development.
• Ensures compliance with operational guidelines, occupational health and safety standards, legislation, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with the Fire Management Team on annual operating and capital budgets, identifying priorities and resource requirements.
• Oversees operational planning, deployment models, and staffing levels to ensure alignment with departmental goals and NFPA standards.
• Works closely with the Burlington Professional Firefighters Association (Local 1552) to foster positive labour-management relations and resolve operational matters proactively.
• Leads the development and implementation of standard operating guidelines (SOGs), policies, and procedures to enhance safety, efficiency, and accountability.
• Participates in corporate and departmental projects, contributing to strategic planning, business planning, technology initiatives, and performance measurement.
• Builds and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support community safety, emergency response planning, and mutual aid coordination.
• Serves in the on-call rotation as a senior officer, providing leadership and decision-making at major incidents.
• Acts on behalf of the Fire Chief as required.

Requirements

• Eight to ten years of progressive fire service leadership experience as a chief officer, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of all facets of fire service operations.

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Fire Service Management, Public Administration, or a related field.

• Proven experience managing the delivery of both urban and rural fire suppression and rescue services.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and develop personnel through effective performance management, coaching, and succession planning to ensure safe, efficient, and professional operations.
• Strong understanding of the principles, practices, and challenges of leading staff within a composite fire department environment.
• Skilled in strategic leadership, labour relations, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Extensive knowledge of emergency management systems, including hazard identification, risk assessment, site management, and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordination.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational strategies aligned with NFPA standards, the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, and municipal objectives.
• Proven experience working collaboratively in a unionized environment and fostering positive labour-management relationships.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and decision-making skills with the ability to build strong partnerships across divisions, departments, and community stakeholders

A valid G-class driver's license is required with an acceptable driver's abstract (no more than three (3) driving related convictions and an accumulation of no more than three (3) demerit points in the previous three (3) years prior to the date of hire).

Police Check Requirement

This position requires the successful candidate to provide a clear criminal record check and/or a clear criminal record check with a vulnerable sector screening at their own expense.

Accommodations

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the City of Burlington accommodates the individual needs of applicants with disabilities within the recruitment process. Please call us at or email us at:

if you require accommodation to ensure your equal participation in the recruitment and selection process.

Note to Applicants:

We thank all those who apply for positions, but only those applicants who are invited for an interview will be contacted.