City of Centerville, Iowa – Fire Chief Recruitment
The City of Centerville, Iowa, seeks an experienced and dynamic leader to serve as its next Fire Chief. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to provide vision, leadership, and management oversight for our community's fire operations.
About Centerville
Centerville, the county seat of Appanoose County, is a welcoming community known for its rich history, vibrant town square, and strong commitment to public safety. The Centerville Fire Department is a combination department transitioning to a staff of one full-time Chief, three full-time firefighters, and 22 paid-per-call volunteer firefighters. The Centerville Fire Department is co-located with Centerville Fire Rescue EMS Service, which is composed of an EMS Director, eight EMS personnel, and 15 PRN EMS staff. The Fire Chief will coordinate with the Centerville Fire Rescue EMS Director to ensure service delivery. The fire service covers a primary service area of 96 square miles, providing fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, and public safety education to the residents of Centerville and surrounding townships. The EMS service is the primary EMS service for the entire 499 square miles of Appanoose County.
Position Overview
The Fire Chief manages and directs all Centerville Fire Rescue Department operations, including fire suppression, fire prevention, training, budgeting, and personnel management. The Chief will work closely with city leadership, emergency response agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
The primary work schedule for this position will follow a 24-hour on/72-hour off rotation, with one of the four full-time staff members providing front-line firefighter coverage. To meet the department and city's operational needs, additional administrative and leadership duties as Fire Chief will be performed on a flexible basis.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the fire department.
- Develop and implement departmental policies, goals, and objectives.
- Oversee and evaluate the effectiveness of fire prevention, training, and response programs.
- Prepare and administer the department's annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate department personnel, fostering a culture of professionalism and teamwork.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
- Lead emergency response efforts during fires, hazardous materials incidents, and natural disasters.
- Collaborate with other public safety agencies, community partners, and stakeholders.
- Apply for grants and seek outside funding to support department operations.
- Serve as a public representative for the department, engaging with the community and media.
Minimum Qualifications
- A combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in fire science, emergency medical operations, public administration, or a related field, along with 10 years of firefighting experience, is required.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in fire services.
- Iowa or National EMT Certification or ability to acquire certification within 2 years required.
- Strong knowledge of fire suppression techniques, hazardous materials management, and fire prevention practices.
- Candidates must meet Civil Service qualifications as required by the Iowa Code and successfully complete any required Civil Service examination.
- Familiarity with ISO ratings, local fire codes, and emergency management regulations.
- Ability to obtain Class B CDL and a Valid Iowa Driver’s License with the ability to be insured by the City’s carrier.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
- Must establish residency within Appanoose County within 6 months.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $75,000-$85,000, commensurate with experience, and set annually by the Centerville City Council.
- Benefits Package: Includes health insurance, retirement contributions, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.
Ready to Apply to the Team?
Click on the "Apply Now" link to start your application by visiting https://ureconsultinggroup.applicantpro.com/jobs. As part of the application process, you are required to upload your cover letter, resume, and professional references where indicated. Only applications submitted via the above link will be considered. Please ensure your documents are uploaded before you log out. Incomplete submittals may not be accepted or considered.
A review of applications is anticipated on or around April 30, 2025. Confirmation that your application has been received and information regarding the recruitment process will be emailed to you. Be sure to check your email for status updates. Please check your spam or junk folders in the event the email did not deliver to your email inbox.
Application Deadline: Review of applicants is April 30, 2025. Testing and Interviews are scheduled for May 13, 2025
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Centerville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation will be provided to qualified individuals.
