Fire Chief - Department Director

About this role

<p data-pasted="true">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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Wichita offers a unique combination of professional opportunity and community impact. The City values leaders who bring practical solu

Requirements

<ul><li>Thorough knowledge of modern firefighting methods and ability to apply this knowledge to varied fire control and prevention problems.</li><li>Working knowledge of the use of a wide variety of fire apparatus.</li><li>Working knowledge of relevant emergency response standards, laws, rules and regulations.</li><li>Working knowledge of uniform fire prevention procedures, building and fire codes.</li><li>Thorough knowledge of developments in firefighting and fire prevention techniques and of the principles of Fire Department administration.</li><li>Knowledge of "best practices" used by mid-sized to large urban fire departments across the nation.</li><li>Possesses excellent coaching, mentoring and management skills.</li><li>Ability to plan and implement long-term programs in administrati