Details
 

03/28/2019

Fire Chief

City of Freeport

Freeport, IL (24,091 est. 2017) a historic community in northwestern Illinois, Freeport is 25 miles west of Rockford, 20 miles south of the Wisconsin border and easily accessible to major metropolitan areas in every direction. The City is seeking a high-energy, highly professional, visionary, experienced candidates interested in serving as the next Fire Chief. Site of an 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate, known for more than 150 years as “Pretzel City” and home to several Fortune 500 companies, Freeport combines history and progress in an area offering both urban and rural living. Freeport offers its citizens a very diverse lifestyle, incorporating the best of the old and new, the large and small. Tree-lined boulevards boast gracious 100+ year-old homes while new subdivisions offer the latest in design and construction. Their location– in the middle of a rural America yet close to several of the Midwest’s most progressive big cities, provides their residents with a myriad of choices to enhance their professional and personal lives. The City is a full-service organization which provides Fire/EMS, Police, Community Development, Public Works, Financial and Administrative services.

Please note the following about this opportunity: The Freeport Fire Department currently employs 45 highly-trained professional operating out of three (3) strategically placed fire stations throughout the City. The personnel are trained and certified as FFII and III, EMT and Paramedics, and Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Technicians. The department currently maintains an ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) of a Class 3. The shift personnel are members of the IAFF Local 441. The Freeport Fire Department is a member of MABAS Division 17 covering Stephenson County, IL providing state-of-the-art mutual aid services to the area. The department provides full fire, emergency medical services, (ALS), fire prevention, emergency management and specialized response team functions to the City and region. EMS transports are to FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. The Department responded to over 4,900 emergency calls in 2018. The fire department operates on a budget of $5,700,000.  

The City is seeking an experienced, innovative, collaborative fire/EMS leader with demonstrated managerial, interpersonal, and customer service skills. Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a balance of commitment to the organization as well as the senior management team of the City with a genuine confidence and approachable personality to residents, business and governmental leaders.  

The next Fire Chief will have a demonstrated record of fairness, transparency and consistency in the administration of Departmental policies and procedures and the willingness to address issues in a positive and timely manner. The Fire Chief must possess well-developed writing and public speaking skills and the utmost integrity.  

It is particularly important that the next Fire Chief is a progressive, creative and innovative leader involved in local, regional, state and national fire service initiatives. The new fire chief must provide an understanding of the need to use data for problem solving and community risk reduction efforts. The ability to mentor and foster leadership roles within the staff, succession planning and a global vision of the city’s needs and vision are critical. Creativity and the ability to guide and balance change is a must. Successful candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency management, emergency medical services or related fields. 10-years’ experience and demonstrated leadership in a fire service command position is required. A master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Fire Science, Public Administration or equivalent is desired.

Candidates will be required to obtain their CFO within 2-years of appointment if not already certified. Executive Fire Officer is required or must be obtained within 3-years of appointment. The annual salary range for this position is $ 85,000 – $100,000 depending upon qualifications. The City of Freeport also offers an attractive benefits package. Residency in the City is required of department heads.

Interested professionals should submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for 5 professional references by April 26, 2019 (5 p.m. DST) to Timothy E. Sashko, Vice-President at www.GovHRjobs.com.

THE CITY OF FREEPORT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Additional information about the City of Freeport can be found on the City’s website: www.cityoffreeport.org

Printer-Friendly Version