Deputy Fire Chief

We are currently seeking a goal-oriented professional and highly skilled leader to join our team as a Shared Deputy Fire Chief. This full-time position requires a dedicated professional to provide strong leadership skills, strategic direction and operational oversight of all emergency response and training functions of the Fire Service. 

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Fire Chief and CEMC, this position is responsible for ensuring a safe, effective, compliant, and professional volunteer emergency response organization through strong operational command, structured training systems, performance management and continuous improvement. Providing leadership and guidance to Zorra’s 60 volunteer firefighters and South-West Oxford’s 60 volunteer firefighters each serving in three stations.

A complete job description, along with the responsibilities, is available at www.swox.org

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the Fire Chief’s primary designate for operational and training matters and assume command in the Chief’s absence.
• Participate in senior leadership planning, policy development, and organizational strategy.
• Contribute to departmental goal setting, objectives and performance metrics, and continuous service improvement.
• Prepare operational and training reports for Senior Management, Council and Committees, and assist in budget preparation, financial forecasting, grant opportunities, and capital planning for operations and training.
• Support recruitment, volunteer engagement, labour relations, retention, and succession planning initiatives.
• Collaborate and supervise District Chiefs and officers to coordinate station operations, training activities, and service delivery.
• Participate in the Community Risk Assessment and Fire Master Planning processes.
• Establish training philosophy, competency standards, annual training plans, and implement training quality assurance and audit systems.
• Oversee recruit training, firefighter development, officer development, specialty training, and support instructor development, and certification.
• Ensure all stations, apparatus, and personnel are prepared to respond safely and effectively.
• Serve as a senior Incident Commander or Command Officer for major, complex, or multi-agency incidents, and monitor post-incident outcomes.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree or diploma in fire service, public/business administration, emergency management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–10 years of fire service experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in an officer or supervisory role.
• Extensive knowledge of fire suppression, fire prevention and inspection principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of Fire Marshals Act, Building Code Act, Provincial Offences Act, Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  
• Effective emergency services planning and budgeting skills.
• Required courses including: Fire Officer I, II, NFPA 1041, NFPA 1521, NFPA 1035, NFPA 1072, NFPA 1002, First Aid, CPR, First Responder and EMR.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience in a volunteer or composite fire department environment.
• Additional courses including: Ontario WSIB, OHSA Certification, NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I, II III, IV, NFPA 1031 level I, II, NFPA 1041 level II/III, NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator, BEM EM 200, CEMC EM 300, IMS 100, 200, 300, EMCA, PCP, and Technical Rescue 1006 Ice/Water, Rope, Confined Space, Auto Extrication.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, FirePro, iCompass, and FMW.
• DZ Class Ontario Driver’s Licence.

Salary and Benefits: (Grade 9 on 2026 Township Grid)

The annual salary range of $89,307.40 to $111,638.80 (based on a 35-hour work week), plus a comprehensive health benefits package and the OMERS Pension Plan. A condensed work-week option is available.