Fire Chief

Nestled in the heart of rural South-Western Ontario, the Township of South-West Oxford offers many of the conveniences of urban living while enjoying the serenity of country life.  The Township includes the communities of Beachville, Brownsville, Centreville, Culloden, Delmer, Dereham Centre, Foldens, Mount Elgin, Ostrander, Sweaburg, and Verschoyle.  The Township has a population of 7,500 and is strategically located within close proximity to many large economic centres (Woodstock, Kitchener-Waterloo, London) via Highway 401, which runs across the north end of the Township, and Highway 19 which connects the Township to the Town of Ingersoll to the north and the Town of Tillsonburg to the south

Fire Chief and CEMC

The Township of South-West Oxford is currently recruiting for a highly motivated individual to fill the regular full-time position of Fire Chief and CEMC.

Your positive attitude and proactive approach to serving our community combined with your willingness to engage in team development will assist the municipality in realizing its goal to develop and deliver municipal services for the growth and well-being of our community.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer and as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Fire Chief, is a seasoned and highly capable professional, responsible for leading, directing, managing, planning, and overseeing the operations of the Emergency Services Department. The portfolio includes operating and maintaining the Township’s three (3) stations with a volunteer complement of approximately 63 volunteer firefighters, including overseeing fire prevention (Public Education and Fire Safety Inspections), fire suppression, fire investigations, and emergency planning and rescue operations.  Integral to the position are long-range planning, master plans, and strategic priorities, project management, budget, and financial management, coordination with Township departments, community agencies, provincial ministries, and stakeholder groups. The Fire Chief will oversee the overall management of the Township's health and safety program, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and best practices.

The portfolio includes fostering a healthy workplace culture where team members feel involved, included, and supported; developing and maintaining a cohesive team across all stations, and displaying strong communication, team building, and conflict resolution skills.

Qualification and Requirements

Completion of a recognized University Degree/College Diploma in Public or Business Administration is preferred, along with completion of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Fire Officer III or Fire College Company Officer Certification or equivalent combination of related education and experience.  The preferred candidate will have progressive related experience with supervision, fire fighting, and fire prevention of at least ten (10) years including five (5) at the Senior Officer level.  Candidates will have had responsibilities with emergency planning and emergency response, incident management, and thorough working knowledge of fire suppression and public education best practices, as well as knowledge of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and Fire Code and experience with enforcement processes of these documents.  Candidates must have senior management experience with responsibilities for leadership and direction of fire services operations, strategic business planning, financial budget and business planning, fiscal accountability/sustainability, and human resources management within a private/public sector environment.

Knowledge and demonstrated skills and ability in change management design, process, and implementation strategies to optimize both quality and cost-effectiveness of service delivery, as well as demonstrated knowledge of applicable legislation including Health and Safety, municipal government organization and structure, industry standards, issues, and communities served.

Terms

The Township is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.  If contacted for an interview, please advise if you require accommodation.

We invite you to visit www.swox.org to obtain further information about the municipality and to view the full job description (currently under review) for this position.

Salary and Benefits (Grade 10 on 2024 Township Grid – Senior Management Position)

The annual salary range of $96,241.60 to $120,302.00 (based on a 35-hour work week), plus a comprehensive health benefits package and the OMERS Pension Plan.  There are policies in place to allow for pre-approved overtime to be paid at an hourly rate or taken as time off in addition to the base salary. A condensed work-week option is available after 1-year of employment.