Fire Chief

The Town of Whitby is one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities, located in the heart of Durham Region in southern Ontario. It is home to approximately 140,000 residents and more than 2,200 businesses and is the second-largest municipality in the Regional Municipality of Durham. Whitby combines a small-town atmosphere with the sophistication and amenities of a larger urban centre. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Whitby boasts two beautiful heritage downtowns, one of the finest recreational harbours with two marinas, year-round sports and recreation activities, parks, trails, beaches, and a robust arts and culture scene—all part of the extraordinary amenities Whitby residents enjoy every day. With a population projected to grow to 200,000 people within the next seven years, Whitby has an exciting and aspiring future.

Reporting to the CAO, the Fire Chief is accountable for the overall senior leadership, strategic direction, and coordination of all sections within Whitby Fire & Emergency Services. The Fire Chief ensures that Fire Department operations continue to deliver exceptional customer service in public education, prevention, suppression, and rescue services to the citizens of the Town of Whitby. The Fire Chief also oversees all staff training and overall emergency management and appropriately balances the delivery of emergency services with taxpayer funding of services across the municipality.

This position is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, which is responsible for advancing the objectives of the CAO and Mayor and Council. In addition, the Fire Chief is required to ensure compliance with and enforcement of all applicable statutes, by-laws, and regulations related to the municipality and the fire service.

The Fire Chief is responsible for acting as the “Assistant to the Fire Marshal” with respect to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act; “Chief Fire Official” with respect to the Ontario Fire Code; and “authority having jurisdiction” with respect to applicable portions of the Building Code.

The Fire Chief’s overall duties and responsibilities must remain aligned with requirements under various legislative bodies, including, but not limited to, the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997; the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990; the Employment Standards Act, 2000; and applicable collective agreements.

The compensation range for the role is $203,386–$231,121 per year. This advertisement is to fill a vacancy.

The ideal candidate will hold a post-secondary diploma or degree in fire services, business administration, public administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible work experience. They will be a graduate of the Ontario Fire College, with completion of all legislatively required training, including, but not limited to, the Company Officer Program, and will hold a Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) professional designation. Completion of an Executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) professional designation and NFPA 1021 – Fire Officer IV are considered assets.

The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of twelve years of progressively responsible experience in the fire service and at least five years of senior leadership experience in the fire service within a complex, unionized environment. A combination of equivalent experience and education may be considered. Extensive and progressive training as a firefighter, training officer, fire prevention officer, and/or senior suppression officer in the fire service is required.