Job Posting Title

Fire and Rescue Chief

Department

Fire Department

Location:

6840 2ND ST NW

Pay

$142,239.00 - $218,692.00

Close Date

June 20, 2025

Employees at Bernalillo County enjoy the ability to team up with each other to build a high quality of life for our county residents, communities, and businesses. In addition to being an organization with a strong focus on work-life balance, building a culture of flexibility, learning, and belonging the County offers many benefits. Employees of Bernalillo County enjoy many thoughtful rewards such as, but not limited to generous leave accruals; career development opportunities; remote & flex-work options as appropriate; longevity pay; education assistance program; health benefits; lucrative retirement; and so much more.

The Fire and Rescue Chief is responsible for providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and administrative management of fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and fire plan review. This position ensures department efficiency and adherence to local, state, and federal regulations.

Duties And Responsibilities

Supervise, plan, coordinate and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the Bernalillo County Fire Department (BCFD) and Emergency Management Service (EMS) operations of the department; formulate programs and/or policies to alleviate deficiencies.
Plan, direct and review activities of personnel performing fire inspection, fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency medical services, including the timely conduct of employee performance reviews in accordance with county policies and applicable labor agreements.
Review and evaluate state and federal laws/requirements regularly while ensuring departmental compliance and implementation of changes in step with any revisions or updates.
Participate in local, regional, state and national conferences and seminars on fire administration, prevention, emergency medical, and emergency communications to maintain a continuing level of professional and technical competence.
Develop, plan and implement the department's budget and establish goals and objectives, responsible for expenditure of the departmental appropriations and monitoring of financial goals and objectives.
Ensure activities of the department are performed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Assume management responsibility of all departmental services and activities including training, fire prevention, fire inspection, fire suppression and emergency medical services.
Coordinate (BCFD) and (EMS) programs, services and administrative matters with County management, including attending meetings with administrative staff and keeping County management informed of key needs, issues and support requirements.

Evaluate the need for and recommend the purchase of new equipment and supplies including the use of new and innovative technology.

Oversee the selection, training and evaluation programs of all Fire Personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; identify and resolve staff deficiencies; execute disciple and/or termination procedures; handle grievances as needed.
Respond to alarms and direct activities at the scene of major emergencies, as needed.
Responsible for the inspection of buildings and other properties, review of building plans as appropriate and the enforcement of local fire prevention ordinances.
Coordinate mutual aid agreements and response plans with neighboring city, county and tribal governments.
Ensure the development, communication, training and implementation of the department's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Communicate the department's (EOP) to all department staff.
Train all levels of department personnel on the (EOP). Ensure full participation of all employees and that roles have been established and delegated to lower management. Direct and execute the emergency management procedures for the department ensuring the safety of all residents and employees.
Incumbent(s) in this classification may handle sensitive and/or confidential records, plans, documents or decisions that require maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
Any one position may not include all duties listed. However, the allocation of positions will be determined by the amount of time spent in performing the essential duties listed above.
The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required of all employees assigned to this job.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field plus ten (10) years’ experience in a career fire/rescue services department of equal or greater size to Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue to include four (4) years in a managerial role, with three (3) or more of those years in an upper level (Chief Officer) management in a fire department.

Must possess (at minimum) a current EMT-B certification and obtain State of New Mexico EMT-B certification within six months of start date.

Must have and maintain an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter II Certification.

Supplemental Information

Additional Requirements

Valid certifications as a State of New Mexico Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) or above and an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter II Certification must be obtained in the first nine (9) months following hire.

PREFERENCES

Master’s Degree or higher in a related field from an accredited education institution as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
Professionally credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer with the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
IFSAC Fire Officer IV certified.
National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer certification.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Utilizes the following tools and equipment: telephone, computer, radio, copy machine, facsimile machine, County vehicle, all rescue and firefighting equipment.
Uses all safety aids related to rescue and firefighting during emergency situations.
Materials and products handled in the course of performing essential duties include files, forms, reports, various paperwork, and a wide variety of basic office supplies.

Bernalillo County

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Fire and Rescue Chief