The City of Fitchburg is pleased to announce the recruitment and selection process for our Fire Chief & Emergency Management Director. Fitchburg seeks a collaborative, customer-focused and visionary leader to manage and administer the operations, functions, and activities of the Fitchburg Fire Department.
About the City of Fitchburg, Wisconsin
Population: 35,125 The City of Fitchburg is located in South-Central Wisconsin in the Madison Metropolitan area. Fitchburg is known for its close proximity to downtown Madison and its breadth of natural spaces, outdoor recreation, and science and technology economy. Fitchburg boasts five interconnected bicycle and pedestrian trails spanning approximately 30+ miles, 818 acres of park space, and a wide variety of types of residential neighborhoods ranging from densely urban and walkable to bucolic country living. Fitchburg is one of Wisconsin’s most diverse and fastest growing communities.
About the Fitchburg Fire Department
The Fitchburg Fire Department was founded in 1971 by a group of local residents who wanted to help their community. Each person volunteered their time to the department. There have been many changes since the day the department took shape. It is through the work of the members of this department and their eagerness to improve each day, that has brought the department to what it is today. The Fitchburg Fire Department is a combination department, proudly boasting almost 50 members, including career, paid-on-call, paid-on-premises, intern, and support staff members. Command/supervisory staff consists of the Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director, the Deputy Chief, one Division Chief of Inspection/Prevention, two Battalion Chiefs and a Paid-On Call Division Chief. Fitchburg Fire has three Fire Stations and one of the highest regarded Fire Science Resident Intern programs in Wisconsin.
Opportunities and Challenges
The City of Fitchburg takes pride in its combination fire department, which comprises full-time career staff, paid-on-call personnel, paid-on-premises staff, interns, and support team members. As Fire Chief, you will be responsible for fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture where all team members feel valued—whether they contribute 10 hours a week or 48.
Fitchburg partners with the highly trained and responsive Fitch-Rona EMS District to deliver outstanding emergency medical services. The City seeks a Fire Chief who will collaborate closely with Fitch-Rona to assess and evaluate long-term EMS strategies. This assessment may lead to continuing our partnership with Fitch-Rona or, potentially, transitioning to an in-house EMS model. Should the latter be determined, the Fire Chief will play a pivotal role in its implementation over the coming years.
In recent years, Fitchburg Fire has expanded its team, adding key positions such as a Division Chief of Inspection/Prevention and two Battalion Chiefs. The incoming Fire Chief will be tasked with evaluating the current staffing plan and recommending modifications to meet the needs of our growing community. The City of Fitchburg is committed to reflecting the diversity of the community it serves. One of the key priorities for the Fire Chief will be fostering a more inclusive and representative Fitchburg Fire Department. The Fire Chief will take the lead in developing and implementing strategies to engage and attract a diverse pool of candidates for open firefighter positions.
The Ideal Candidate
Qualified candidates will have at least five (5) years of responsible and varied senior management experience, (supervisory/command position, division officer or higher) in a directly related fire service capacity encompassing significant responsibility for the development and administration of fire/EMS department programs, services and resources. Such experience would normally be gained after graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in fire management, public administration or a related field. Other combinations of education, training and/or experience which can be demonstrated to result in the possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position will also be considered.
Required Certifications/Licenses: Must possess a valid Wisconsin Driver's License at the time of appointment and maintain during entire duration of appointment. Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (State of Wisconsin Certification or equivalent). Fire Officer I (State of Wisconsin Certification or equivalent). Certification through IFSAC (International Fire Service Accreditation Congress) may be used to demonstrate compliance with Wisconsin's training standards.
Visit www.teamfitchburg.com to learn more and apply online. Applications must be submitted by February 2, 2025 to be considered.
