The City of Battle Creek (“The City”) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The City complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
The City expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Improper interference with the ability of the City employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.
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Description
The Fire Chief provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight and operational command within a 24-hour, career fire department in order to ensure high-quality fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue operations, fire prevention and emergency preparedness. The position requires a collaborative leadership style, strong labor-management skills and a commitment to professional standards and community service.
Essential Functions
- Establish departmental goals, policies and procedures consistent with city objectives and best practices to enhance public safety.
- Establish and effectively manage the department’s operating and capital budgets; manage staffing, apparatus, equipment and facility resources; prepare correspondence, records and reports as necessary.
- Develop long-term plans to improve and maintain effective operations and facility management.
- Evaluate programs for training firefighting personnel in the proper methods of firefighting, Hazmat, EMS, rescue, emergency management operations, the proper use of equipment, and on fire prevention to include inspection, investigation, and enforcement of Federal, State, and local laws.
- Direct investigations into the causes of fires; coordinate with Emergency Service Director.
- Establish and maintain effective controls for enforcing laws and ordinances. Ensure departmental compliance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
- Primary spokesperson on behalf of Fire Department at City Commission and other meetings as necessary to clarify/explain programs/activities. Participate on specialty boards at the State and local level as a city representative and maintain connections with government officials, key stakeholders and regional partners.
- Maintain constructive labor-management relations, including regular collaboration with union leadership and participation in contract negotiation and administration. Review and respond to employee grievances as necessary.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, equity and inclusion within the department in accordance with city and BCFD policy, Public Act 78 and collective bargaining agreements.
- Handle citizen inquiries, comments, and complaints regarding departmental activities; conducts activities in the development of good public relations and promotes good will, including the making of public addresses, appearances, and other activities.
- Perform other job-related duties as apparent or assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Must be able to demonstrate thorough knowledge of fire suppression techniques, Incident Command, safety codes and standards applicable to the city.
- Must have the skills or abilities to identify problems and initiate creative problem-solving techniques. Manage complex projects from inception through implementation. Make effective decisions under pressure, meet critical deadlines and follow-up assignments in a timely manner.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree with coursework in fire administration, public administration, or related field.
- EMS License is desirable.
- Experience with program and project management with budgetary oversight.
- Current NIMS certification(s).
Minimum Qualifications/Experience
- Minimum of 8-10 years’ progressively responsible fire service experience.
- At least 5 years in officer-level position supervising line personnel.
- Post-secondary education is preferred; however, a combination of education, training and experience that results in demonstrated competency performing the work may be substituted.
Special Requirements
- Valid driver's license in the State of Michigan.
- Strong presentation and computer skills and ability to prepare technical and administrative reports; communicate effectively in oral and written form.
- Possess Fire Officer I, II, III certification or equivalent executive level training; or be eligible to apply, enroll and attend same or equivalent executive level leadership training within 12 months.
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions
Executive-level position with on-call availability 24/7. Combination of administrative office work and on-scene response to major incidents. This work requires the ability to exert physical effort of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, bending, reaching, hand dexterity (grasping, holding, keyboarding, repetitive movements), reading, writing, eye-hand coordination; work has standard vision requirements (near and/or far, color, depth, field of vision); vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communications (use of telephone) and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions.
At the City of Battle Creek, we understand that benefits are an important part of the total compensation package. As such, we strive to offer employees a generous benefit package that provides flexibility, choice, and value, allowing employees to not only meet their needs today but to plan for a secure future.
Full-time employee benefits –
Benefits vary slightly by union contract, employment agreement, or policy. For benefits specific to this role, please reach out to humanresources@battlecreekmi.gov.
Medical: Choose from a PPO plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI - Simply Blue or an HMO plan with Blue Care Network and pair your election with a Health Savings Account.
Virtual Care: Included with your BCBSM and BCN health care plan.
Dental: 100% employer-paid through Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI - Simply Blue
Life Insurance: 100% employer-paid basic life insurance with AD&D benefit equal to 2X the employee’s base annual earnings up to $400,000. Limited coverage is also provided for spouses and children.
Sickness and Accident: 100% employer-sponsored partial wage replacement for short-term disabilities after meeting eligibility criteria.
Retirement Savings
- 457 through Mission Square with employer match
- MERS Pension * note that Police and Fire have a separate pension fund not through MERS
Employer Assistance Plan (EAP): 100% Employer paid through Pine Rest
Paid Time Off: Generous PTO package – Paid Time Off will vary by position and is outlined within City Policy or union contract.
Paid Holidays: 13 paid holidays per year
Voluntary Benefits
- Supplemental Term and Whole life
- Critical Illness
- Hospitalization
- Accident
- Vision – NVA
- Lifecare Ambulance Service
- Flexible Spending Account
- Global Emergency Assistance Services
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Eligible Employer
Click the link below for 2026 BENEFIT INFORMATION
2026CoBC Open Enrollment Guide.pdfIn addition to the above, some positions may qualify for:
- Flexible Schedule/Remote Work
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Educational Stipends
- Longevity pay
- Tool and safety allowances
- Employer-paid uniforms
- Cell phone allowance
- Military pay differential
- Professional development opportunities
- Ability to earn compensatory time
- Retiree health savings plan
