🚒 NOW HIRING: DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF
The City of Cape Girardeau is seeking an experienced and dedicated fire service professional to join our team asDeputy Fire Chief.
Under the general direction of the Fire Chief, this position provides leadership, supervision, and coordination for the Fire Department’s Operations Division. The Deputy Fire Chief – Operations plays a critical role in emergency response, incident command, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, firefighter health and safety, training, and operational readiness.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced fire service leader who is committed to excellence, professional development, and serving the community.
🔥 Key Responsibilities
- Command and coordinate fire department resources during complex fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergencies.
- Serve as Incident Commander and provide leadership within the department's Incident Command System.
- Supervise and maintain accurate administrative, emergency response, inspection, and safety records.
- Serve as the Fire Department Health and Safety Officer and promote safe operational practices.
- Coordinate emergency response and community safety initiatives with City, County, State, and Federal agencies.
- Support fire prevention, public education, safety standards, policy development, and incident investigations.
- Oversee training and professional development and instruct courses ranging from recruit-level to advanced officer-level topics.
- Ensure personnel, apparatus, equipment, stations, and facilities are maintained in a state of readiness.
- Evaluate service delivery and participate in post-incident analyses, investigations, and strategic planning.
- Prepare and review incident, scheduling, training, and statistical reports.
- Advise the Fire Chief regarding operational budgetary needs and administer annual appropriations.
- Serve as Acting Fire Chief in the absence of the Fire Chief.
🎓 Minimum Qualifications
- Associate's degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Emergency Management, or a related field, with 30 additional credit hours toward a Bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degree must be completed within three (3) years.
- Valid driver's license.
- Ten (10) years of experience with a similar-sized department, including five (5) years serving as a chief officer.
- Missouri FF1 and FF2 certification or equivalent.
- Current EMT-B certification and the ability to obtain or transfer Missouri EMT-B certification within 60 days of hire.
- Missouri Fire Instructor 1 and Fire Officer 1, 2, 3, & 4 certifications or equivalent.
- Missouri Driver/Operator-Pumper certification or equivalent.
- Nine or more certifications from the department's List of Additional Certifications.
⭐ Preferred Qualifications
- Missouri EMT-P License.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.
- Fire Instructor 2 or higher.
- Graduate of the National Fire Academy Managing Officer Program.
- Graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program.
- Nationally or State-recognized Incident Command, Leadership, or Training/Development courses.
- National Fire Academy resident courses.
- Professional Credentialing as Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center of Public Safety Excellence.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Starting Salary: $97,000 annually
Total compensation value, including salary and benefits: $138,969 annually
Benefits include:
- Bi-weekly pay periods
- 13 paid holidays per year
- 96 hours of vacation accrued throughout the year
- 96 hours of sick leave accrued throughout the year
- 2 personal leave days per fiscal year
- City-paid monthly health and dental insurance premiums for employee-only coverage
- City-paid life insurance for employees (1x annual salary, up to $50,000)
- Optional group term life insurance
- Optional vision insurance
- Voluntary deferred compensation plan
- City-paid LAGERS retirement
Before final appointment, the successful applicant will be required to successfully complete a drug test, background investigation, pre-employment physical, and psychiatric evaluation.
The City of Cape Girardeau is an Equal Opportunity Employer and ADA compliant employer (EOE/ADA/M/F/V).
👉 Interested in making a difference and leading the next generation of fire service professionals? Apply today!
- #NowHiring #FireDepartment #FireService #DeputyFireChief #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #CapeGirardeau #MissouriJobs #Leadership #FirstResponders