Fire Chief
AN OUTSTANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Leading one of the nation’s largest fire departments in one of its most dynamic major cities presents a rare and consequential leadership opportunity. The City of Austin is seeking an accomplished, forward-thinking fire service executive to lead the Austin Fire Department through its next chapter – building on a strong foundation while preparing the organization for continued growth, increasing wildland-urban interface challenges, and the evolving demands of a dynamic metropolitan community. The next Fire Chief will lead through collaboration, relationships, and innovation, ensuring Austin Fire remains an exceptional organization ready to meet the needs of the community today and well into the future.
THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Austin Fire Department is one of the 20 largest fire departments in the nation, with 54 stations and over 100,000 calls for service handled annually. Austin Fire provides its services with over 1,350 sworn firefighters, 135 professional staff, and is authorized for 60 cadets. Funding its operations is an FY 2027 budget of $61.4 million. The department is organized across the following five branches: Operations, Specialized Functions (Homeland Security and Wildfire), Prevention & Technology, Member Services, and Management Services, with each led by an Assistant Chief. The Fire Chief is directly supported by a Chief of Staff, to whom the Assistant Chiefs report.
THE POSITION
Reporting to an Assistant City Manager for Public Safety, the Austin Fire Chief serves as the administrative head of the Austin Fire Department and provides strategic and operational leadership for the City’s fire prevention, suppression, and emergency response services. The Chief directs, plans, and coordinates department activities while establishing policies, service priorities, staffing levels, and organizational practices that protect life and property and deliver effective service to Austin’s diverse and growing community. Key responsibilities include provides executive leadership for the Fire Department, establishing departmental goals, programs, policies, staffing priorities, and service strategies; leads the City’s efforts to preserve life and property through effective fire prevention and suppression services; monitors and evaluates departmental methods, procedures, and service delivery; serves as the lead administrator for sworn and non-sworn employees and builds organizational capability through recruitment, selection, training, evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and employee development; builds trusted relationships with community and business leaders, using innovative outreach approaches to strengthen partnerships and encourage community support; develops cooperative relationships with City departments, law enforcement agencies, and related organizations; establishes effective working relationships with the City Manager, City Council, department directors, employees, and the public; provides executive oversight of departmental resources and budgetary responsibilities; and provides leadership within a represented workforce environment, including the Meet and Confer process, labor negotiations, employee counseling, discipline, and other personnel matters.
QUALIFICATIONS
The following are the minimum requirements for the position:
Education: Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred, as are executive fire trainings and certificates.
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible work in fire management in a large city and/or county government structure, two of which must be in a senior command level.
Required Licenses and Certifications: Certification by the Commission on Fire Protection Standards at the intermediate level or its equivalent as defined by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Standards. An individual appointed head of a department must be eligible to be certified at the time of the appointment or will become eligible to be certified within one year of the appointment as defined by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Standards.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for the Austin Fire Chief is $278,000 to $288,000, with placement in the range depending on qualifications. The benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, compensated leave, short-term disability, and retirement benefits. The City is a member of the Proportionate Retirement Program. Optional benefits include supplemental life insurance, a 457 deferred compensation plan, long-term disability plan, and a legal plan.
Visit Austin Employee Benefits to learn more about the City’s employee benefits.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates should apply no later than Monday, October 19, 2026. Submit a comprehensive résumé and compelling cover letter online at:
Information submitted for consideration may be made available to the public in compliance with the Texas Open Records Act. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the recruiter below before submitting materials. Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:
Greg Nelson | [email protected] | (916) 581-1426
