Fire Chief

Salary: $172,723.20 - $250,972.80 Annually
Location : 55 SW Ash St. Portland, OR
Job Type: At Will
Job Number: 2025-00318
Bureau: Portland Fire & Rescue
Opening Date: 03/10/2025
Closing Date: 4/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
Job Appointment: Full-time, At Will.

This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position. It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. Work hours will vary to meet business needs during crises or critical events.
Work Location: In-Person at Fire Station 1, 55 SW Ash St. Portland, OR.
Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefit for this position.
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.
Union Representation: This classification is not represented.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need to attach a Cover Letter, Rsum, and an Equity and Anti-Racism statement.
Why Lead Portland Fire & Rescue?
Becoming the next Fire Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) is an opportunity to lead one of the most dynamic and progressive fire departments in the country. While the challenges are significant-budget constraints, staffing shortages, increasing service demands, and the need to foster a more inclusive and equitable culture-they are matched by the chance to make a lasting impact on the bureau and the Portland community.
Why Portland, Oregon?
Portland is the largest city in Oregon, with a population of 630,000 and a metro region population of over 2 million. As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, Portland is frequently recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly and livable cities in the world. Known for its excellent urban planning, expansive public transportation, and high accessibility to the outdoors, Portland offers an unparalleled quality of life for those who choose to serve and lead here.
Portland is a city that values innovation, collaboration, and community-centered leadership. PF&R plays a critical role in ensuring public safety, responding to over 92,000 emergency calls annually (FY23-24), and adapting to the evolving needs of a diverse and growing urban environment. The city's commitment to progressive policies, public engagement, and resilience planning creates an exciting landscape for a forward-thinking fire chief to lead transformative change.
Learn more about PF&R: https://www.portland.gov/fire/about-portland-fire-rescue
City of Portland Core Values: Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility
These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City's core values, please click here.
Position Summary
The City of Portland seeks a highly experienced and innovative leader for the role of Fire Chief. The Portland Fire Chief is a non-civil service position, serving as the chief administrative and supervisory director of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R). The successful candidate will possess the background and experience necessary to provide leadership to approximately 800 sworn and non-sworn employees across four divisions and the Chief's Office and manage a budget of $181 million.
The City of Portland transitioned from a commission structure to a new mayor-council form of government on January 1, 2025. Reporting to the Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety, you will collaborate closely with city leadership to shape and implement long-range strategic plans that align with the city's vision and objectives. A key priority will be modernizing PF&R's operations, including implementing data-driven decision-making, technology enhancements, and process improvements to ensure efficiency, innovation, and operational excellence in public safety service delivery.
You will oversee the activities of the bureau's administrative, operational, and support service functions, including program development, policy execution, and financial management, to ensure PF&R operations are efficient, compliant, and responsive to community needs. As the primary representative of PF&R, you will cultivate strong partnerships with city leadership, union partners, elected officials, community groups, regional and state agencies, and the public, while leading critical emergency responses and large-scale disaster operations. Additionally, you will foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, guiding a team of dedicated professionals to achieve excellence in fire prevention, emergency management, and public safety.
As Fire Chief, you will have the opportunity to provide:

• Budget and Resource Management: Use data-driven decision-making and collaboration to enhance budget management, improve staffing models, and optimize overtime expenditures.

• Strategic Direction and Vision: Implement strategic initiatives that improve efficiency, modernize operations, and position PF&R as a national leader in emergency response and fire prevention.

• Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with city leaders, labor partners, and community stakeholders to ensure PF&R remains responsive, transparent, and deeply connected to the people it serves.

• Emergency Management and Incident Command: Ensure that the bureau's incident command system is robust, well-practiced, and adaptable to a range of emergencies- from large-scale wildfires to urban incidents.

• Personnel Leadership and Training: Inspire and mentor a dedicated workforce who are committed to excellence and service by developing top talent through comprehensive training programs and professional development initiatives.

• Improve Bureau Culture: Foster a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than values-they are embedded in the bureau's daily operations and leadership approach.

Ideal Candidate Profile:
The next Fire Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will be a visionary and results-driven leader who embodies the following key qualities in addition to the minimum qualifications listed in the "To Qualify" section:

• Accountable - You set clear expectations, measure performance, and take full ownership of your decisions and hold others responsible for theirs.

• Collaborative - You are an active listener, open to diverse perspectives, and skilled at fostering teamwork and collective problem-solving.

• Communicative - You are a skilled and confident communicator, you engage effectively with employees, the public, and elected officials, and ensure clarity, trust, and responsiveness in your interactions.

• Emergency Management and Operations Competency - You have advanced knowledge of firefighting tactics, incident command systems, and emergency management protocols.

• Integrity - You lead by example to create a culture of honesty, respect, and professionalism.

• Service-Oriented - You are committed to public service, engage with the community, and strengthen public trust and confidence.

• Strategic Thinking - You use data and empathy to drive your decision-making and guide policies and operations to meet organizational goals.

This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to lead a fire department that is poised for transformation. If you are a bold, strategic, and compassionate leader ready to make a difference, Portland Fire & Rescue is the place for you.
Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity
Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you have about the position.
Tuesday, March 25th, 2025
12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81988811222
Meeting ID: 819 8881 1222
*Please note: AI Notetaking apps will not be allowed into virtual sessions hosted by the Bureau of Human Resources Recruitment Team. If you need accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, then please contact the Recruiter for assistance.
Have a Question?
Contact Information:
Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov
To Qualify
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position and should be demonstrated in your rsum and cover letter:

Experience in budget development, financial management, and cost control, including effectively managing staffing levels, overtime, and resource allocation.

Experience leading and enacting structural and/or operational changes in systems with ability to navigate and implement changes in large, complex organizations.

Experience building strong relationships with elected officials, labor unions, and community stakeholders, using tact, diplomacy, and collaboration to foster trust and cooperation.

Ability to develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and operational initiatives to enhance services and disaster response while aligning with the city's public safety priorities.

Ability to apply analytic and problem-solving skills to independently develop sound decisions, conclusions, and recommendations.

Knowledge of advanced principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fire science, business administration, public administration, or a related field; AND

• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in managing fire service programs, activities, and personnel, including emergency response, incident management, disaster rescue and response, emergency medical services, and fire prevention, and five (5) years in a senior leadership position in a complex and diverse organization.

The Recruitment Process
Application DeadlineWednesday, April 9, 2025, 11:59 PM PSTApplication ReviewApril 10-17, 2025Eligible ListApril 18, 2025 - April 21, 2025InterviewsLate April - June 2025Offer of EmploymentJune 2025Start DateJuly 2025
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
STEP 1: Apply online between March 10, 2025 - April 9, 2025
Required Application Materials:

Cover letter

• Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

Rsum

Equity and Anti-Racism Statement

• An equity and anti-racism statement outlines your commitment and experience successfully developing and delivering equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches to executive management.Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lived experience as a member of an underrepresented group;

• Experience living, working, and meaningfully engaging with individuals with a variety of identities;

• Track record of instilling equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices within operations; or

• Other experiences that demonstrate your commitment to equity, anti-racism, and inclusion, and how that will be manifested in this position.

Answer the three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

City of Portland's Equity Commitment:
For applicants who meet the qualifications of this position, in accordance with the adoption of the Charles Jordan Standard and the City of Portland's commitment to equity, the highest qualified minority candidates, highest qualified candidates identifying as female, and highest qualified candidates who identify as a person with a disability will be included in the final interview process. To identify candidates who should be considered under the Charles Jordan Standard, we are asking applicants who meet the qualifications for this position to include information identifying their status as a minority, woman, and/or identification as an individual with a disability in the required equity statement.

Please see the City's Charles Jordan Standard Portland Resolution No. 37180 for more link: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/564587
Optional Application Materials

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025, if you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments. If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
Application Tips:

• Your cover letter should detail your qualifications for each item listed in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement. Be concise but thorough in describing your education, training, and/or experience, and where you obtained them. To ensure clarity, your cover letter can exceed one page to address each qualification in full.

• Your rsum should support the details described in your cover letter.

• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.

• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.

• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: April 10-17, 2025

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, rsum, and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement weighted 100%.

• Your cover letter, rsum and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.

• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.

• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: April 18-21, 2025

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

STEP 4: Selection (Interviews): Late April - June 2025

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

• The Equity and Anti-Racism Statement will be utilized during this step in the process.

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: June 2025

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.

STEP 6: Start Date: June/July 2025

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Additional Information
Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values

• Recruitment Process - Work Status

• Equal Employment Opportunity

• Veteran Preference

• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

AnEqualOpportunity /AffirmativeAction Employer
A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• Carrot Fertility
• Wellness Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement
• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
• Family Medical Leave
• City Paid Parental Leave

AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status.
01

Thank you for your interest in the City of Portland! We value your time and hope to make your application experience as positive as possible.Your Cover Letter, Rsum, and Equity and Anti-Racism Statement are key documents used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. To ensure your application is competitive:

• Your Cover Letter should provide specific and unique responses addressing each of the minimum qualifications listed in the "To Qualify" section.
• The details in your Cover Letter must align with your work history/rsum.
• Failure to clearly address each qualification in your application materials or failure to submit your Equity and Anti-Racism Statement may result in disqualification from the recruitment process.

Veterans' Preference: If you are requesting veterans' preference, please upload a copy of your DD214 and/or Veterans' Benefit Letter. All required documents must be submitted before the application deadline.Have you read and understood all the information listed above?

• No - If you have a question, please contact the recruiter on the announcement.
• Yes

02

Where did you first learn about this job opportunity? (If on a website or job board, please specify which one)
03

The City of Portland receives public records requests at times. Please indicate which response you find appropriate:(Answer will not disqualify you from the process)

• My application was submitted with the understanding that the City of Portland would keep the information confidential and would only disclose the information if ordered to do so. I would not have submitted this application without the promise of confidentiality.
• You may release my application; I am waiving confidentiality.

Required Question