Fire Chief - McAlester

Listing Title:
Fire Chief 

Listing Description
The Fire Chief serves as the executive leader of the McAlester Fire Department and is responsible for providing vision, leadership, guidance, and resources necessary to ensure the delivery of effective fire protection, fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, emergency management coordination, and community risk reduction programs for the citizens of McAlester.

The Fire Chief develops and maintains a highly trained, equipped, and prepared organization capable of responding to emergencies while safeguarding the lives, property, and economic well-being of the community. The position oversees all departmental operations, personnel, equipment, training, budgeting, strategic planning, and interagency coordination.

The Fire Chief serves as the City's principal emergency response leader and coordinates emergency preparedness, disaster response, mutual aid operations, and emergency management activities with local, regional, state, and federal partners.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Emergency Management, or a closely related field is recommended.

Experience
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in fire service, emergency medical services, emergency management, or related public safety operations.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory and command-level experience.
• Experience in budget administration, personnel management, strategic planning, and emergency response leadership preferred.

Certifications
Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain all certifications required by the State of Oklahoma and applicable regulatory agencies, including:
• Firefighter Certification
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training
• Hazardous Materials certification appropriate to departmental responsibilities
• Emergency Medical certification as required by department operations
• Chief Officer certification preferred
Statutory and Department Requirements
• Must be a current member, or meet the requirements to enter the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System (OFPRS).
• Must meet all physical, medical and agility standards required for OFPRS membership.
• Must reside within a geographic area that allows arrival at the work site within 30 minutes of notification.
• Must have a valid Oklahoma Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
• Modern fire suppression and prevention practices.
• Emergency medical services operations.
• Hazardous materials response and special operations.
• Emergency management principles and disaster response.
• Public administration, budgeting, and personnel management.
• Fire and life safety codes, regulations, and standards.
• Incident command systems and emergency response coordination.

Ability to:
• Lead a diverse public safety organization.
• Make sound decisions during emergencies.
• Effectively manage personnel, budgets, and resources.
• Develop cooperative partnerships with outside agencies.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Build trust with employees, elected officials, and the public.
• Plan strategically for future departmental needs and community growth.

Full job description available online: www.cityofmcalester.com

Please submit resumes to: Wendy.knight@cityofmcalester.com

(Job) Location:
McAlester, OK 

Website Address (please do not delete the http://):
http://www.cityofmcalester.com

Contact Information -

Company/Municipality Name:
City of McAlester 

Street Address
28 E. Washington Ave 

City
McAlester 

State
Oklahoma 

Zip Code
74501 

Phone Number
918-423-9300 

Contact Job Title:
Human Resources Director 

First Name
Wendy 

Last Name
Knight 

Email Address
Wendy.knight@cityofmcalester.com

Listing Expiration Date:
09/07/2026