Fire Chief

The Prudential Committee of Williamstown is seeking our next Fire Chief to lead the Williamstown Fire Department (WFD).  Williamstown is located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, sharing a border with both Vermont to the north and New York to the west.  A rural college town, with a population of roughly 8,000, it is home to Williams College and the Clark Art Institute. 

The mission of the Williamstown Fire Department is to protect lives, property, and the environment in the town of Williamstown by providing the best possible emergency service to its residents and visitors.  The department is made up of a full time/paid Chief and 25 paid/on call staff (Officers, Drivers, Firefighters).  In FY23, the department received 249 requests for service and issued 214 permits. The department has also broken ground on a brand new station, scheduled to be completed in December of 2025.

The Prudential Committee appoints the Fire Chief. The Chief receives general supervision from the Committee, who reviews work based on overall results achieved. The Fire Chief may consult with the Prudential Committee on issues relating to policy planning but works independently in supervising personnel and operations of the department. 

Responsibilities:

The Chief provides strategic leadership for the department. Responsibilities include reviewing and providing direction on the operation of the department, developing and implementing policies and procedures and, in consultation with elected officials, developing recommendations for the protection of life and property within the district.

The fire chief will exercise strategic and visionary approaches that will have long-term organization-wide application and impact, including the development and implementation of critical programs, supervision of staff, and allocation of available resources.

• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with staff, Prudential Committee members, community organizations, other town departments, and the general public.
• Represent the fire district with effective verbal and written presentations.
• Inform public groups on the plans, programs, and goals of the fire district.
• Advise the Prudential Committee on fire district operations.
• Perform all state and local inspections required by the Fire Department for the town.
• Organize and direct staff engaged in the execution of emergency plans, direct and control district activities such as recruitment and retention of staff, purchase of equipment, assignment of staff and equipment, and the budgeting and control of expenditures.
• Coordinate fire district activities in accordance with federal, state, and local emergency services organizations, and town departments.
• Analyze and resolve operational, financial, procedural, and personnel issues.
• Analyze and report on information and statistics relating to district activities.
• Develop plans designed to maintain district efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness.
• Analyze fire service needs, as well as the availability of resources, existing programs, and other related factors in developing district programs to meet those needs.
• Develop and maintain respectful, trusting and collaborative relationships with staff.
• Work more than a 40-hour workweek, as necessary, without additional compensation to perform assigned job duties, including weekends, evenings, early morning hours and holidays, as required. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of effective public administration, personnel management, and budget administration.
• Knowledge of modern management techniques, supervisory practices, and evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of activities, objectives, and operations of fire services.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations as they pertain to fire district activities.
• Ability to make effective verbal and written presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with district staff, elected officials, community organizations, other agencies, and the public.

Manager/Supervisor Expected Behavior:

The Fire Chief is expected to embrace, support, and promote the Fire District’s core values, beliefs, and culture, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintain high ethical standards.
• Train, develop, nurture, and mentor all employees and members.
• Encourage teamwork and participation by all employees; lead by example.
• Institutionalize and promote safety principles and safety awareness as a culture for district members and town residents.
• Provide outstanding customer service to internal and external customers.
• Willingness to seek out all possible alternative revenue sources, including grants, bonds, etc.

This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are exclusive standards for the assignment. The Fire Chief will comply with any other instructions, direction, and perform any other related duties as may be required by the governing board. Performance of other essential functions may depend upon work location, assignment, or shift.

Resumes, with cover letter, should be emailed to Richard Duncan at richard.duncan@williamstownfiredept.org. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The compensation for this position, including vehicle, will be between $125,000 and $150,000.

Employment is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check and education.

Beyond fully meeting its legal obligations for non-discrimination, the WFD is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Required Training & Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a major in Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field is preferred.
• Minimum rank of Officer with extensive experience (5 years plus) and progressive responsibility, including administrative, supervisory, and budgetary experience in fire prevention and suppression work, preferably with a municipal, county, or state fire department or district.