The City of Moorhead is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Fire Chief. This professional position performs complex work setting policies and goals for the department, planning, organizing, directing, supervising and evaluating fire services, coordinating work with the City Manager and other departments, maintaining records and preparing reports, and related work as required. This position exercises departmental supervision over assigned staff.

About the City and Fire Department: The City of Moorhead is organized under a Home Rule Charter and operates under a Council/Manager form of government. The City is organized into seven departments—Administration, Engineering, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Community Development, Police, and Public Works. The Fire Department consists of a Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Marshal/Emergency Manager, Assistant Fire Marshal, three Battalion Chiefs, six Captains, 24 Firefighters and a Program Assistant. The department has two physical building locations in the City. The Mission of the Moorhead Fire Department is to provide our community with trusted and dedicated professionals who work to ensure a high level of public safety through education, cooperation, and incident response.

About the Community:  Moorhead, Minnesota, located on the state border across the Red River from the City of Fargo, North Dakota, serves as a regional center for culture, commerce, and higher education in northwestern Minnesota. Moorhead is the largest city in northwestern Minnesota and the 21st largest city in Minnesota. It is a growing city with a population of approximately 44,000 and is also part of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area with an estimated overall population of 250,000. The metro area is home to excellent higher educational institutions with Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College, M|State, and North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND) as well as excellent primary and secondary public and private schools. Moorhead is unique in that it provides the feeling of a small town, with the amenities of a large community. There are numerous entertainment, arts and culture, dining, shopping, parks and recreation, and sports events and opportunities. Moorhead is a safe community with community pride and a community that loves to be called “your hometown.”

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to the following major duties performed. Duties are listed from most to least important.

• Directs, plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates Fire department operations; establishes and implements fire service policies, procedures, rules, regulations and programs.
• Develops and implements department annual budget; plans, reviews and maintains department equipment, supplies and facilities; develops and implements short- and long-range planning goals and programs.
• Determines organizational structure; assesses department needs; provides recommendations to the City Manager.
• Directs, supervises and evaluates the maintenance and procedures of records and materials associated with fire administration and Moorhead’s State Emergency Response and Chemical Assessment Team activities.
• Develops, supervises, evaluates and trains department personnel; researches legal information to ensure that services provided are in accordance with laws and their current interpretations.
• Collects information regarding fire services and needs of the community; reviews and evaluates new concepts, techniques and equipment to determine applicability to services.
• Assists in the recruitment, selection and promotion of department personnel.
• Directs, evaluates and takes appropriate action on complaints regarding conduct of department personnel and/or regarding department policies and procedures.
• Maintains liaison with other fire agencies, community groups, City officials, staff and citizens regarding fire services and fire prevention issues and objectives, departmental policies and operations.
• Participates in fire service duties as required including fire prevention, suppression, emergency services, training and investigation.
• Keeps City Manager informed of matters of importance; initiates and/or recommends actions required.
• Prepares and reviews operational and administrative reports.
• Performs other duties as requested.
• Attendance at off-site courses/trainings/seminars may be required.

Supervisory Position: Performs or effectively recommends the hiring, transfer, suspension, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, discipline, direction of work, and adjustment of grievances of subordinate personnel.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the formal education, experience and training required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in fire science, public administration, health administration, or related field
• Six years experience in a wide and progressively responsible nature in fire services, or related field
• State of Minnesota Firefighter License or obtain such license within one year of hire
• National Registry of EMT Certification
• State of Minnesota EMT Certification within one year of hire 
• MN Firefighter 1 and 2 (or IFSAC Certifications) within one year of hire
• NFPA 472 Compliant HAZMAT Technician Training within one year of hire
• NIMS 700, 800, 100, 200, 300, 400 within one year of hire
• MN Fire Instructor 1 Certification within one year of hire
• MN Fire Officer 1 Certification within one year of hire
• Valid driver's license

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of fire prevention, inspection, suppression and emergency services; comprehensive knowledge of departmental rules and regulations; comprehensive knowledge of the operation and maintenance of apparatus and equipment; comprehensive knowledge of supervisory principles and practices; ability to program and implement; ability to exercise sound judgment in emergencies; ability to effectively supervise personnel in fire and emergency situations; ability to prepare and review reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, associates and the general public.

2023 Wage Scale: $103,621 to $148,031 

The City of Moorhead offers a positive, friendly and collaborative work environment that is team focused where everyone is working together to serve our community. Our employees are passionate about their jobs and making our community one to be proud of. We are #MoorheadProud

The City of Moorhead is an equal opportunity employer and a proud employer located in the metropolitan region of Fargo-Moorhead