Fire Chief Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

The Town of West Hartford Announces a
Promotional Examination
For the Position of

Deputy Fire Chief
 

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY

Application Deadline:                                                        Salary:
August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.                                             $122,980 - $133,848/year

ELIGIBILITY AND LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS:
Minimum qualifications as of June 2, 2026: graduation from high school and completion of two (2) years at an accredited college (defined as forty-eight (48) or more credits) including at least thirty (30) semester hours in management, public administration fire and EMS related subjects.  Must be a company level officer with eight (8) years of progressively responsible paid firefighting experience, of which a minimum of two (2) years must be as a company level officer. Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license and a driving record compliant with the Town of West Hartford Safe Driving Policy. 

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for this position as of June 2, 2026, which is ninety (90) days from the date of the vacancy. 
Promotional applications, including all application materials, must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m., August 31, 2026

NATURE OF WORK:

• This is highly responsible supervisory and administrative position which directs the activities of an assigned shift of fire companies throughout the Town of West Hartford entailing final responsibility on an assigned shift for assuming and exercising the command of all firefighting or emergency operations in the Town when no superior officer is present.
• Work requires considerable independent judgment, which is restricted only by department regulations and occasional review by a superior officer.
• This is a third level supervisory position involving responsibility for training, administrative, and defined operational activities on an assigned shift.
• Receives oral and written direction from the Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs, and Chief Duty Officer.
• May implement formal command at emergency scenes, and ensure accountability of all personnel operating at the scene.
• Assumes duties of the Chief Duty Officer or any Assistant Chief during their absence as directed by the Fire Chief.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• As platoon commander, has complete charge of Town fire services on an assigned shift.
• Directs all firefighting operations and emergency operations involving the fire service and makes decisions regarding the need for additional or special equipment, unless relieved by a superior officer.
• Responds to calls for service and, when necessary, supervises fireground operations. May assume command in accordance with department guidelines at the scene of fires/emergencies unless relieved by a senior officer.
• Maintains proper scheduling and staffing of the department including the hiring of overtime personnel (within the guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement) and daily staffing rosters.
• Maintains all associated staffing roster records and/or overtime coverage cards.
• Receives and approves all requests for the exchange of time in compliance with department policy. Maintains an official record of all exchanges.
• Details extra personnel assigned to the shift for coverage in other companies in accordance with departmental guidelines.
• Inspects personnel quarters, apparatus, tools, equipment and records of fire companies as directed by higher authority.
• Completes performance evaluations on assigned subordinate personnel. Mentors, coaches, counsels and provides related performance reports regarding subordinate personnel.
• Coordinates and conducts training activities for assigned shift or Department-wide in the subject areas of basic fire, rescue, hazardous materials, standard operating guidelines, personnel procedures manual, drivers manual, officers manual, policy directives and other topics as assigned. Takes direction from higher authority on related training matters.
• Completes special projects at the discretion of the Fire Chief or designee.
• Suggests, drafts, and participates in the development of policy for the department and serves in an advisory role to the executive team.
• May interact with internal and external agencies at Town meetings or other functions at the direction of the Fire Chief.
• Supervises pre-planning activities on Town buildings for his/her assigned shift.
• Assists with short-term and long-term planning activities for the department as directed by the Fire Chief.
• Develops incident action plans and after-action reviews for the Department.
• May be assigned responsibility for a major departmental function or Division (i.e. LEPC, emergency management, departmental safety officer, Training and Support Services, or committee chairperson) as determined by the Fire Chief.

ADDITIONAL WORK RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs related training, administrative and operational work as determined by the Fire Chief or designee.              

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of fire suppression techniques, equipment, tactics and strategy, methods of fire prevention and other emergency life-saving techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of departmental rules, policies, guidelines, training bulletins, Town personnel rules, emergency medical procedures and of the geography of the town.
• Extensive knowledge of effective training techniques, materials and methods.
• Must obtain and maintain state certification as a Fire Officer II within 12 months of appointment to position.
• Must obtain and maintain state certification as a Fire Instructor within 12 months of appointment to position.
• Must obtain and maintain state certification as an Emergency Medical Technician within 12 months of appointment to position.
• Ability to stay up-to-date on the latest technology and strategy and tactics in dealing with firefighting, emergency medical response, rescue, and hazardous materials.
• Ability to direct large-scale operations under emergency conditions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to plan, schedule and assign work to subordinates and to prepare and maintain written records and reports.
• Ability to supervise the work of subordinates in a manner that fosters morale and cooperation.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Work requires considerable judgment, which is restricted by department regulations and review by superior officers.
• Employees in this class are required to perform their duties under all conditions of weather.
• Work schedule rotates according to the Division assigned, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
• May be assigned to command the Training and Support Services Division depending on operational needs of the Department.
• Employees in this classification may be expected to perform heavy manual labor under conditions of extreme personal hazard and under conditions of extreme discomfort which may require the use of specialized personal protection equipment. Operates in environments of high noise, poor visibility, limited mobility and in enclosed or confined spaces. Works in areas where sustaining traumatic or thermal injuries is possible.
• Must be mobile and able to access and reach difficult places and varied terrain. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods, able to perform manipulative skills such as sweeping, writing or using a calculator, and skills requiring hand-eye coordination.
• Must be able to push, pull and lift objects weighing more than 40 pounds. Able to see objects far away, in order to drive, close, in order to read, and discriminate colors, as in warning lights.
• Ability to hear normal sounds with some background noise, distinguish voice patterns, and communicate through speech using the English language as in using a telephone or conducting training programs.
• Ability to concentrate on fine details with some interruption. Needs to attend to task/function for 45-60 minutes at a time. Able to remember multiple tasks/assignments given over long periods of time. Able to understand the theories behind several related concepts.
• May be exposed to blood or body tissues, hazardous waste materials, high and low temperatures, sudden temperature fluctuations and outside seasonal temperatures, grease, oil, dust, chemicals, bodily injuries, loud or unpleasant noises, high humidity or wetness, electrical hazards, bums, or electro-magnetic radiation from computers.
• Hazards to personal safety may arise from personal, mechanical and natural sources and include possible loss of life.
• Must be cleared to wear respiratory personal protection as established by OSHA guidelines and must be able to wear other related personal protective equipment.
• May encounter persons, who at times may be agitated or emotional. Ability to work professionally with co-workers, customers and the public at large.
• As Chief officer rather than Company officer, may participate in more fire calls than lower ranked personnel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• As of June 2, 2026, graduation from high school and completion of two (2) years at an accredited college (defined as forty-eight (48) or more credits) including at least thirty (30) semester hours in management, public administration fire and EMS related subjects.  Must be a company level officer with eight (8) years of progressively responsible paid firefighting experience, of which a minimum of two (2) years must be as a company level officer.
• Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license and a driving record compliant with the Town of West Hartford Safe Driving Policy is required.

METHOD OF SELECTION

                                                            Weight                                 Passing Score

Assessment Examination                     100%                                          70

Time in Service                    Up to an additional 6 points

Candidates who successfully pass the entire assessment examination with a score of at least 70% will have their names placed on the Eligible List in accordance with the Town of West Hartford Personnel Rules.  Such list shall expire two (2) years after the date of the Deputy Chief vacancy, unless extended for one (1) additional year by the Director of Human Resources.  Certification for appointment from the Eligible List shall be made according to the Town of West Hartford Personnel Rules. 
No candidate will be promoted to this position, however, if he/she fails to satisfy all physical requirements for the position which would prevent him/her from performing the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation, and as determined by the Fire Chief and a physician selected by the Director of Human Resources.  Any employee promoted as a result of this examination must satisfactorily complete a six (6) month probationary period before the promotion will be considered permanent.

APPLICATIONS:
Promotional applications may be accessed on the Job Openings - Town of West Hartford (westhartfordct.gov). Promotional applications must be completed by 11:59p.m. on August 31, 2026, unless the Director of Human Resources extends such date.
Applications for the position of Deputy Fire Chief must include a copy of the applicant's college transcript from a regionally or National Institutional accredited college or university indicating the applicant's name and the successful awarding of credit.

Assessment Centers:
Virtual Orientation September 21, 2026: 10:00am-11:30am
In-Person September 28, 2026: Timing TBD
In-Person September 29, 2026:  Timing TBD
An assessment center is one of several selection devices used to determine a candidate's qualifications for a particular supervisory or managerial position.  Individual group exercises are administered under standardized conditions, which simulate the skills and abilities most essential for successful performance.  The candidate's behavior is observed by a team of trained assessors, qualified individuals who are familiar with the requirements of the job and the format of the assessment center.  They have been specifically trained in group and interpersonal skills, observation of behaviors, and the exercises used during the center.
Assessment center exercises may include but are not limited to:

• In-basket Exercise:  This consists of a variety of memos, letters, and documents of varying importance which the candidates respond to and prioritize.
• Tactical Exercise:  With this exercise, candidates will be given a fire scenario.  He/she will be expected to function as incident commander, develop an overall incident strategy, manage tactical functions, and achieved desired conclusion.
• Oral Presentation Exercise:  With this exercise, candidates give an oral presentation in which they must defend their positions and recommendations to a specific issue.
• Role Play Exercise:  In this exercise, a candidate deals with a subordinate, irate citizen, or member of the community.  This exercise measures such skills as communication, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Written Report/Analysis Exercise:  With this exercise, a candidate is presented with ...