The Youngsville Fire Department in Franklin County, NC – just north of Raleigh, seeks an experienced fire professional to serve as its next Fire Chief. This opportunity could be for you if you are energized by joining a department with a unique, cohesive, family-like culture. The "combination" fire department of nearly 75 volunteers and career members maintains an ISO Class 4 rating. It provides professional fire suppression, emergency medical, light rescue, hazardous materials, and fire prevention services to southern Franklin County, NC. With a rapidly growing fire district of 62 square miles, the department provides services to rural and suburban areas and responds to over 2,000 calls annually.

• The Youngsville Fire Department, an independent private, non-profit organization, desires a professional who has demonstrated experience utilizing fire service best practices in staff recruitment, retention, succession planning, and acquisition and access to equipment, technology, and training. As the Town of Youngsville prepares for ongoing growth (approximately 3.69% annually), the department’s next Fire Chief will lead the department through a season of expansion to support the town's growing needs. The next Fire Chief will successfully balance overseeing day-to-day operations while executing the department's short and long-term goals and remaining present and available to respond to emergencies, trainings, and meetings on nights and weekends.

  About the Community, Organization, and Position: 

  ​Incorporated in 1875, the Town of Youngsville once housed one of the largest tobacco markets in the entire South. Now, nearly 150 later, Youngsville, one of four municipalities in Franklin County, is a growing small-town community north of Raleigh, near the Town of Wake Forest. Its quaint, friendly culture attracts a diverse population of over 2,000 people – from young professionals, families, and retirees who all enjoy Youngsville’s downtown area, rich with history, its many recreational activities, and its short commute to the extensive city amenities of Raleigh. Nearby Wake County features some of the country's best healthcare and higher education. Three major medical systems, including two top-rated teaching hospitals, serve Wake County and surrounding counties. 

  Since 1944, the Youngsville Fire Department has been protecting the town of Youngsville and southwestern Franklin County. The department's Board of Directors, staff, and volunteer members are equally committed to providing excellent customer service to those who live, work, and visit Youngsville. The department has an apparatus fleet consisting of 3 engines, two squads, 1 100' Platform Ladder, three tankers, two brush trucks, and two support.

  Reporting to a nine (9) member Board of Directors, the Fire Chief will oversee a budget of $3M and five direct reports (3 Assistant Chiefs and 2 Safety Officers). Fire personnel include 19 full-time employees, 19 part-time employees, 35 volunteer members, and five junior volunteer firefighters working across three stations. To learn more about the department, click here. 

  The Fire Chief is responsible for all department administrative functions, representing the department at the town and county level, Board and stakeholder engagement, and strategic development while managing personnel including recruitment and retention efforts. The successful Fire Chief is a valued leader committed to continued training and professional development for staff to build skills, achieve performance excellence, and develop staff for promotional opportunities and varied job assignments. The department desires an empowering leader who effectively encourages and motivates a team while holding them to high standards of excellence and accountability. 

  Key Position Priorities: 

• ·      Nurture cohesion among the department – bridge gaps across roles and departments and unite personnel around a shared vision while building and maintaining high morale. 
• ·      Conduct a thorough review and revision of all department SOPs/SOGs to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with industry best practices. 
• ·      Conduct an organizational and shift analysis and implement necessary changes to advocate for the health and wellness of personnel while ensuring the department’s sustainability and viability.  
• ·      Working with key stakeholders, developing the department's next strategic plan, facilitating the integration within the department by creating buy-in among personnel, and holding personnel accountable to the plan's objectives. 

• Qualifications: 

  The following are required: 

• ·       Ten years' experience or more serving in a combination fire department. 
• ·       Five years’ at the Company Officer or above experience in a combination fire department. 
• ·       Bachelor's degree in public safety-related area OR associate degree in public safety related PLUS 12 years of progressive firefighting experience.
• ·       Experience in developing and managing an annual operating budget of $500K, or greater.
• ·       Firefighter 2 and Fire Officer 2 from an IFSAC accredited agency, or equivalent.
• ·       Certifications: Hazardous Materials Operations level; NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800.
• ·       Demonstrated experience working directly with a progressive private, non-profit fire department Board of Directors.

• Preferred qualifications:

• ·       Chief Officer experience serving in a combination fire department. 
• ·       A proven track record of strategic planning, policy development, and implementation with the ability to set and achieve goals and to set/meet timelines.

• The Successful Candidate: 

• ·      is adept in evaluating and implementing changes to staffing, compensation, and equipment to improve quality, consistency, and transparency across operations while making well-informed decisions regarding staffing levels in consideration of budget constraints; 
• ·      has a track record in creating camaraderie and common values across stations and shifts;
• ·      is a principled leader who values accountability while holding realistic and fair expectations of self and others with the demonstrated ability to supervise the work of skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled workers on a large scale over a wide area; 
• ·      is an effective listener who seeks input from relevant parties, realistically assesses plans, and consistently communicates; 
• ·      is an excellent and effective communicator, including one-on-one, small groups, and public speaking, who confidently and persuasively engages community members and groups, staff, and the Board of Directors; 
• ·      is a strategic problem solver who seeks information from multiple sources, communicates ideas and decisions effectively, and evaluates results;
• ·      expertly uses data and metrics to propose solutions and make decisions;
• ·      eliminates silos and seeks commonality across functions intradepartmental and works effectively interdepartmentally to build relationships in service to public safety goals;
• ·      is skilled at engaging collaboratively and diplomatically with a variety of stakeholders such as fire department staff, community members and groups, county and other municipal leaders, other fire departments, and regional, state, and federal authorities to leverage department opportunities, manage challenges, and maximize resources such as training, equipment, mutual aid, etc.; 
• ·      has held multiple assignments across functional areas such as suppression, prevention, and administration, leading to a rich understanding of the breadth and depth of roles that firefighters assume;
• ·      demonstrates knowledge and familiarity with all areas of fire and rescue, suppression, operations, and prevention, as well as technology supporting these functions; and, 
• ·      is skilled in budget and policy development and application, effective personnel management, and development. 

• Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for the position is $95,000 - $110,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The Youngsville Fire Department offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid health, dental, and vision, 10% employer contribution to the 401k program (no employee contribution required), annual merit raise incentives, annual cost of living compensation increases, paid annual leave and sick leave with flexible leave for exempt personnel, and a service recognition program. Please note:Residency within 15 miles of the fire district boundary is required,­ while residency within the fire district is preferred.

  To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Fire Chief – Youngsville Fire Department, NC title. 

• ·      All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the department’s employment application portal or any other external website. 
• ·      Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application. 
• ·      Applicants should apply by November 7^th, 2023. 
• ·      Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in interviews in mid to late November 2023. 
• ·      Direct inquiries to Chief Scott Burnette: SBurnette@NCFireChief.com

The recruitment and selection process is managed by North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting and facilitated in collaboration with Developmental Associates, LLC.