Deputy Fire Chief (Two Vacancies) in Kirkland, Washington at City of Kirkland

Deputy Fire Chief (Two Vacancies) Recruitment Brochure


The City of Kirkland is seeking to hire two Deputy Fire Chiefs - Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Support Services!
Note: Submitting an application for this position will place you into a candidate pool for both openings. You will have an opportunity to share which position is your preference when completing the supplemental questions.

Why Kirkland?Candidate Profile:
The City of Kirkland is seeking two highly qualified, forward thinking Deputy Chiefs to join a developing and balanced Command Team. These individuals will support organizational stability, advance departmental culture, and reinforce accountability expectations that align with the City’s vision for
high quality public safety services. There are two positions due to the promotion of one Deputy Chief to Chief.

Kirkland’s next Deputy Chiefs will exemplify high integrity, credibility, and emotional maturity. They must be calm under pressure, politically aware, transparent communicators, and deeply loyal to the mission and values of the organization. Both leaders will be expected to model disciplined
accountability, make data driven decisions, and foster strong trust and relationships across the department and the City.

The ideal candidates will be skilled collaborators who are confident in their decision making, respected by line personnel and command staff, and committed to a healthy, high performing culture. They should demonstrate a leadership philosophy that aligns with the department’s values and the City’s expectations for professionalism, alignment, and transparency. They should also be creative problem solvers who can optimize the use of resources.

Across both roles, candidates must understand the importance of alignment, stability, diversity, accountability, operational excellence, and a healthy culture, and must demonstrate executive level professionalism and commitment to a data driven mission.

Deputy Chief of Operations:
The Deputy Chief of Operations will be a highly respected operational leader with strong incident command presence and tactical competency. This individual will make sound, timely decisions under pressure and will understand deployment models, staffing, effective response force, training systems, and regional mutual aid coordination. The ideal candidate brings operational credibility, mentor’s officers and Battalion Chiefs, builds disciplined and consistent accountability without being punitive, and drives operational consistency across shifts. This leader must also navigate conflict professionally while publicly supporting the department’s vision

Deputy Chief of Support Services:
The Deputy Chief of Support Services will be an organized, systems oriented leader capable of managing complex programs, city processes, and long range planning. This individual will be adept at project management, purchasing, accreditation, WSRB, and strategic planning. They must be data driven, strong in policy development, skilled at metrics and compliance reporting, and able to build structures that support long term organizational success. They must also form strong partnerships with Finance, Fleet, Facilities, Public Works, Police, the City Attorney’s Office, and the City Manager’s Office while translating fire service needs into city government language.

Click here for the full job description.

Peripheral Duties:

• May serve as the Fire Chief in their absence.
• Attends meetings, training sessions, and other functions as applicable to keep abreast of modern fire service methods, techniques, and administrative procedures.
• Maintains availability to respond to large-scale incidents to support field command at extended operations.
• Performs functions as assigned in the City’s emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
• Responsible for developing measurable implementation plans that achieve the City’s initiatives in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Roadmap.

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of public disclosure laws, records management, project management, and grant writing.
• Knowledge of various forms of Fire/EMS related technologies.
• Skilled in public relations, negotiations, labor relations, and supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates the knowledge of and adherence to a high standard of personal and professional ethics.
• Innovative and flexible in approach to duties and possesses the ability to readily adapt to a changing community and Department needs. Ability to work confidentially with discretion.
• Ability to make informative and persuasive presentations to individuals and groups, conduct public meetings and participate in public forums.
• Advanced working knowledge of budget preparation and monitoring.
• Advanced analytical skills to comprehend, interpret, and explain rules, regulations, legal requirements, and policies.
• Possesses tact, diplomacy, and the ability to deal effectively with individuals, groups, and organizations representing a wide variety of ethnicities, cultures, opinions, and beliefs.
• Basic PC proficiency and knowledge of technology applications pertinent to the Department’s operations and management systems requirements.
• Extensive knowledge of management principles and practices.
• Extensive knowledge of employee and public relations.
• Extensive knowledge of organizational and planning concepts.
• Extensive knowledge of Civil Service regulations, labor agreements, and RCW and WAC rules that have direct application to administration of the Fire Department.
• If overseeing Fire Prevention: Knowledge of fire investigations, development regulations and permitting, and fire prevention best practices.

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience: 7 years of increasingly responsible experience in a Fire department or similar environment. 5 years of progressive supervisory/managerial
experience, with advanced leadership knowledge. Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual’s knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

A minimum of 2 years as a Fire Battalion Chief is required to oversee Operations. The ideal candidate for these positions will have at least 4 years of experience working at a senior level (Battalion Chief and above) in an equivalently sized City Fire Department together with a thorough knowledge of management principles.

Applicants must pass a background investigation prior to employment.
Physical Demands and Working Environment:
Work is primarily performed in an office environment under time-sensitive, constantly changing deadlines. This position may be called into work on short notice. On infrequent occasions when duties are performed in the field, they are performed at community meetings, Department functions, and the emergency operations center.

Selection Process

Interested applicants must submit a packet to include a resume (three pages maximum), your responses to the supplemental questions, and a cover letter detailing your experience, leadership style, and why you are interested in the Deputy Chief position. Completed packets are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, June 19th, 2026. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. We currently anticipate the first round of interviews to take place on Monday, June 29th.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 711.