Fire Chief at City of Portland – Portland, Oregon

Why Lead Portland Fire & Rescue?

Becoming the next Fire Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) is an opportunity to lead one of the most dynamic and progressive fire departments in the country. While the challenges are significant—budget constraints, staffing shortages, increasing service demands, and the need to foster a more inclusive and equitable culture—they are matched by the chance to make a lasting impact on the bureau and the Portland community.

Why Portland, Oregon?

Portland is the largest city in Oregon, with a population of 630,000 and a metro region population of over 2 million. As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, Portland is frequently recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly and livable cities in the world. Known for its excellent urban planning, expansive public transportation, and high accessibility to the outdoors, Portland offers an unparalleled quality of life for those who choose to serve and lead here.

Portland is a city that values innovation, collaboration, and community-centered leadership. PF&R plays a critical role in ensuring public safety, responding to over 92,000 emergency calls annually (FY23-24), and adapting to the evolving needs of a diverse and growing urban environment. The city’s commitment to progressive policies, public engagement, and resilience planning creates an exciting landscape for a forward-thinking fire chief to lead transformative change.

Learn more about PF&R: https://www.portland.gov/fire/about-portland-fire-rescue

City of Portland Core Values: Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility
These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City's core values, please click here.

Position Summary

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The next Fire Chief of Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) will be a visionary and results-driven leader who embodies the following key qualities in addition to the minimum qualifications listed in the “To Qualify” section:

• Accountable – You set clear expectations, measure performance, and take full ownership of your decisions and hold others responsible for theirs.

• Collaborative – You are an active listener, open to diverse perspectives, and skilled at fostering teamwork and collective problem-solving.

• Communicative – You are a skilled and confident communicator, you engage effectively with employees, the public, and elected officials, and ensure clarity, trust, and responsiveness in your interactions.

• Emergency Management and Operations Competency – You have advanced knowledge of firefighting tactics, incident command systems, and emergency management protocols.

• Integrity – You lead by example to create a culture of honesty, respect, and professionalism.

• Service-Oriented – You are committed to public service, engage with the community, and strengthen public trust and confidence.

• Strategic Thinking – You use data and empathy to drive your decision-making and guide policies and operations to meet organizational goals.

This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to lead a fire department that is poised for transformation. If you are a bold, strategic, and compassionate leader ready to make a difference, Portland Fire & Rescue is the place for you.

View Recorded Session: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/Er1UOxjFUbXQHN17MQRoGv8mjrhDcLf6XeBcTn0klVd5VeWA4n0rnd294I8z67Dg.tDEeavgTZOo1jHa2?startTime=1742929312000

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position and should be demonstrated in your résumé and cover letter:

1. Experience in budget development, financial management, and cost control, including effectively managing staffing levels, overtime, and resource allocation.

1. Experience leading and enacting structural and/or operational changes in systems with ability to navigate and implement changes in large, complex organizations.

1. Experience building strong relationships with elected officials, labor unions, and community stakeholders, using tact, diplomacy, and collaboration to foster trust and cooperation.

1. Ability to develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and operational initiatives to enhance services and disaster response while aligning with the city’s public safety priorities.

1. Ability to apply analytic and problem-solving skills to independently develop sound decisions, conclusions, and recommendations.

1. Knowledge of advanced principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fire science, business administration, public administration, or a related field; AND

• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in managing fire service programs, activities, and personnel, including emergency response, incident management, disaster rescue and response, emergency medical services, and fire prevention, and five (5) years in a senior leadership position in a complex and diverse organization.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

STEP 1: Apply online between March 10, 2025 – April 9, 2025

Required Application Materials:

1. Cover letter

• Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

1. Résumé

1. Equity and Anti-Racism Statement

• An equity and anti-racism statement outlines your commitment and experience successfully developing and delivering equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches to executive management.Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lived experience as a member of an underrepresented group;

• Experience living, working, and meaningfully engaging with individuals with a variety of identities;

• Track record of instilling equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices within operations; or

• Other experiences that demonstrate your commitment to equity, anti-racism, and inclusion, and how that will be manifested in this position.
  

1. Answer the three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

City of Portland’s Equity Commitment:
For applicants who meet the qualifications of this position, in accordance with the adoption of the Charles Jordan Standard and the City of Portland's commitment to equity, the highest qualified minority candidates, highest qualified candidates identifying as female, and highest qualified candidates who identify as a person with a disability will be included in the final interview process. To identify candidates who should be considered under the Charles Jordan Standard, we are asking applicants who meet the qualifications for this position to include information identifying their status as a minority, woman, and/or identification as an individual with a disability in the required equity statement.

Please see the City's Charles Jordan Standard Portland Resolution No. 37180 for more link: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/564587

Optional Application Materials

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025, if you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments. If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter should detail your qualifications for each item listed in the “To Qualify” section of this announcement. Be concise but thorough in describing your education, training, and/or experience, and where you obtained them. To ensure clarity, your cover letter can exceed one page to address each qualification in full.

• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.

• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.

• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.

• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: April 10-17, 2025

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, résumé, and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement weighted 100%.

• Your cover letter, résumé and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.

• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.

• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: April 18-21, 2025

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

STEP 4: Selection (Interviews): Late April - June 2025

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

• The Equity and Anti-Racism Statement will be utilized during this step in the process.

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: June 2025

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.

STEP 6: Start Date: June/July 2025

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.