City of Nowata Career Opportunity – Fire Chief
City of Nowata Career Opportunity – Fire Chief

The City of Nowata is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Title: Fire Chief

Job Type: Full-Time

City Department: Nowata Fire Department

Application Opening Date: July 8th, 2025

Application Closing Date: August 3rd, 2025

Online Application – Apply Now

PDF Application – Available to print and deliver completed application to Nowata City Hall during hours of operation.

Fire Chief Job Description

This position involves administrative and technical work in the direction of all employees and activities of the City of Nowata Fire Department. It is responsible for the administration and coordination of Fire Department activities through supervision of subordinate officers and review of their activities. The incumbent of this class makes administrative and operational decisions pertaining to fire-fighting, the limitation of laws, regulations, and established policies. Works with minimum supervision, work is reviewed through observation of performance of personnel and equipment, and conferences with City Manager who reviews work accomplishments, primarily in the broad interest of ensuring fire safety for the city. 

Essential Functions and Duties

  • Assume full management responsibility for all Fire Department services and activities; including administration, inspection, communications, fire prevention and suppression, and emergency medical services; recommend and administer policies and procedures. 
  • Exercise purchasing and budgetary control and submit annual budget requests 
  • Manage the development and implementation of Fire Department goals, objectives, policies and priorities for each assigned service area and take necessary steps to improve the department. 
  • Provide for personnel recruitment and selection programs and evaluate potential candidates for employment and promotion. Establish departmental policies for the training and discipline of personnel. 
  • Establish, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly. 
  • Assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes. 
  • Select, train, motivate, and evaluate Fire Department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures. 
  • Respond to major fire alarms to personally direct and supervise fire operation activities as necessary. May assume command of all fire-fighting personnel and apparatus at the scene of a major conflagration and personally direct fire-fighting activities and make decisions as to best methods of extinguishing fires. Call for supplementary personnel and apparatus as needed. Order apparatus and personnel not needed at the fire to return to assigned stations. 
  • Prepare a variety of technical and Departmental activity reports and records; plan and develop an auxiliary fire-fighting program. 
  • Provide staff support to assigned boards and commissions; address civic and other groups on the activities of the department. 
  • Attend and participate in professional group meetings, conferences, conventions, and other educational meetings to keep abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of fire-fighting methods and administration and emergency medical program administration. 
  • Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints. 
  • Plan, organize, assign, and direct departmental operations with respect to equipment apparatus and personnel. 
  • Prepare and supervise the maintenance of pre-plans for the fire-fighting of major fires. 
  • Enforce safety rules and encourage safety application for employees, conforming to the safety guidelines set by the City. 
  • Perform any other related duties as required or assigned. 

Qualifications

Education and Experience

  • High School diploma or state certified GED
  • Plus, a minimum of 3 years of experience directly related to firefighting

Required Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

  • Possession of an appropriate and valid Oklahoma Driver’s License and a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurance carrier. 
  • Possession of an appropriate and valid CPR certificate. 
  • Possession of IFSAC Firefighter II certification. 
  • Completion of all required NIMS training as required by the City of Nowata and the Oklahoma Department of Homeland Security. 

Essential and Marginal Functions

Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for running, walking, crawling, climbing, stooping, and lifting; work in inclement weather conditions; may wear heavy protective equipment while working 

Conditions of Employment

  • Subject to post offer, pre-employment drug screen 
  • Subject to post offer, pre-employment criminal background check 
  • Must be at least 18 years of age 

This is a Safety Sensitive Position

This job has been classified as a “safety sensitive” position as defined by the United States Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing regulations, the Oklahoma Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act and/or Oklahoma Medical Marijuana laws. In this position, you will be subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing. Marijuana is one of the substances included in the drug panel screening. Possession of a Medical Marijuana license will not excuse you from the testing process, or the consequences of testing positive for Marijuana. 

City Employment Benefits

The City of Nowata offers comprehensive benefit packages that include:

  • Vacation, Sick, and Holiday Leave
  • Medical/Prescription
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance
Apply for the Fire Chief position