Fire Chief - Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is a dynamic and thriving city of over 500,000 residents, anchoring a metropolitan area of 2.5 million people across 18 counties. Kansas City blends urban energy with suburban charm and rural beauty, offering diverse and vibrant neighborhoods and an unparalleled blend of history, creativity, and modern progress. The City’s world-famous barbecue and jazz heritage, coupled with a thriving arts scene, provide a rich cultural backdrop that draws visitors and residents alike.

Appointed by and reporting directly to the City Manager, the Fire Chief oversees a full-service fire, emergency medical and rescue services department with nearly 1,500 full-time employees operating from 35 stations and one dedicated EMS operations facility housing dynamically deployed ambulances.  KCFD is organized into seven battalions covering 318 square miles that is supported by a total budget of $321M.  

The annual salary range for this position is $148,668 - $324,600 with a starting salary commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience and professional achievement.  The City of Kansas City, Missouri offers a comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, life and long-term disability insurance, defined benefit retirement plan, 11 paid holidays, vacation and sick time accrual starting the first day of hire, up to eight hours of paid leave annually to volunteer in area schools and designated charities, deferred compensation plan, car allowance, and other ancillary benefit options.

A bachelor’s degree with a major in Fire Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited university is highly preferred but not required.  A master’s degree in Fire and Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field is desired.  Viable candidates should possess a minimum rank of Deputy Chief (or a comparable rank), with extensive experience of at least 10 years that includes progressive responsibility with administrative, supervisory, and budgetary experience in fire prevention and suppression work – preferably within a large, complex urban municipal, county or state fire department or district.  The required minimum certifications and license are Fire I & II, EMT-B Certification.

Qualified candidates are asked to apply at:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bakertilly/jobs/4936867/fire-chief-kansas-city-missouri

This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  For more information, please contact Yolanda Howze at Yolanda.Howze@bakertilly.com or 312-240-3401; or Art Davis at Art.Davis@bakertilly.com or 816-868-7042.

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• Baker Tilly