Details
11/05/2026
Assistant Fire Chief
Springfield Township Fire Department
Springfield Township Fire Department is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Fire Chief.
The Assistant Fire Chief is a senior command position and key member of the department's command staff. The position works directly with the Fire Chief and provides leadership in department administration, operations, training, personnel development, officer development, and overall organizational readiness.
A primary focus of the Assistant Fire Chief position will be the development and coordination of a comprehensive department training program designed to improve the knowledge, skills, competency, leadership, and operational readiness of department personnel.
Springfield Township Fire Department is seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward-thinking fire service professional who demonstrates strong leadership, sound decision-making, accountability, professionalism, and a commitment to developing current and future fire service leaders.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Fire Chief will have significant responsibility for the department's training, operations, officer development, personnel development, and organizational readiness.
Primary responsibilities include:
• Assist the Fire Chief with the overall administration and operation of the Fire Department.
• Provide leadership, supervision, guidance, and operational support to Battalion Captains, company officers, and department personnel.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee the department's fire, EMS, rescue, command, and operational training programs.
• Establish annual, monthly, and daily departmental training objectives.
• Develop and maintain short-term, long-term, and multi-year departmental training plans.
• Work with Battalion Captains and company officers to ensure consistent training and operational expectations across all shifts.
• Identify and coordinate outside instructors, educational institutions, subject-matter experts, and specialized training opportunities.
• Develop and oversee officer development, mentoring, succession planning, and professional-development programs.
• Assist with probationary firefighter development, acting-officer development, promotional preparation, and remedial or performance-improvement training.
• Coordinate or participate in post-incident reviews and use identified lessons to improve training, policies, procedures, equipment, and operations.
• Promote consistency, accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and effective communication throughout the department.
• Provide command leadership at emergency incidents and significant events as required.
• Assist with development, review, and implementation of departmental policies, procedures, operational guidelines, response plans, rules, and regulations.
• Assist with implementation of new equipment, technology, medical protocols, and operational procedures.
• Participate in personnel matters, employee evaluations, coaching, counseling, corrective action, labor-management issues, and administration of collective bargaining agreements as assigned.
• Assist with budgeting, purchasing, equipment planning, fleet planning, capital projects, grants, and special projects.
• Assist with strategic planning and long-term organizational development.
• Participate in regional training, emergency-management activities, mutual aid, special operations, and multi-agency coordination.
• Represent the Fire Chief and Springfield Township Fire Department at meetings, committees, community functions, official functions, and other assignments as directed.
• Work collaboratively with Battalion Captains, company officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, administrative staff, Township administration, elected officials, labor representatives, mutual-aid partners, and the public.
• Serve as Acting Fire Chief when designated or in the absence of the Fire Chief.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Fire Chief.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must possess:
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a company officer at the rank of Battalion Captain or above, or comparable command-level experience.
• Current State of Ohio Firefighter II certification.
• Current Ohio EMS certification appropriate for departmental operational requirements.
• Fire Officer I, II, III, and IV certification.
• Current State of Ohio Fire/EMS Instructor certification.
• Current State of Ohio Fire Safety Inspector certification.
• Completion of NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800.
• Completion of FEMA IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness or equivalent/basic Public Information Officer training.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, evaluating, and developing fire service personnel.
• Demonstrated experience in fire, EMS, rescue, training, and emergency incident operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple responsibilities in both emergency and administrative environments.
• Valid Ohio driver's license.
• Ability to maintain all department-required certifications, continuing education, and applicable medical direction requirements.
• Ability to meet all applicable employment requirements of Springfield Township.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference may be given to candidates possessing experience, education, certification, or professional development in the following areas:
• Hazardous Materials Technician certification.
• Basic and/or advanced Fire Investigation training or certification.
• Current State of Ohio Live Fire Instructor certification.
• Maxwell Leadership or comparable recognized leadership-development program.
• Ohio Fire Chief (OFC), Ohio Fire Officer (OFO), Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Ohio Fire Executive Officer, or comparable professional fire service credential.
• Incident Safety Officer training or certification.
• Advanced NIMS/ICS or incident-management training.
• Development and management of multi-year departmental training programs.
• Officer-development and succession-planning programs.
• Probationary firefighter-development programs.
• Remedial and performance-improvement training.
• EMS quality assurance, quality improvement, and clinical-performance review.
• Labor relations and collective bargaining agreements.
• Personnel management, discipline, evaluation, and employee development.
• Municipal budgeting and purchasing.
• Fleet planning and capital-improvement programs.
• Fire-service grants and grant administration.
• Municipal government operations.
• Emergency management, Emergency Operations Center operations, and multi-agency coordination.
• Special operations or regional response-team experience.
• Public information, media relations, and community risk-reduction experience.
• Executive or command-level fire service leadership beyond Fire Officer I–IV.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
DESIRED LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
The successful candidate should be a leader who:
• Leads by example and maintains high professional standards.
• Develops personnel rather than simply manages them.
• Supports Battalion Captains and company officers while maintaining accountability.
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and is willing to make difficult decisions when necessary.
• Promotes consistency, teamwork, and accountability across department shifts.
• Values training, preparedness, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Can balance emergency operations with the administrative responsibilities of a modern fire department.
• Understands the importance of succession planning and preparing future department leaders.
• Encourages professional growth and creates opportunities for personnel to improve.
• Works effectively with employees, labor representatives, Township administration, elected officials, mutual-aid partners, and the public.
• Understands and respects the department's history while helping prepare for its future.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary range for the Assistant Fire Chief position is:
$92,000 – $96,000
Starting salary within the established range will be based upon qualifications, education, certifications, experience, and demonstrated command-level leadership.
Benefits will be provided in accordance with Springfield Township policies and applicable benefit programs.
WORK SCHEDULE
The Assistant Fire Chief shall work a schedule established by the Fire Chief based upon department needs.
The position may require attendance at meetings, training, emergency incidents, special events, community functions, and other department activities outside normal working hours.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit:
• Letter of interest
• Current résumé
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Copies or documentation of applicable certifications
• Professional references
Application Deadline: December 18, 2026
Completed application materials may be submitted electronically, mailed, or hand-delivered to:
Springfield Township Fire Department
Attn: Judy Kelly
2454 E. Waterloo Road
Akron, Ohio 44312
Email: jkelly@springfieldtownship.us
All application materials must be received no later than December 18, 2026.
Qualified applicants may be required to participate in an interview, assessment center, presentation, written exercise, or other selection process as determined by Springfield Township.
Springfield Township reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary and to consider the qualifications, experience, leadership ability, and overall suitability of each applicant.
Springfield Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
