Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is inviting applications for the permanent position of Assistant Chief with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE).
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.
Reporting to a Deputy Chief, the Assistant Chief is a valued member of the Fire Strategic Team (FST) and is responsible for providing leadership and direction to both career and volunteer members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE).
HRFE is structured with three pillars:
Professional Development, Performance & Safety
Community Risk Reduction, Logistics & Infrastructure
Operations
The Assistant Chief may be assigned various portfolios of responsibility and/or assigned to any of the three pillars for development or organizational need.
When assigned to Operations, the Assistant Chief is assigned to a 24-hour shift pattern with 72 hours off between shifts and uses a marked emergency response HRFE vehicle while on duty to perform duties and respond to emergency incidents.
When assigned to CRRLI or PDPS, the Assistant Chief works Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week, is assigned an unmarked HRFE emergency response vehicle for travel throughout the Municipality and on-call responsibilities.
The Assistant Chief leads personnel through integrity, credibility, and by example, in a manner that supports and promotes the mission, vision and values of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides leadership and supervision to District Chiefs, Division Chiefs, Managers, and other assigned staff.
Is a member of HRFE’s Fire Strategic Team (FST), providing subject matter expertise and recommendations to support our people, reduce community risk and improving our performance and helping ensure our strategic goals and objectives are achieved.
Works with FST to provide support for recruiting initiatives and participates in hiring and promotional routines as required.
Promotes strong, open, positive, labour management and stakeholder relationships, responds to labour management issues prior to initiation of the grievance procedure. Represent HRFE in grievance and arbitration proceedings.
Enforces occupational health and safety standards, rules, regulations, policies, systems, and procedures and oversees operational guidelines for safe and efficient fire service operations. Reviews established promotion and retention efforts.
Will respond to and assume the role of Incident Commander at an emergency scene, to ensure control and coordination of emergency response as the incident warrants.
Works as a member of FST with Human Resources to respond and manage personnel matters. Conducts investigations, administers performance management and progressive discipline processes, as necessary.
Reports to the Emergency Operations Centre or Dispatch centre as part of the Incident Management Team (IMT), agency representative or advisor in a major event.
Represents the Deputy Chief and/or Fire Chief at community and public events, on committees, boards and community meetings as required, including liaising with the HRFE Outreach Committee to help strengthen the trust between the community and HRFE.
Manages managers, career / volunteer firefighters and officers, volunteers, administration, and support members as assigned.
Diploma in Fire Science or Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other related discipline
Post-secondary education in Project Management, Adult Education, or Human Resources considered an asset
Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in the fire/emergency service(s), with knowledge of various facets of fire/emergency operations
Minimum three (3) years’ experience at the District Chief or Division Chief level or equivalent Fire/Emergency Service Management positions
Incident Command System (ICS) – level 300 is an asset
Blue Card Command Certification considered an asset
NFPA 1521, Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer – Incident Safety Officer or confirmation of training equivalent to the standard considered an asset
NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Department Professional Qualifications -Level 3 and Level 4 or confirmation of training equivalent to the standard considered an asset
NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents/Weapons of Mass Destruction – Incident Commander level or confirmation of training equivalent to the standard considered an asset
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants will be required to complete an employment security screening check.
Please note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.
HOURS OF WORK: Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm with flexibility for on-call duties
SALARY: Non-Union, FM3 $159,228 - $167,581.
WORK LOCATION: 40 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS
CLOSING DATE: Applications will be received up to Thursday March 13, 2025
Please note: We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted.
During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the recruiter when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please clink on the link Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax
Welcome to the oldest fire department in Canada.
Since 1754, Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) has been dedicated to enhancing and preserving the quality of life and property. HRFE serves and protects 419,000 residents in a 5,577 km2 area – roughly the size of Prince Edward Island.
Career and volunteer fire crews at 51 fire stations throughout the Halifax region provide a full range of emergency services including:
Fire prevention (fire inspections and code enforcement, fire investigations and public fire safety education)
Fire suppression and rescue
Technical rescue (auto extrication, machinery, ice water, high-angle rope, trench, and confined space rescue, collapse rescue)
Hazardous materials response including chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear, and explosive
Pre-hospital emergency medical services
Mission
Our members are dedicated to enhancing and preserving quality of life, property and environment through education, leadership, partnerships and effective response to emergencies to ensure the citizens of HRM live in safe, inclusive and welcoming communities.
Values
We value Safety, Pride, Integrity/Accountability, Respect Diversity & Inclu...sion, Innovation, and Teamwork (SPIRIT)
• SAFETY: Commitment to a safe community and workplace.
• PRIDE: In our performance, the service we provide and the communities we serve.
• INTEGRITY & ACCOUNTABILTY: In everything we do, an organization that is trusted by those we serve.
• RESPECT: The uniqueness and diversity of others. All our actions and interactions with others reflect on HRFE.
• INNOVATION: Building a sustainable emergency service strategy for the future and remaining relevant in a changing landscape.
• TEAMWORK and COMMUNICATION: Together we are better. Open, honest, timely and respectful communications are always welcome.
Cornerstones
1. Public Safety and Trust
2. Workplace Safety
3. Performance and Brand Integrity
4. Teamwork and Leadership