JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER

CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT

Office of the Fire Commissioner

Number of Vacancies: 1 (Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Annual salary range: $137,856.00 - $155,292.00

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm Central time on 10/05/2026.

Under direction, this class functions at the managerial level participating in the Chicago Fire Department's leadership staff. The class manages a major division or program; has direct responsibility for division or program operations; and works to implement and enhance City infrastructure, services, programs and initiatives across City government; and performs related duties as required .

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Works in conjunction with the Public Safety Administration (PSA) office to track and monitor budget allocations and expenditures and participates in the preparation of grant applications for Chicago Fire Department (CFD) grant programs, including the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program (UASI), Assistance to Firefighters (AFG), Port Security, Complex Coordinated Terrorism Attack (CCTA), and Securing the Cities (STC).
• Represents the Chicago Fire Department at local, state, and federal task forces, conferences, and planning meetings.
• Serves as the department liaison on agency planning, training, and exercise teams engaged in developing and updating emergency management plans in preparation for response to natural, accidental, and manufactured (terrorism) emergency and disaster situations.
• Works in conjunction with other agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Public Health, Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Cook County Sherriff's Office, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois State Police, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Functions as the head of an operational division or section within a department by leading and directing staff
• Manages daily operations by assigning work, setting expectations, monitoring performance, conducting performance evaluations, and ensuring adherence to organizational policies and practices
• Coordinates work efforts with management in developing strategic plans and implementing changes in staffing, operating procedures, and work processes designed to improve the administration of programs, increase operational efficiencies and accomplishments
• Facilitates and implements directives from department leadership ensuring they are implemented by setting expectations, monitoring performance, and managing resources
• Develops and implements performance measurement systems to track operational efficiency, service delivery, and staff productivity
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing program operations
• Manages and provides guidance on functions including budget preparations and grant funding, human resources, labor relations, finance and accounting, contracts administration and purchasing, accounts payable, inventory management, and administrative operations activities, etc.
• Prepares comprehensive reports, dashboards, and briefings for departmental leadership
• Serves as a liaison with operating departments, governmental agencies, and private consultants participating in collaborative projects
• Stays abreast of relevant laws and regulations pertinent to program division or program operations

Additional duties may be required for this position.

DEPARTMENT: Fire - Office of the Fire Commissioner

ADDRESS: 3510 S Michigan Ave - Public Safety Headquarters

SHIFT: Monday through Friday

HOURS: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience
• Nine (9) years of experience related to the responsibilities of the position, of which at least two (2) years must be in a supervisory or supervisory-equivalent role as defined below by any of the following:

o direct supervision of staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing performance evaluations, hiring and discipline, etc.);

o working as a project or program manager;

o performing functional oversight (e.g., coordinating or directing the work of others, working as a senior or team lead), OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an associate's degree in a field related to the duties performed, including seven (7) years of work experience related to the position, of which at least two (2) years must be supervisory or supervisory-equivalent role as defined below by any of the following:

o direct supervision of staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing performance evaluations, hiring and discipline, etc.);

o working as a project or program manager;

o performing functional oversight (e.g., coordinating or directing the work of others, working as a senior or team lead), OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field related to the duties performed, including five (5) years of work experience related to the position, of which at least two (2) years must be supervisory or supervisory-equivalent role as defined below by any of the following:

o direct supervision of staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing performance evaluations, hiring and discipline, etc.);

o working as a project or program manager;

o performing functional oversight (e.g., coordinating or directing the work of others, working as a senior or team lead), OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree or higher in a field related to the duties performed, including four (4) years of work experience related to the position, of which at least two (2) years must be supervisory or supervisory-equivalent role as defined below by any of the following:

o direct supervision of staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing performance evaluations, hiring and discipline, etc.);

o working as a project or program manager;

o performing functional oversight (e.g., coordinating or directing the work of others, working as a senior or team lead)

NOTE: A copy of your official transcripts will be required, if applicable.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:
• Project management experience
• Knowledge of project management software
• Previous experience with budget preparation and grant funding
• Previous supervisory experience in positions that relate to Public Safety and/or Emergency Management
• Previous experience in positions requiring the composition of Incident Action Plans and/or Operation Plans
• Previous experience in coordinating on-scene, large scale, emergency field operations
• Knowledge of the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr/provdrs/Job_Classification_Compensation/svcs/classification-and-pay-plan.html#docaccess-ba6c316e7a6d538348ff53b1eeebb6ab

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.