Chief of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Position Summary

The Fire and EMS Chief provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for all Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations, Emergency Preparedness, and Emergency Management functions in Orange County. The position is responsible for complex administrative and operational duties involving the planning, management, and continuous improvement of emergency services through effective leadership, operational excellence, fiscal stewardship, and a strong commitment to public safety.

The Chief oversees a career system operating in partnership with six volunteer agencies. Orange County's emergency services system is rooted in a long-standing tradition of volunteer service and strengthened by the partnership between career staff and volunteer companies. The Board of Supervisors and the Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association are working toward a fully integrated combination system that ensures seamless coordination between career personnel and volunteer organizations. The Chief will collaborate with volunteers, community stakeholders, and County officials to work together to develop and implement a unified system that enhances service delivery while preserving the essential role of volunteer fire and rescue organizations. In partnership with volunteer companies, the Chief will identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, improve operational coordination, advance training and planning, and ensure high-quality, timely, and efficient emergency response. The Chief will guide both career and volunteer resources toward a more unified combination system through transparency, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.

The Chief is expected to foster a culture of collaboration and mutual respect by building strong relationships with volunteer leaders, career personnel, elected officials, and community partners. Success in this role requires visible, accessible, and collaborative leadership that values open communication, trust, and consensus-building.

The Chief operates under the general direction of the Deputy County Administrator and exercises full supervisory authority over all departmental personnel. The role involves inherent risks associated with emergency response operations.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for all Fire and EMS emergency response operations, including emergency rescue, medical response, fire suppression, hazardous materials mitigation, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and continuity of operations. Develop, approve, and implement associated policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Collaborate with the Board of Supervisors, county administration, volunteer fire and rescue agencies, law enforcement, Orange County Public Schools, the Towns of Orange and Gordonsville, and other designated boards or committees to establish and achieve systemwide goals for emergency services delivery.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen collaborative partnerships with volunteer fire and rescue organizations by fostering mutual trust, open communication, shared problem-solving, and respect for each organization's role in delivering coordinated and efficient emergency services to residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Meet regularly with career and volunteers to promote transparency, address concerns, identify opportunities for improvement and collaboration, and strengthen relationships between career and volunteer personnel.
• Develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy for both career and volunteer personnel.
• Serve as the County's Emergency Services Coordinator during major incidents, ensuring unified command and effective interagency coordination.
• Partner with local, regional, state, and federal agencies-including VDEM, Virginia Department of Fire Programs, Virginia Office of EMS, Dominion Energy, FEMA, and FERC-to plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies of any scope or nature.
• Coordinate with the Emergency Communications Center, Sheriff's Office, other law enforcement entities, and volunteer agencies to ensure integrated and reliable incident communications and mutual-aid readiness.
• Investigate and resolve concerns from citizens, EMS providers, or medical professionals regarding the delivery of emergency medical services.
• Ensure strict compliance with all applicable laws, standards, and regulations governing Fire, EMS, and emergency management operations.
• Oversee accurate documentation, maintenance of operational and medical records, and timely submission of required reports to local, State, and Federal authorities.
• With staff support, prepare, propose, and administer the department's annual operating and capital budgets, as well as the five-year Capital Improvements Plan. Ensure compliance with procurement policies and effectively manage contracts and expenditures.
• With staff support, pursue grant funding of departmental objectives; prepare applications, administer awarded grants, and ensure reporting and compliance.
• With staff support, manage fee-for-service programs related to emergency services.
• With staff support, develop and maintain public education programs to promote emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and community risk reduction.
• Represent the department through public presentations, community engagement, and intergovernmental coordination.
• Respond to emergency incidents as necessary.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of duties. The County reserves the right to modify job duties or assign additional responsibilities as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• A four (4) year degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in Fire Science, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or
• Equivalent advanced education and training in Fire, EMS, or Emergency Management may be considered.

Experience:

• Extensive, progressively responsible experience in Fire Protection, EMS, and/or Emergency Management.
• At least five years of increasingly responsible command-level leadership in Fire and EMS operations.
• Demonstrated field response and incident command experience is required.
• Experience as a volunteer firefighter or EMT and/or substantial experience working directly with volunteer agencies is strongly preferred.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Virginia EMT Certification (Minimum)
• Virginia Advanced EMT Certification (Preferred)
• Virginia Paramedic Certification (Preferred)
• VDFP Firefighter I & II
• VDFP Fire Officer III or IV (Preferred)
• VDFP Fire Instructor II or higher
• Executive Fire Officer (Preferred)
• Chief Fire Officer (Preferred)
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800
• EVOC
• RERO
• HAZMAT Technician
• Valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license

Other: Other equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered in meeting the minimum education and experience requirements

Special Qualifications

• Must maintain an acceptable driving record.
• May not serve as a member of a volunteer fire or rescue agency after employment begins.
• Requires on-call availability and response outside normal working hours.
• Designation as Essential Staff.
• Mandatory uniform and appropriate safety equipment use.
• Subject to pre-employment background check (including fingerprinting), physical examination, and drug testing, with recurring testing per policy.
• Required to pass physical fitness test and maintain fitness level with annual evaluation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of emergency services operations, including organizational structure, staffing, budgeting, equipment management and maintenance, and associated records and reporting requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of firefighting techniques, practices, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of emergency medical procedures, protocols, and best practices.
• General knowledge of hazardous materials, related emergency response operations, and principles and techniques of vehicle and structural extrication.
• Knowledge of applicable State and Federal Fire and EMS laws, regulations, and standards.
• Extensive experience and knowledge in Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Emergency Management operations, including volunteer systems, as well as CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) and public safety communications systems and principles.
• General understanding of the functions, operations, and activities of Orange County government.
• Ability to communicate clearly; understand and follow written and oral instructions; and operate standard office equipment and personal computer hardware and software.
• Ability to plan, organize, supervise, and evaluate Fire and EMS departmental activities while maintaining effective order and discipline.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in complex and high-pressure situations.
• Ability to prepare, present, and evaluate clear and accurate written and oral reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, colleagues, officials, and the public.

Working Conditions and Disclaimer

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling and reaching with hands and arms, frequently climbing or balancing, pushing or pulling, and repetitive motions, and occasionally requires standing and walking; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision, and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm's length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities; worker is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposed to fumes or airborne particles, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus, and exposed to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; and, performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, weather, temperature and noise extremes, hazardous materials, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, explosives, disease, or pathogenic substances.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees with this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this position.

General Acknowledgement: The employee is expected to comply with all County policies and procedures and to consistently demonstrate adherence through their conduct. As a representative of Orange County, the employee is also expected to serve as a role model by upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in accordance with these policies.