FD- FIRE CHIEF

Overview

Lead with service. Invest in people. Strengthen a community through public safety.

As the Fire Chief for the City of Coppell, you will lead a people-centered public safety organization that protects life, strengthens community trust, and prepares the City for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Coppell emphasizes taking care of our people to empower them to serve the community—a core principle woven into our culture of service and public safety.

Serving on the City’s Executive Leadership Team, the Fire Chief provides enterprise-level leadership and leads the Fire Department’s Fire Operations, Life Safety Park, and Emergency Management divisions in service to the community. This role aligns City-wide priorities with operational readiness, ensuring public safety services are delivered with professionalism, integrity, and service-focused accountability.

The Fire Chief’s work centers on cultivating strong leaders, resilient systems, and a sustainable operational foundation that supports emergency response, prevention, education, and preparedness. In partnership with the City's executive leadership team and Fire Department leadership, you will ensure teams are equipped with the tools, training, and support needed to grow professionally, lead confidently, and serve the community effectively.

This role requires a leader who brings humility, collaboration, and strategic thinking to complex public safety challenges—balancing innovation with operational excellence, and long-term preparedness with day-to-day service delivery. Success in this role is grounded in investing in people, strengthening partnerships, and advancing a public safety organization rooted in trust, accountability, and service to the community.

• Provide enterprise-level leadership for the Fire Department, including Fire Operations, Life Safety Park, and Emergency Management divisions.
• Serve on the Executive Leadership Team to align City-wide priorities with operational readiness.
• Cultivate strong leaders, resilient systems, and sustainable operational foundations for emergency response, prevention, education, and preparedness.
• Ensure teams are equipped with the tools, training, and support to grow professionally and serve the community effectively.
• Lead with humility, collaboration, and strategic thinking to address complex public safety challenges.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Emergency Management, Leadership, or related field.
• Master Firefighter, Texas Commission on Fire Protection or equivalent, with the ability to obtain the TCFP within 12 months post-hire.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible, paid experience in municipal fire service, including emergency management functions.
• 5+ years at the rank of Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Division Chief, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, budgeting, personnel management, and strategic planning.
• Valid driver’s license, with a good driving record.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in public administration, Emergency Management, Leadership, or related field.
• Head of Fire Department Certification, Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP).
• Graduation from the U.S. Fire Administration Executive Fire Officer Program.
• Chief Fire Officer, Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
• Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service TEEX.
• Experience leading organization-wide culture or strategic initiatives.
• Experience in regional emergency management or large-scale incident management.

• Background w/ Driving Record
• Drug
• Medical
• Psychological
• Polygraph

The Fire and Life Safety Department includes:

• Fire
• Emergency Management
• Life Safety Park

To learn more about the City of Coppell culture and the Coppell Fire Department, please refer to the City’s careers resources.