Fire Chief

The City of Traverse City is seeking a forward-thinking, transformational leader to serve as its next Fire Chief. This is a rare opportunity to lead a growing, highly-respected, progressive fire department and make a lasting impact on public safety, emergency services, and the future of our community.

Traverse City is actively investing in public safety infrastructure and service delivery, including the implementation of Primary Emergency Transportation. City leadership values collaboration, innovation, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement, offering the Fire Chief a supportive environment to lead strategically and implement meaningful change. The Fire Chief is a key executive leader responsible for overseeing all overseeing all fire and EMS operations, including suppression, ALS transport, prevention, education, and training.

The Fire Chief reports to and receives administrative direction from the City Manager. As a member of the City Leadership Team, the Fire Chief plays a vital role in shaping citywide strategy, advancing public safety initiatives, and implementing Primary Emergency Transportation services.

As Fire Chief, you will provide strategic vision and operational leadership while fostering a culture centered on community priorities, safety, preparedness, accountability and professionalism. You will guide and inspire a dedicated team of fire and EMS professionals in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

This position requires a proven change agent with strong leadership skills, operational expertise, and the ability to navigate the complexities of municipal government and labor relations.

We Serve. Community Oriented. Service to the Highest Standard.

The City of Traverse City is seeking a values-driven, emotionally intelligent Fire Chief who leads with clarity, accountability, and trust. The ideal candidate is a proven executive-level fire service leader capable of guiding the department through growth, modernization, and the implementation of EMS transport services, while aligning departmental priorities with the City’s broader strategic goals. This leader is relatable, transparent, and decisive, with the discipline to make difficult but necessary decisions and follow through with accountability.

The successful candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to professional development, with a strategic approach to investing in training, leadership development, and workforce readiness. They communicate openly, clearly, and confidently, even in complex or high-stakes situations, and inspire trust and engagement across all levels of the organization. This leader cultivates a high-accountability culture through clear expectations, consistent follow-through, policy enforcement, and supportive course correction, while exhibiting sound judgment, empathy, and emotional intelligence under pressure.

The ideal Fire Chief thinks strategically, leading the department in alignment with the City’s strategic priorities and organizational objectives, and is deeply committed to employee wellness and mental health. Experience leading or operating ALS transport services is highly valued, as Traverse City is at a pivotal moment in expanding emergency medical services. This leader fosters a feedback-rich culture grounded in trust, psychological safety, shared decision-making, and active listening, and supports strong succession planning within the department.

Senior leadership experience in a community with dynamics similar to Traverse City, such as seasonal population fluctuations, urban core response demands, tourism-related complexity, and EMS operations, is preferred, as is experience as a Fire Chief or in a key executive leadership role. The successful candidate values both the Traverse City Fire Department and the broader City organization and is actively engaged in the community it serves.

• 3 - Suppression Captains
• 24 – Suppression Firefighter/Paramedics/EMTs
• 1 - Fire Marshal
• 1 - Training Officer
• 1 - EMS Administrator
• 4100 Calls annually
• ISO Rating: 3

The City operates under a collaborative…