Fire Lieutenant

Overview

The Wilmington Fire Department is hiring Fire Lieutenants. The purpose of this position is to protect life and property of the citizens of Wilmington. This role performs supervisory and technical duties in fire suppression, emergency medical care, hazardous materials incidents, fire personnel training and public relations. Responsibilities include exercising judgment and initiative in critical fire and life safety decisions, supervising personnel, overseeing housekeeping and equipment maintenance, and assuming responsibility for the apparatus.

Other duties include serving on committees, acting as Fire Captain, completing reports, testing equipment, attending continuous professional training, inspecting hydrants, and coordinating monthly training. Performs all other duties as assigned by the Battalion Chief.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must submit a completed online employment application, the Career Plan Report, Supplemental Questionnaire, and upload all required documents by the posting deadline.

• External Candidates must:
  Upload certification/proof of EACH required qualification; resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire; certification numbers will not be accepted in lieu of uploaded documents.
• Internal Candidates must:
  Submit a Letter of Recommendation from your supervisor; ensure all certifications are in your training folder.

All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applicants are encouraged to check emails after the closing date for correspondence. If selected to move forward, you will receive your testing and interview schedule and all supporting information. Ensure the email on the application remains current and check spam/junk/bulk and firewall settings as needed. Missing an email is not justification for missed assessments.

The selection process includes required documents, candidate school attendance, and testing phases as described below.

• Career Plan Report:
  Details the candidate's professional growth, including Experience, Formal Education, Professional Development, and Organizational Commitment. Assessment per Section 8 of the Promotion Process Engineer/Lieutenant/Captain/Battalion Chief/Assistant Chief (210).
• WFD Candidate School II:
  All candidates must attend one session to meet qualification. Attendance is recorded at the start of the meeting.

• Sessions (examples):
  January 27, 2026 – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EST;
  February 3, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST.

Candidates who pass minimum qualification screenings proceed through the following phases. Phases II–IV require a passing score of 70% or higher to advance.

• Phase I:
  Career Plan Report – Closing date February 17. Top 15 candidates move forward.
• Phase II:
  Fire Problem – March 16–18. 40% of final score.
• Phase III:
  Management Problem – March 16–18. 30% of final score.
• Phase IV:
  Presentation – March 16–18. 30% of final score.

The final ranking is based on cumulative scores from Phases II–IV. A candidate scoring below 70% at any phase or overall is not eligible for the final list. The eligibility roster expires 1 calendar year from certification.

External candidates selected for hire: anticipated Lieutenant orientation date May 4, 2026.

• Supervises personnel by prioritizing and assigning tasks, conducting performance evaluations, identifying training needs, coordinating, presenting training, administering disciplinary actions as per City policy, responding to citizen complaints and grievances, writing reports, maintaining personnel records, maintaining readiness, and communicating with personnel.
• Directs fire ground operations during emergencies, using apparatus and equipment for fire suppression and control.
• Ensures safety and accountability of all personnel and citizens during emergency operations.
• Performs non-emergency operations and public relations by assisting the Fire and Life Safety division and working with the public to protect life and property.
• Performs administrative duties by writing reports, serving on committees, maintaining records, and reviewing departmental…