Fire Chief

Fire Chief 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars Austin, MN 55912 $103,500.80 - $147,846.40 a year - Full-time City of Austin, Minnesota 613 reviews $103,500.80 - $147,846.40 a year - Full-time Overview The City of Austin, Minnesota is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Fire Chief to lead a combination fire department serving approximately 28,700 residents across the City of Austin and two surrounding townships, with a total service area of approximately 74 square miles. The Austin Fire Department includes 9 fulltime firefighters, an administrative assistant and 14 paid-on-call firefighters, and operates with an annual budget of approximately $2.5 million. This exempt, bargaining unit position reports to the City Administrator and has a 2025 salary range of $103,500.80 - $147,846.40; the 2026 salary range has not yet been determined. Starting pay will be based on the selected candidate's overall qualifications, with consideration given to fire service experience, command/supervisory experience, administrative leadership, and other directly related experience. The Fire Chief provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for fire suppression, prevention, inspections, training, emergency response, personnel management, budgeting, equipment planning, and long-range department operations. The ideal candidate will be a steady, practical, and accountable leader with strong communication skills, command-level experience, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust with fulltime and paid-on-call personnel. The City is looking for a Fire Chief who can evaluate operations, set clear expectations, support personnel, maintain accountability, and prepare the department for future service demands. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field; five years of fire service experience with supervisory experience; current Firefighter I & II, and Hazardous Materials certifications; and a valid Minnesota driver's license or ability to obtain one by time of hire. Fire Instructor I and Company Officer I are required within six months of hire. Appointment is contingent upon successful completion of all required pre-employment screening, including a physical ability/fitness test, background review, physical examination, and psychological evaluation. Applications are available at the City Administrative Office/City Hall, 500 4th Avenue NE, Austin, or Online at: https://www.ci.austin.mn.us/fire-chief

Application Deadline:

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Pay:

$103,500.80 - $147,846.40 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person