What can you expect from this position?Reporting to the Head of Safety, Security and Emergency Services, the Fire Chief is responsible for strategic leadership, operational oversight, and public safety coordination. This role blends emergency response expertise with administrative and managerial duties to ensure the department runs efficiently and effectively.
As Fire Chief, you will:- Provide strategic leadership for Airport Fire & Emergency Services, aligning operations with enterprise priorities including safety, operational excellence, resiliency, and customer experience.
- Define and deliver a multi-year modernization strategy for ARFF, advancing digital capabilities, predictive maintenance, inter-agency collaboration, and training excellence.
- Partner with senior leadership to embed emergency preparedness and fire protection requirements into capital programs, infrastructure development, and operational readiness initiatives.
- Lead the design and continuous improvement of emergency management frameworks through data-driven insights, post-incident analysis, and large-scale simulation exercises.
- Direct complex, multi-agency emergency responses, ensuring effective incident command, rapid decision-making, and coordinated crisis management.
- Establish departmental strategy, policies, performance frameworks, and long-term objectives that support organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
- Build and sustain a high-performing leadership team through talent acquisition, succession planning, coaching, and a strong focus on professional development.
- Oversee financial stewardship of the department, including multi-year capital and operating plans, budgeting, and resource optimization.
- Champion a culture of safety, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement, while fostering strong labour relations and employee engagement.
- Ensure full compliance with applicable legislation, standards, and regulations, maintaining required aerodrome emergency response capabilities and service levels.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships with municipal agencies, external responders, and internal stakeholders to strengthen integration, preparedness, and service delivery.
- Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on emergency services strategy, risk, and capability planning, supporting informed decision-making at the enterprise level.
This is the role for you, if you have: - Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in fire services, including experience at the fire officer level; airport operations experience is an asset.
- Minimum 8 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
- NFPA Fire Officer I & II, NFPA 921, and NFPA 1003 certifications.
- Strong knowledge of National Building Code, Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), Canadian Labour Code, and WSIB requirements.
- Expertise in Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), emergency response operations, and municipal fire services.
- Experience working within unionized environments, including collective bargaining and labour relations.
- Knowledge of airport operations, mutual aid agreements, and multi-agency emergency response coordination.
- Familiarity with paramedic services and integrated emergency response models.
- Diploma in Fire Services, Company Officer Diploma, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability to obtain and retain Transportation Security Clearance.
This position isexemptfrom Ontario's 2026 pay transparency requirements under Regulation 476/24. 
