Location
Description
ABOUT THE POSITION
The City of Redwood City is recruiting a Deputy Fire Chief. This position performs responsible management, technical, personnel, budget and administrative work. Typical duties will include planning, directing, supervising and participating in the activities of one or more major divisions in the Fire Department. Under the direction of the Fire Chief, this position will directly supervise all Battalion Chiefs, Fire Marshal, Emergency Preparedness Outreach Coordinator and fire prevention personnel including sworn and non-sworn professional, technical and support personnel. The Deputy Chief may represent the San Carlos Fire Department as the primary liaison, under direction of the Fire Chief. The Deputy Chief will take command of the Departments in the absence of the Fire Chief, and performs related work as required.
Please click on the job announcement file below to review the recruitment flyer.
- Apply via www.CalOpps.org.
- Applications will be reviewed continuously as they are received, and the deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
- Add calopps@redwoodcity.org, ljuarez@redwoodcity.org, and lbishop@redwoodcity.org to your address book and check spam folders to ensure you receive notices (sometimes they get stuck in spam filters).
- Assessment center is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025. Please hold this day on your calendar.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Deputy Fire Chief will bring strong command experience and leadership to support and advance a Class 1 fire department. This individual will embrace the City’s emphasis on excellent customer service, demonstrate a high level of detail orientation, and effectively manage multiple complex tasks. They will possess the ability to supervise and mentor both sworn and non-sworn staff, ensuring operational readiness while supporting professional growth.
The Deputy Fire Chief will excel at work requiring strong analytical ability and summarizing complex operational and administrative information to guide sound decision-making. They will be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, across a wide range of issues including highly technical and complex subjects ensuring clarity with staff, city leadership, elected officials, and the community.
This role requires initiative, independent judgment, and the ability to foster collaboration across divisions. The successful candidate will be a strategic team player who works productively with City staff, elected officials, and the public, while also providing decisive operational leadership on matters of training, emergency response, and community risk reduction. Above all, the Deputy Fire Chief will model integrity, professionalism, and resilience while helping lead the organization forward.
To be a great fit in Redwood City, a Deputy Fire Chief must be a strategic and collaborative team player who works seamlessly with other departments in the City and the region and understands the importance of achieving the City Council’s goals. Candidates should possess a combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge skills and abilities would be: at least five years of increasingly responsible supervisory and administrative experience at the Battalion Chief level or above. An Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Fire Science, Public Administration, or closely related field with a Bachelor’s degree being desirable. Possession of and the ability to maintain a valid California Drivers License. California Chief Officer Certificate is required by the end of the one-year probation period. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities required of this position are listed in the job description on the City’s website which may be accessed here. https://DeputyFireChief
Benefits
Open attached pdf job annoucement for benefits listing
Special Instructions
A City application is required and must be submitted before the deadline via CalOpps. Your application should include the following required materials:
Written responses to Supplemental Questionnaire; Resume attachment; all CalOpps fields completed in the application, including personal information, education, work experience, training, etc.
Please note that all attachments must be uploaded into CalOpps at the same time as application. Attachments can be multiple pages but cannot exceed 2MB total.
Applications must be filled out completely. Failure to list work experience, and education or training or stating “See Resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application. Resumes may be attached separately, but resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a city application.