Oak Park, IL – Fire Chief

About Oak Park

Village of Oak Park, IL (pop. 54,583) Located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, the Village of Oak Park offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The people who live, work and play in Oak Park have a strong sense of community. Intentionally and proudly diverse in race, religion, ethnicity, age income level and lifestyle, Oak Park is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion principles that welcome, respect and encourage the contributions of all its community members. With a tradition of civic involvement, and accessible and supportive local government, the Village invites active participation in decisions that affect community members lives, families and way of life.

Bounded on the east and north by the City of Chicago, on the west by River Forest and Forest Park and on the south by Cicero and Berwyn, Oak Parkers know that all of our lives are interconnected and collaboration and cooperation are necessary to solve some of our Community’s most pressing challenges. Actively involved in regional sustainability efforts, Oak Park’s climate action plan is a model for local governments looking to chart a sustainable path into the future.

About the Position & Department

The Oak Park Fire Department is a full-service, professional department dedicated to protecting lives and property through fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention and public education. The department operates from three fire stations and provides advanced life support (ALS) emergency medical services. Approximately 64% of the Fire Department calls for emergency medical service, and 36% are fire calls or other calls for service.

The Fire Chief oversees three shifts of 22 personnel. Each shift has a Battalion Chief in charge of the shift with four Lieutenants who serve as company officers and 17 Firefighter/Paramedics who staff three ambulances, two engines, a ladder truck, and a command vehicle. The total operating budget across Administration, Operations, EMS, Fire Prevention and Training & Public Education is over $13M.

The Fire Chief is responsible for assuming full management responsibility for all Fire Department services and activities, managing the development and implementation of the Fire Department goals and objectives, and establishing, within Village policy, appropriate service and staffing levels within the department.

In addition to providing world class baseline services, identified priorities for the new Fire Chief will include:

·         Comprehensive review of staffing and services levels.

·         Review if Fire Department capital needs

·         Review of Departmental overtime utilization

·         Workforce Diversity Planning

·         Implementation of Village’s Alternative Response to Calls for Service Pilot Program

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have seven years of broad and increasingly responsible fire suppression, emergency medical and related experience, including a minimum of five years of administrative and supervisory experience.

Candidates must have an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, or a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in fire science, public administration, or a closely related field, or have more than 10 years of service as a firefighter in the Village of Oak Park.

All candidates must possess or have the ability to obtain a Valid Illinois Driver’s License and possess or have the ability to obtain the following State requirements:

·         Basic Operations Firefighter Certification or Firefighter II Certification

·         Advanced Fire Officer Certification or Fire Officer II Certification

·         A current certification that meets the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards NFPS 1001.

·         A current certification that meets the NFPA standards NFPA 1021

·         Qualification that meet the NFPA’s standards NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualification, Fire Officer II job performance requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

The Village of Oak Park offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes Oak Park Fire pension participation, health and life insurance, vacation, sick leave and other benefits including flexible working arrangements. The annual salary range for the Fire Chief is $134,310.00 – $194,750.00 with the anticipated hiring salary of $170,000.00 +/– depending on qualifications.

The ideal candidate will be:

·         A strong leaser with advanced decision-making skills.

·         A technical and operational expert

·         A savvy communicator who engages with the community

·         A true professional with a strong sense of integrity

·         An adaptable and innovative team player

·         A strong administrator and financial manager

How to Apply

To apply, candidates must submit a comprehensive resume, cover letter and contact information for five professional references to Assistant Village Manager/HR Director Kira Tchang at ktchang@oak-park.us. First review of applicants will occur on March 28, 2025.

The Village of Oak Park commits itself to diversity, equity and inclusion by recognizing that creating mutually respectful, multicultural and equitable environment does not happen on its own; it must be intentional. This includes providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion ability, military or veteran status or any other protected characteristics.