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The City of Waite Park, MN (8,342) sits in a uniquely balanced position within central Minnesota — close enough to major routes and regional hubs to feel connected yet surrounded by natural features that give it a sense of calm and spaciousness. Waite Park is part of the greater St. Cloud metropolitan area, positioned just west of St. Cloud itself. This places it in a strategic pocket of Stearns County where suburban comfort meets easy access to urban amenities. The city is bordered by St, Cloud to the east, Sauk Rapids and Sartell to the north, and Rockville and St. Joseph to the west. The cluster of communities forms a lively regional network where Waite Park still enjoys its own identity. Nearby major routes provide for easy access to areas like Minneapolis-St, Paul and other locations in the area. This makes Waite Park a convenient home base for commuters, travelers, and anyone who wants quick access to the Twin Cities without living in the metro’s intensity. For decades, Waite Park has been protected by a dedicated volunteer fire service — a group rooted in tradition, pride, and community connection. 
 
The Waite Park Fire Department is woven into the identity of the city itself — a department built on commitment, community pride, and the steady reliability of people who show up when it matters most. For decades, Waite Park relied on a strong roster of approximately 30 paid-on-call firefighters who balanced careers, families, and service while answering alarms with the professionalism that defines small-city fire service at its best.
 
In recent years, however, the landscape of volunteer and paid-on-call service has changed significantly. Increasing training requirements, time commitments, and workforce demands have made recruitment and retention more challenging. At the same time, the department has experienced the retirement of several long-serving members, some with 20 or more years of dedicated service to the community. Today, the department’s roster has declined to fewer than 15 firefighters.
 
To ensure continued protection for the community, the City of Waite Park has established an automatic assistance contract with the City of St. Cloud to respond to all fire calls including medicals. This partnership, along with existing mutual aid agreements, reflects the city’s commitment to maintaining a high level of service while navigating evolving staffing realities. In response to this change, the City has made the decision to establish a full-time Fire Chief position. This is more than a leadership role; it’s a chance to shape the identity, culture, and operational future of an entire department.

  • The department operates from a single station on 13th Avenue North which is currently being renovated and expanded.  This location protects a uniquely varied landscape that includes busy commercial corridors, established residential neighborhoods, industrial zones, and the rugged terrain of Quarry Park. 
  • Firefighters serve as partners in hazardous materials incidents, educators in schools, and ambassadors for safety at community events.
  • Waite Park is located within a dense and cooperative regional fire service network that includes St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, St. Joseph, and St. Augusta. Mutual Aid and Automatic Aid are structured through strong regional partnerships, countywide coordination, and Minnesota’s Intrastate Mutual Aid system. Together, these systems create a robust safety net for residents and responders alike.
  • The department responded to 250 calls for service in 2025, including fire incidents, EMS (non-transport medical first response), service calls, mutual aid, and automatic aid responses. 
  • The department holds an ISO Class 4/4Y rating. EMS transport services are provided by Mayo Ambulance, the primary ALS provider for the St. Cloud metro area, with patients transported to St. Cloud Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center.
 
The city is seeking a forward-thinking, collaborative leader who can provide strategic direction and organizational stability while guiding the community through this important transition. The next Fire Chief will be expected to evaluate current service models, staffing structures, regional partnerships, and fiscal considerations to recommend and implement a sustainable path forward. This individual will play a critical role in shaping the future of fire protection services in Waite Park — ensuring that the department continues to meet today’s needs while preparing responsibly for tomorrow.

Experience
  • Seven years of progressively responsible fire service experience.
  • Five years of supervisory or command‑level leadership (Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, or equivalent).
  • Experience working within a volunteer, paid‑on‑call, or combination department is a must.
 
Leadership & Administrative Skills
  • Proven ability to manage budgets, develop policy, and lead organizational planning.
  • Experience as an engaged leader in personnel management, recruitment, training, and performance development.
  • Strong understanding of modern fire suppression, EMS first response, incident command, and community risk reduction. Demonstrated ability to manage QA/QI, protocols and medical relationships.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with city leadership, regional partners, and a diverse community.
  • Have the capability to be an active participant in operations and training to safely function as a command officer on incident scenes including oversight of interior operations within IDLH conditions.
  • Have a demonstrated record of fairness, transparency, and consistency in the administration of city policies and procedures and the willingness to address issues in a positive and timely manner. The chief must possess well-developed writing and public speaking skills and the utmost integrity.
  • Must understand the need and have experience using data for problem solving, assessing community risk and vulnerabilities.
 
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates with the following credentials will be especially competitive:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Emergency Management, or a related field.
  • Minimum Fire Officer II (MFSCB, or equivalent) 
  • Executive Fire Officer (EFO/NFA) coursework or completion.
  • Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation, or substantial progress in obtaining (CPSE/CFAI, some state programs accepted).
  • Minimum EMR (Emergency Medical Responder), NREMT preferred.
 
The annual starting salary range for this position is $106,474.85-$142,939.37 +/- depending upon qualifications. The City also offers an attractive benefits package. Candidates should apply by April 10, 2026 @ 1700 hours CDT with resume, cover letter and contact information for five work-related, or professional references (electronic applications only). Questions may be addressed to the attention of T.E. Sashko, MGT Approved Independent Executive Recruiter, (847)380-3240×123. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Deadline: April 10, 2026

Posted: 2026-03-06

To apply for this job please visit www.govhrusa.com.