Fire Chief - City of Columbus, OH
Closing Date: November 2, 2026
Recruitment Brochure
The City of Columbus is seeking an accomplished fire service executive to lead the Columbus Division of Fire. One of a select group of U.S. fire departments to hold both CFAI accreditation and an ISO Class 1 rating, the Division serves a growing city of approximately 938,000 residents across 220 square miles.
Reporting to the Director of Public Safety, the Fire Chief provides strategic and operational leadership for Ohio’s largest fire department. The Division has an approved FY 2026 operating budget of more than $363 million, approximately 1,700 uniformed personnel, 300 civilian employees, and 35 fire stations. In 2025, it responded to approximately 170,000 incidents, nearly 85 percent of which involved EMS and rescue services.
The next Chief will oversee fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, prevention, and community education. The successful candidate will guide long-range planning, use data to strengthen service delivery, manage resources responsibly, and build strong relationships with employees, labor representatives, City leadership, and the community.
The ideal candidate is an ethical, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader with a record of success managing a complex fire and emergency services organization. Exceptional communication skills, sound judgment, command presence, and a commitment to employee development are essential.
Education and Experience: A bachelor’s degree and one year of service as a permanent Fire Assistant Chief; or five years of combined service as a Fire Assistant Chief, Fire Deputy Chief, and/or Fire Battalion Chief, or comparable experience elsewhere. The selected candidate must complete or maintain Ohio Firefighter II and Fire Safety Inspector certifications by the end of the first-year probationary period. Columbus residency is highly desired but not required.
A competitive compensation and benefits package will be offered. Candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, resume, and six professional references by Monday, November 2, 2026, to apply@executiverecruitmentsolutions.com. For inquiries, contact Robert Burg at (805) 264-2663.
Applications and resumes for public positions are subject to disclosure under Ohio public records law. The City of Columbus is an equal employment opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals to apply.
