Deputy Fire Chief of Communications

The Fire Department is hiring a Deputy Fire Chief that will oversee the Communication Division (Willamette Valley Communication Center and the City’s Radio Shops).

Make an impact:  
Are you an inspiring leader with a strong background in public safety including 911 Dispatch Services? Do you thrive in an environment that embraces life safety, fire, EMS, police and emergency communication services? Are you ready to join an organization that takes pride in delivering an “all-hazards” response to Oregon’s Capital City?

The Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) invites you to lead our emergency communications team in providing critical services to our region. WVCC was formed in 1991 through the consolidation of three area dispatch centers: Mid-Polk 11, serving most of Polk County, METCOM (Salem Metropolitan Communications Agency), serving the Marion County Sheriff and Marion County Fire District #1, and the City of Salem dispatch center. 

In July of 2012, Lincoln County agencies previously served by Lincom 911 also joined the WVCC family. 

How big is WVCC? How many agencies does WVCC serve? How many calls does WVCC handle?

How big is the WVCC Service Area?

WVCC currently employes 63 Communication Specialists, eight Communication Shift Supervisors, one Training coordinator, one Operations Center Manager, one Technical Services Manager, one Management Analyst, two Administrative Analysts and two Technical Services Staff.  WVCC is the second busiest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in Oregon, dispatching 29 police, fire and medical agencies across Lincoln, Marion and Polk Counties. WVCC handles emergency services for roughly 421,311 people.  In 2024, WVCC handled 209,104 emergency 911 calls and 215,599 non-emergency phone calls.

Roughly 2,906 square miles. Lincoln: 980 Marion: 1,182 Polk: 744

As WVCC look to the future, the incoming Deputy Fire Chief/Director of Communications will play a pivotal role in enhancing our services and leading exciting initiatives, such as planning for a new state-of-the-art call center. 

Learn and grow:  

WVCC is a division of the Salem Fire Department and has an active 29-member Advisory Board representing each user agency. This ensures that 911 services meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve. Specialized committees for fire and police services provide operational recommendations to the board. 

Additionally, the City of Salem’s Radio Communications Division maintains our critical communication infrastructure, including dispatch systems and mobile data communication.

In 2023, WVCC’s collective bargaining agreement with the 911 Professional Communication Employees’ Association (PCEA) was successfully renegotiated for three years, ensuring stability and continued collaboration. The incoming Deputy Fire Chief/Director of Operations will be supported by a strong and competent team, appropriate resources, and backing from City leadership, the City Council, and the Advisory Board.

You can learn more about PCEA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement on the City of Salem’s website at: CONTRACT

What you will do: 

The City of Salem is seeking a deeply experienced and highly qualified fire service professional to lead WVCC into its next chapter of public service excellence. This is a sophisticated public safety department, and the Deputy Fire Chief/Director of Communications will have the opportunity to improve service provision and response, strengthen relationships, and lead innovation in emergency communication.

The Deputy Fire Chief/Director of Communications functions as eight in command within the Salem Fire Department and oversees the day-to-day operations of WVCC’s emergency center. Key responsibilities include:

• Leadership and Strategy: Collaborate with the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief of Business Operations, City Council, Advisory Board, and 29 user agencies to establish public safety policies, programs, and strategic goals.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure WVCC’s workforce and equipment meet community needs, delivering timely and effective emergency and non-emergency response services.
• Community Engagement: Monitor public feedback on WVCC services through community interaction and lead efforts to build community support for revenue growth to expand service capacity.
• Team Development: Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to a highly skilled team, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and innovation.
• Collaboration and Policy Development: Work with regional and state partners to strengthen interagency coordination and resolve administrative and policy challenges.

Key Success Measurements:

• Recruit and select vacant staff and create a well-functioning forward focused team.
• Champion efforts to create a diverse workforce reflective of our community.
• Play a leadership role in efforts to build community support for additional revenue to grow service capacity to better meet community needs. 
• Continue to build an “At Your Service” culture through WVCC.
• Maintain and build on the collaborative working relationship with bargaining units. 
• Bring a “first team mentality” to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Be willing to explore innovative approaches to service delivery to better meet the nees of all members of our community.
• Be an active and visible member of the community.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is Monday – Friday, hours vary as needed.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check and drug test.
• Must have an Oregon Driver’s license and meet the City of Salem’s driving standards.
• Associate degree from an accredited college or university in Fire Science or related field; and seven or more years of progressively responsible full-time continuous fire service employment, five years of increasingly responsible command and management experience at the Executive Officer level (as a Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy or Division Chief, or Battalion Chief). Experience in fire and/or emergency medical services, including divisional or departmental management experience and labor relations, or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed and the ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Applicable Incident Command System coursework certification in the assignment.

Hiring managers do not have access to view resumes as part of the application review process, please make sure to include how you meet the qualifications outlined in the class specification in your application.         

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a dispatch or communication center for an organization of comparable size, complexity, and population served.
• EMT – Basic certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Fire Science, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Fire Officer II
• National Fire Academy EFO
• CPSE CFO credential
• International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI)

About us:

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

 

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions. 

 
Where can I find out more about the position?
Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Deputy Fire Chief.
 
How can I apply?
The City of Salem invites individuals of all diverse communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.
 
To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application.
 
Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.
 
You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the Job Interest Cards – sign up today!
 
For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN IMPLIED CONTRACT AND MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE

Salary : $15,191 - $17,098