Director, Fire Service Programs

Director, Fire Service Programs

Position Overview

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is seeking a skilled and committed program Director to join its leadership team. The Director of Fire Service Programs plays a vital role in leading and managing the Foundation’s fire service programs, collaborating with staff and stakeholders to establish priorities and achieve program objectives.

The Director of the Fire Service Programs will work out of our satellite office in Crofton, Maryland. This hybrid position involves travel and reports to the Managing Director.

Join the NFFF in making a meaningful impact on the lives of firefighters and their communities and become be part of a team dedicated to reducing line-of-duty deaths and injuries across the American fire service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fire Service Programs Management & Operations

• ExamLead, plan, and oversee fire service outreach initiatives, including the Everyone Goes Home® program, Local Assistance State Teams (LAST), Taking Care of Our Own (TCOOO), the Fire Hero Learning Network training platform, and collaborate with the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE).
• Manage, coordinate, and develop grant proposals to secure funding for fire service programs and projects
• Design, develop, and oversee programs focused on reducing line-of-duty deaths and injuries within the American fire service.
• Ensure completion of grant-funded projects within designated timelines and budget limits; prepare and submit all required reports.
• Adhere to and uphold policies for the procurement of goods and services, with a focus on acquiring knowledge of grant compliance and legal requirements under the Super Circular.
• Collaborate with other senior management team members to forecast operational needs and prepare budgets.
• Analyze and forecast budgetary reports, identifying potential surplus or deficit annually, quarterly, and/or monthly.
• Collaborate as part of the senior management team to resolve cross-divisional issues, ensuring unified support and efficient allocation of personnel across NFFF divisions, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared mission goals.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Fulfill additional duties as assigned by leadership.
• Serve as an active member of the Memorial Weekend Planning Team, providing essential support for the Memorial Weekend as directed by the Managing Director.

Measures of Success

• Successfully manages and leads direct reports and assesses the division's staffing needs to adjust as it continues to grow and evolve its programs.
• Demonstrates senior leadership abilities by adjusting and pivoting to change when appropriate, guiding team members through the change process, and encouraging cross-functional cooperation and teamwork to create and maintain a performance-driven organization.
• Establishes effective, data-driven, and sound judgment when measuring the quality standards for the division's practices and services.
• Successfully addresses short-term goals that yield effective results while analyzing and developing long-term division and program goals to prepare for service inflation and successful program performance. 
• Demonstrates strong grant writing, grant administration, and financial management capabilities that outline long-term changes, budget tracking, progress, and building a solid budget and grant process with accompanying framework.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration, emergency management, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience in the fire service or a related field for leadership roles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of fire service operations, safety issues, dynamics, and injury prevention.
• Excellent communication skills—verbal, written, interpersonal, and digital—and the capacity to interact successfully with a variety of audiences in both large group and one-to-one settings.
• Experience with grant writing, grant management, and budgeting.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to execute and attend program events and meetings.
• Experience in business performance evaluation techniques and key metrics.
• An analytical mindset with great problem-solving skills, and familiarity with reporting, budgeting, and data analysis.
• Understanding of Federal grant budget guidelines, application process, and management.
• Must possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and successfully clear a Federal-level criminal background check.

How to Apply:

Resumes are being accepted from November 1^st through 5:00 pm ET on November 17^th. Resume reviews begin immediately upon receipt.

Applicants are asked to furnish the following documents/materials to be considered:

• Letter of interest
• Resume showing all pertinent work history
• References (one personal and three job-related)

The decision process will be comparative and include the following steps:

1. Phone screening interview.
2. Virtual Interview
3. First in-person interview
4. Checking references
5. Successful Federal background check

For questions and to apply for this position, contact Lissette Garcia, Human Resources Manager at lgarcia@firehero.org. All inquiries and communications will be handled in strict confidence.

About NFFF

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is an exemplary organization created by an act of Congress in 1992 with a mission to honor America's fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury.

The NFFF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization comprising approximately 30 staff with offices in both Crofton and Emmitsburg, Maryland. Crofton is a town in Anne Arundel County, approximately 30 miles east of Washington, DC. Emmitsburg is a town in Frederick County, approximately 10 miles south of Gettysburg, PA and 70 miles north of Washington, DC. NFFF is registered as a corporation in Maryland, and funds its work through program-specific pass-through federal grant funding, as well as support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. 

Learn more about how we impact firefighters and Fire Hero families at www.firehero.org.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The work is generally sedentary although there may be some nominal walking or standing for short periods. There may be times that require carrying heavy loads or lifting items that require only moderate physical ability or stress.

Work in this environment involves risks and discomfort common to those incurred in offices, meeting rooms, libraries, and the like. The safety precautions required are normal for those required in the locations above. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

EEO Employer

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action employer. The NFFF seeks excellence through diversity among its administrators, staff, and consultants. The NFFF prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or marital status. Application by members of all underrepresented groups is encouraged.