Fire Chief

Los Alamos County, NM is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Fire Chief. With slightly over 60 years as a local government, Los Alamos County is relatively young in its role as an incorporated county. Los Alamos is a place of spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife, uncommon high-altitude recreational opportunities, small-town friendliness, numerous and diverse cultural activities, fascinating history, and world-changing science and technological development. There are two communities in Los Alamos County: Los Alamos and White Rock. About 190,000 people live within a forty-mile radius of Los Alamos. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the largest employer in the County with an annual budget of 2 billion dollars. Approximately 7,000 people commute to the Laboratory from the surrounding area each day. LANL supports high levels of job stability, income and education, with the highest number of PhDs per capita in the nation and a median household income of over $80,000 per year. The Fire Chief, reporting to the County Manager, is tasked with planning, directing, and reviewing departmental activities and operations from an all-hazards perspective. This role involves coordinating assigned functions with other county departments and external agencies, as well as providing comprehensive and high-level administrative support to the county's leadership. Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) is one of the largest career fire departments in the state of New Mexico. The department provides a multi-disciplined, multi-dimensional mission of fire, technical rescue, emergency medical, hazmat, wildland, public education, and life safety services to the citizens and visitors of Los Alamos County. LAFD is one of three fire departments in New Mexico that has obtained international accreditation through the Commission of Fire Accreditation International. LAFD’s emergency responders and administrative support staff must achieve and maintain DOE “Q” clearance. LAFD firefighters, driver/engineers, and captains are represented by Local 3279 of the International Association of Firefighters. LAFD is an ISO 1 Fire/EMS agency operating out of 5 stations with a career staff of 177 personnel operating on a 48/96-hour shift. In 2024 there were 2,610 emergency responses and supported by an annual budget of $56+ million. Near-term projects that the Fire Department will tackle include: Fire re-accreditation process is continuing with expected hearing date mid-February. On-going equipment replacement and on order per vehicle replacement plan. Construction of 3-4 Stations. In seeking to fill this position, the County is emphasizing an extensive background and experience in the EMS and fire fields as well as strong leadership and team building capacity. The following list provides the required attributes a candidate must have to be successful in working for Los Alamos County: A bachelor’s degree in fire science, emergency medical services, or a related field. Must possess or must make application for a DOE Q clearance within thirty days of employment. A minimum of 12 years’ experience and demonstrated leadership in an EMS/fire service command position. Previous experience working with DOE or other federal agencies with a thorough understanding of and demonstrated experience in NIMS and ICS type incidents and activations is preferred. An innovative, collaborative, and experienced fire medical professional with demonstrated leadership experience and successes excelling in the areas of strategic planning, management, interpersonal communication, emergency management, community risk reduction, and customer service. The salary range for this position is $148,778 to $242,262. A generous benefit and retirement package is also offered by the county. Candidates must apply online by October 10, 2025, with resume, cover letter and contact information for five work-related references to www.GovHRjobs.com. Los Alamos County is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are critical to their success. They seek to recruit the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and strongly encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

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