Deputy Chief, Operations

Strathcona County Emergency Services is looking for an accomplished emergency services leader to join its Management Team as Deputy Chief, Operations.

Reporting to the Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services, the Deputy Chief, Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the delivery of fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and special operations. The position oversees frontline operational service delivery, including workforce planning for four platoons providing 24-hour coverage and part-time firefighters operating from two rural stations.

As a member of the Emergency Services Management Team, the Deputy Chief provides strategic and evidence-based advice, translates organizational priorities into clear operational direction, and creates alignment across the department. The position also represents Strathcona County with residents, elected officials, municipal and regional partners, industry, government agencies, and other public safety stakeholders.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for someone who can balance strategic planning, operational excellence, employee leadership, fiscal responsibility, and decisive command during complex emergency incidents.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, and special operations programs
• Provide strategic and operational oversight for safe, effective, and responsive emergency service delivery to the community
• Oversee workforce planning and operational readiness for four platoons providing 24-hour, seven-day-per-week coverage, as well as part-time firefighters operating from two rural stations
• Establish operational performance standards, outcome measures, and reporting mechanisms aligned with the County’s strategic priorities, departmental business plans, service expectations, and approved budgets
• Translate corporate and departmental priorities into operational plans, organizational structures, service-delivery processes, and measurable results
• Lead and develop a highly skilled team of supervisory, professional, technical, unionized, and non-unionized employees by providing clear direction, coaching, feedback, and opportunities to build leadership capacity
• Promote a strong culture of employee safety, health, wellness, psychological safety, and continuous improvement through the Emergency Services Safety Management System and Quality Management System
• Oversee the Emergency Services Peer Support Team and ensure it operates effectively within its terms of reference
• Lead the review and continuous improvement of operational policies, procedures, emergency response practices, lessons learned, and quality-management processes
• Monitor operational performance, customer feedback, commendations, complaints, and emerging risks to identify opportunities to improve service quality, efficiency, and community outcomes
• Develop business cases and contribute to departmental budgets, resource plans, capital priorities, contracts, and operational initiatives
• Monitor the effectiveness and lifecycle requirements of emergency vehicles and equipment and collaborate with Logistics and Training leadership on specifications, procurement processes, and requests for proposals
• Support the Fire Chief in negotiating and managing agreements with partners and stakeholders for emergency medical and related services
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Council, the Executive Team, County departments, Alberta Health Services, municipal and regional partners, government agencies, local industry, emergency response organizations, residents, and vendors
• Participate in regional, provincial, and national discussions to monitor emerging issues, identify leading practices, and advance emergency services delivery
• Respond to large, complex, or concurrent emergency incidents and assume appropriate incident management roles, including assessing risk, developing response strategies, coordinating resources, and liaising with internal and external response partners
• Participate in a rotating Deputy Chief on-call schedule, providing 24-hour coverage approximately one week out of every three and additional coverage when required
• Support the activation and operation of the Emergency Operations Centre, including establishing the initial EOC framework, coordinating emergency response activities, supporting information flow, and assisting EOC leadership and personnel
• Lead high-impact projects and initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness, operational performance, public safety, and risk management

Qualifications and Skills:

• Degree in Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Fire Science, or related field
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in emergency services or a related field along with 5 years of experience in a leadership/supervisory capacity in an emergency services organization or similar or an organization with clearly transferable experiences and exposures    
• Proven leadership in change management, organizational capacity-building, and partnership development, with a track record of fostering strong internal and external relationships.  
• Extensive knowledge and experience in incident command, emergency management planning, emergency communication systems, and occupational health and safety programs and systems
• Demonstrated ability to command or lead complex emergency incidents requiring timely, accurate, and defensible decision-making
• Strong knowledge of the Incident Command System, Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001, and federal, provincial, and municipal legislation affecting emergency services and community safety
• Demonstrated ability to lead in unionized and non-unionized environments and within a structured, paramilitary operating environment
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, coach, and mentor a diverse workforce in a complex and dynamic emergency services environment
• Strong strategic and operational planning skills, with the ability to translate organizational priorities into clear plans, accountabilities, and measurable outcomes
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including experience contributing to annual budget development, resource allocation, contract management, and business-case preparation
• Sound judgment and political acumen, with the ability to provide clear recommendations while considering operational, organizational, community, and political implications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess complex issues, evaluate alternatives, identify emerging risks, and recommend effective solutions
• Excellent interpersonal, partnership-building, presentation, and communication skills when working with elected officials, senior leadership, employees, municipal departments, industry, government agencies, emergency response partners, and members of the public
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and operational demands while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high standard of service
• Self-directed and adaptable, with the initiative to identify strategic and operational issues and implement practical, sustainable solutions
• Commitment to employee health, safety, wellness, service quality, accountability, and continuous improvement

Conditions of Employment:

• Submission of a satisfactory Criminal Record Check
• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License and submission of a 5-year Driver’s Abstract with less than 7 demerits.  An Alberta Class 3 Driver’s License is preferred
• Ability to fulfill 24/7 on-call coverage on a rotational basis    
• Ability to respond to large-scale, complex, or concurrent emergency incidents outside regular working hours
• Ability to support Emergency Operations Centre activations and emergency response activities as required

Who We Are:

Strathcona County is a specialized municipality located in the heart of Alberta.  Our vision is to become Canada’s most livable community, where our workplace culture and identity are supported by our people plan and values of integrity, respect, safety, collaboration, and accountability.  

Why Join Strathcona County: (depending on position)

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, which includes:
  • Extended health and dental coverage    
  • Health and wellness spending account    
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Retirement and pension programs  
  • Management Flex time
  • Employee and family assistance program
• Commitment to employee development, through internal and external training and development opportunities
• Well-being programs and a safety culture focused on physical and psychological health in the workplace

Equivalencies of education and experience may be considered.  

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies for similar positions within the next 6 months.  

Strathcona County is committed to an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace that represents the community we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who can contribute diverse perspectives and experiences.