Fire Chief - Industrial

JOB SNAPSHOT

Job Title: Industrial Fire Chief
Location: Kentucky (Manufacturing Facility)
Wage: $36.00-$49.00 per hour (based on experience)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Industrial Fire Chief to lead fire prevention, emergency response, and safety operations at a manufacturing facility in Kentucky. This role is responsible for protecting personnel, property, and operations through proactive risk management, disciplined leadership, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate brings not only technical expertise, but operational leadership experience, and an ongoing commitment to strengthening systems, improving readiness, and driving consistent performance across all shifts.

What Success Looks Like

• You lead with visibility and consistency across multiple shifts and operational periods
• You continuously identify risks, gaps, and inefficiencies—and take action to eliminate them
• You ensure that lessons learned from incidents, drills, and audits translate into measurable improvements
• You create alignment across teams so that decision-making, training, and response standards are consistent
• You elevate performance beyond compliance—building a culture of proactive safety and readiness

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all fire protection and emergency response activities for the facility
• Serve as Incident Commander during fire, medical, hazardous materials, rescue, and complex multi-agency events
• Demonstrate advanced incident command capability, including ICS 400–level leadership
• Operate effectively within a Unified Command structure, coordinating with local fire departments and emergency partners
• Provide executive-level oversight of fire protection systems, including inspection, testing, maintenance, and prevention programs
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and Kentucky state fire regulations
• Direct, support, and align Shift Captains and Training Captains to ensure consistency in operational priorities and decision-making
• Maintain consistent readiness of personnel, apparatus, and fire protection systems across all shifts
• Identify operational and fire risk trends across the facility and drive corrective actions beyond a single shift or incident
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve fire prevention, life safety, and emergency preparedness programs
• Lead high-impact training, drills, and after-action reviews with a focus on continuous improvement
• Maintain accurate documentation of incidents, training, and compliance activities
• Support business continuity and emergency management planning

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED (Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Emergency Management, or related field preferred)
• 5–7 years of progressive fire service experience, including leadership roles
• Prior experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment strongly preferred

Required Certifications

• Kentucky Fire Commission Certification (Basic I & II)
• Fire Officer I (Fire Officer II strongly preferred; NFPA 1021-aligned or equivalent)
• Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations (Technician level preferred)
• Incident Command System (ICS 100, 200, 300, 400)
• NIMS Certification (IS-700 and IS-800)
• CPR/AED and First Aid Certification
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or EMT (preferred/required depending on facility needs)
• Confined Space Rescue Training (preferred)

Required Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of NFPA standards and OSHA regulations
• Expertise in industrial fire protection systems and risk management
• Advanced leadership and crisis decision-making capability
• Demonstrated ability to implement and sustain continuous improvement (Kaizen) initiatives
• Ability to analyze trends, leverage data, and drive system-wide improvements
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills
• Experience developing high-performing teams and training programs
• Proficiency in reporting, documentation, and compliance systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform physically demanding emergency response duties
• Must be able to wear PPE and SCBA
• Ability to work in high-risk environments, including heat, confined spaces, and elevated areas

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record
• Ability to pass background check, drug screening, and physical examination