Listing Summary

Hall County, Georgia is accepting applications for the next Chief of Fire Rescue.  If there is such a thing as the perfect place to make a living and raise a family, Gainesville-Hall County ranks high on the list. Bordered by Lake Sidney Lanier and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the sheer beauty of the landscape inspires families to grow and thrive.  Lake Lanier attracts over 10 million visitors annually to enjoy boating, fishing, water sports, and parks along the 400 miles of shoreline. Hall County, with a population of over 200,000 and an area of 393 square miles, is the epicenter of a diversified economic base in Northeast Georgia that provides shopping, medical, financial, and educational institutions that are second to none.  The labor market is stable and thriving with a regional labor market estimated to be 775,000 from Hall and surrounding counties.  Gainesville, the county seat, is a bustling city of more than 41,000 people. Located 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 35 miles northwest of Athens, Gainesville is the trade, medical, educational, industrial, retail, cultural and recreational center of Northeast Georgia. Eight other municipalities are located in Hall County:  Oakwood, Flowery Branch, Buford, Braselton, Clermont, Gillsville, Rest Haven, and Lula.  Hall County has excellent educational opportunities from pre-kindergarten to college. Gainesville-Hall County offers students educational opportunities of the highest caliber. There are two public school systems, several private schools, a public university, private university and technical college.  Eight major universities are located within an hour’s drive of Gainesville-Hall County. Hall County operates as a Commission/Administrator form of government governed by a five-member elected Board of Commissioners.  The County has a history of being a stable local government and being supportive of professional management.  The Board appoints a County Administrator who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government, including appointment of all Department Directors not appointed directly by the Elected Officials. The Fire Chief is appointed by the County Administrator and serves as a key member of the County Administrator’s management team. 

 

Find out details about the position by reviewing the recruitment brochure at www.mercergroupassociates.com

 

The ideal candidate will provide service to the Hall County Fire Rescue Department that has 394 full-time positions providing fire services primarily to the unincorporated areas of Hall County, including all municipalities with the exception of Gainesville, and EMS to all citizens of the County.  Last year, the Department responded to approximately 500 fire calls, 24,000 EMS calls, and 7,800 miscellaneous service calls.  The Department operates from 16 stations (17th under construction) with 16 fire pumpers, 2 aerial apparatus, one heavy rescue vehicle, 1 hazardous materials response vehicle, 1 marine rescue vessel, 1 water tender, and 16 ambulances. The operating budget is $56.2M and the department has maintained an ISO rating of Class 2X since 2018. The ideal candidate will be a dedicated and ethical team player who can quickly gain the confidence of the community, department staff, elected officials, and business owners. The Chief must possess the ability to build community trust through the development of partnerships with stakeholders. Hall County seeks a Chief of Fire Rescue of high integrity and moral character who is a strategic thinker, collaborative leader, team player and leads by example. The new Chief must be focused on continuing to develop a committed professional departmental workforce. As a key member of the County’s leadership team, the successful candidate will be expected to articulate a vision of excellence, establish credibility and consistency in delivery of services, motivate staff to embrace cultural diversity, implement data driven solutions to problems, and communicate effectively across all platforms. 

 

Minimum qualifications for the Fire Chief include:

 

• Bachelor's Degree required in Fire Sciences, Public Administration, EMS Administration/Management, Business Administration or related degree from an accredited university. A master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of seven years of executive management experience at the Battalion level or above in a fire department with similar complexity to Hall County is expected.
• Evidence of continued professional development such as the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program designation as Chief Fire Officer/Executive Fire Officer, the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) designation as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and completion of upper-level NIMS ICS training are positive indicators of dedication to the profession and will be noted during the candidate vetting process.

 

Compensation & Benefits include:

The starting salary for this position DOQ (depending on qualifications) and is expected to be in the range of $160,000—$175,000 with a very comprehensive benefits package including:  A comprehensive benefits package includes:  Health, dental and vision insurance, 457 Deferred Comp and 401(a) Retirement Plans, Paid Time Off, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, as well as a comprehensive wellness program and family health center.  Relocation assistance is negotiable. 

 

How to Apply:

Interested candidates must submit by email a cover letter, resume, at least five job related references (with email and phone numbers), as well as salary history no later than close of business on February 26, 2024 to lisaward912@gmail.com.  Please direct any questions to Lisa Ward, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates, at lisaward912@gmail.com or 706-983-9326 or Alan Reddish, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates, Cell: 706-614-4961.