Fire Chief - Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, CA

The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District (CSFPD), formed on June 15, 1934, serves a community of over 20,000 residents and covers over 40 square miles, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Los Padres National Forest to the north, and bordered from east to west by Montecito, an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County and the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line. CSFPD is an all risk agency responding to 2,200 calls annually, with a team of 3 Battalion Chiefs, one Fire Marshal, a firefighting force of 27 safety members (3 platoons of 9 working a 48/96 shift schedule) and 3 administrative and civilian fire prevention bureau staff.

The District is seeking a dynamic and charismatic leader with outstanding communication skills, and a passion for public service.  The Fire Chief is a hands-on role and is responsible for the management of daily operations and the oversight of its 5 divisions: Administration, EMS/Operations, Fire Prevention, Training, and Logistics.  The new Fire Chief must be a decisive leader with a high level of integrity and ethics, who creates organizational unity through open and honest ongoing communication with the Board, Command staff and District members. The ideal candidate will have three or more years of command and administrative experience at a command staff level or higher, combined with a strong knowledge of fire services including suppression, prevention, training, emergency management, and ALS. A Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration or a related field is required. An MA/MS along with a California Chief Fire Officer Certification or completion of the National Fire Academy Executive Officer program is highly desirable.

The base salary for the Fire Chief is $277,595 and is open and negotiable, DOQ.  The District also offers a competitive and generous benefit package.

Filing deadline: August 15, 2025
Resumes are acknowledged within 2 business days.