DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF DIRECTOR

• Job ID: 63809
• Job Category: Emergency, Fire and Paramedics Services
• Division & Section: Fire Services, Fire Svcs Community Risk Reduction
• Work Location: Fire Services Headquarters, 4330 Dufferin Street
• Job Type & Duration: Full Time, Permanent
• Salary Range: $268,522.80
• Shift Information: Monday – Friday, 35 Hours per Week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 06-July-2026 – 07-August-2026

Toronto Fire Services (TFS) is the largest municipal fire service in Canada, serving a diverse population of over 3 million residents- and this number increases during the exciting events that Toronto hosts, such as concerts, sports events, and conferences. Toronto Fire Services supports our hospitals, government buildings, and our Toronto airports.

Reporting to the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief leads Toronto Fire Services’ Community Risk Reduction Division, which is responsible and accountable for fire safety inspections, fire investigations, public education and fire protection engineering.

This role operates at the intersection of fire service, law enforcement, and the judicial system, while also advancing public education, fire prevention, and regulatory compliance through oversight of permitting, inspections, and enforcement activities. The Deputy Fire Chief ensures investigations, inspections and related functions are rigorous, defensible, and aligned with legislative requirements, provides executive leadership on high-profile cases and stakeholder coordination, and assumes the duties of Fire Chief as required.

What you will focus on:

1. Executive Leadership of Large, Multidisciplinary Teams

The Deputy Chief leads a large, unionized and highly specialized workforce of over 200 professionals, including inspectors, fire investigators, engineers and public educators. You provide clear direction, accountability, and alignment across diverse functional disciplines, ensuring consistent service delivery and operational excellence. You create a culture of a high-performance, grounded in safety, professionalism, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

2. Regulatory Enforcement & Judicial Acumen

With deep expertise within a regulatory and legislative environment, you have a thorough understanding of the full judicial lifecycle from inspection and investigation to charges, court proceedings, and resolution. You ensure actions meet evidentiary standards and withstand legal scrutiny, particularly in complex, precedent-setting cases involving injury, fatality, or public risk.

The Deputy brings a strong understanding of court processes as well as administrative rigor to avoid procedural gaps that could compromise cases or outcomes.

3. Investigations/Inspections & Case Management Excellence

Providing strategic oversight of complex fire and life safety inspections and investigations, including fatal fires, and incidents involving the Toronto Police Service, Office of the Fire Marshal and the Coroner, you ensure thorough, defensible investigations and inspections that integrate technical expertise, legal requirements, and multi-agency coordination.

As a leader, you create a culture of best practice in investigative and inspection methodology, documentation, disclosure, and case continuity through to prosecution.

4. Public Safety & Urban Risk Leadership

You will lead fire prevention strategies in a complex, high-density urban environment, addressing risks across multi-tenant housing, encampments, transit systems, major events, and evolving development models, while balancing proactive and data driven public education and fire safety enforcement to support community safety and city-building priorities.

5. Strategic Policy, Governance & Accountability

Directing the development and implementation of policies, bylaws, and programs aligned with Council priorities and directives and guidelines issued by the Ontario Fire Marshal you ensure strong governance, operational consistency, and legal defensibility. You guide your team on sound documentation, performance monitoring, and compliance with legislation and collective agreements.

6. Political Acuity, Issues Management & External Relations

Operating in a highly visible, politically sensitive environment, you provide expert advice to TFS Command, City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations and Council. You manage complex, high-profile issues and builds strong relationships with enforcement partners, regulatory bodies, and oversight agencies.

7. Operational Command, Emergency Response & Community Engagement

You will lead public education efforts that are inclusive, data driven and accessible, strengthening community awareness, safety, compliance, and trust.

Key Qualifications:

1. Extensive senior leadership experience in a fire prevention, regulatory enforcement, inspections, investigations, or a related enforcement environment (e.g., fire services, policing, regulatory agencies)
2. Demonstrated expertise in enforcement, inspections, investigations, and judicial processes, including experience providing evidence in court
3. Experience leading large, unionized, multidisciplinary teams in a complex, public-facing environment
4. Strong understanding of applicable legislation, regulatory frameworks, and enforcement practices
5. Proven ability to manage politically sensitive issues and advise senior decision-makers
6. Experience working across jurisdictions and with multiple enforcement and regulatory partners
7. Experience as an Incident Commander for major events is an asset
8. Post-secondary education in a related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.