Job Title: Chief Fire Officer
Employer: Longford County Council
County: Longford
Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 3rd July 2025
Starting Salary: €80,165
About the Employer:
Longford County Council is the Authority responsible for Local Government in County Longford. The corporate headquarters are located at Aras An Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford. There are 3 municipal districts, Longford, Granard and Ballymahon. Longford has 18 elected members and approximately 400 employees.
Longford County Council is responsible for delivering of a wide range of services in the local area with a focus on making Longford a prosperous county that seeks to support a vibrant economy, rural quality of life, active and safe communities, diversity, culture and heritage, healthy and sustainable natural environment along with a sense of community pride and place.
Service areas include Planning, Community, Enterprise and Economic Development, Community Sports, Recreation & Leisure, Roads, Transportation and Safety, Water and Waste Water Services, Veterinary Services, Environmental Services and Climate Action, Emergency Services, Civil Defence, Housing, Building Control, Library, Cultural and Archives Services, Tourism Development and Promotion, Regeneration, Finance, Control and Compliance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Corporate Services, Local Representations and Civic Leadership.
Longford is in the heart of the country with excellent road and rail access to all four corners of the island of Ireland, Longford has a rural tranquillity but ready access to the country’s main urban cities to include Dublin and Galway in particular. Longford is a hidden gem in Ireland’s midlands renowned for its rich culture, heritage and natural amenities.
Longford County Council strives to make a difference leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities making a difference to the lives of our citizens and customers.
About the Role:
An opportunity now exists for an experienced planning professional to join Longford County Council’s management team as a Chief Fire Officer.
The Chief Fire Officer is a management post who will work under the direction and control of the Director of Services or other employee as designated by the Chief Executive.
The Chief Fire Officer works work within defined parameters relevant to a management position at this grade and in accordance with the Local Authority’s vision and objectives. This role requires leadership, innovation, agility, and a commitment to customer service.
The Chief Fire Officer is responsible for the efficient management, direction and development of the Planning and aligned functions on behalf of Longford County Council. The Chief Fire Officer is responsible for the management of a multi-disciplinary team and the efficient delivery of services in a dynamically changing environment where value for money is crucial.
The Chief Fire Officer is required to work closely with the Management Team and Elected Members to deliver strategic corporate objectives, lead on policy implementation and actively participate in the Councils multi-disciplinary approach to Climate Action.
The Chief Fire Officer position will hold responsibility for the management and administration of Longford County Council’s Fire and Emergency Service Department, including Major Emergency Planning, Building Control and Civil Defence. The duties will also include responsibility for strategic planning and the implementation of any associated change requirements throughout the Fire and Emergency Services. The Chief Fire Officer may also be assigned responsibility for the management of any other relevant function(s) at the discretion of the Chief Executive.
About You:
Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:-
a) Hold, in the National Framework of Qualification:
(i) a degree at Level 8 in engineering, architecture, or other building construction related discipline,
OR (ii) a professional qualification equivalent to one of the foregoing awarded by the relevant professional body,
OR (iii) a degree at level 8 in science or technology related discipline including, physics, chemistry, environmental or computer science, information communications technology; or a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services
OR (iv) a degree at level 8 together with a level 9 qualification in a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services.
b) Have a satisfactory knowledge of all of the following: - principles and practices of fire safety - fire services operations - major emergency management - technological and industrial processes - telecommunications and information technology
c) Have at least eight years satisfactory relevant experience, including adequate experience in the areas specified at (b) above and (e) below.
d) Have a high standard of training and competency in the areas specified in (b) above, including: - Firefighting and emergency operations techniques and strategic command of fire service operations. - On-site and off-site coordination at fires and major incidents/major emergencies - Building design and management for fire safety
e) Have adequate experience in administration, service management and management of staff;
f) Be competent to perform efficiently the duties of the office and possess the appropriate qualities
The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 3rd of July at 3pm.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
#J-18808-Ljbffr