Director, MA Firefighting Academy

The Department of Fire Services (DFS) seeks an experienced manager to serve as director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA). The MFA employs 16 full-time personnel responsible for administration, registration, scheduling, certification, and training programs. The MFA additionally employs more than 400 part-time instructors, primarily active or retired members of the fire service, who conduct the training programs that serve approximately 14,000 firefighters at every level of experience each year.

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned, executive-level administrator with experience leading a mid-sized educational institution or an organization of similar size and complexity. We welcome applications from experienced directors and managers from across the public safety disciplines as well as from business schools, colleges, and other specialized training organizations, as well as state and municipal agencies. The MFA director is not an instructor. He or she must provide effective leadership, communication, and management and must be familiar with standard employment, budgetary, and record-keeping practices.

He or she should have a strong background in managing complex educational environments, fostering collaboration across diverse groups, and implementing innovative training and education programs. Experience in working with skilled professionals, understanding specialized curriculum development, and leading staff toward achieving institutional goals will be critical for success in this role. We are seeking an individual who can bring fresh perspectives and leadership to advance the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s mission.

The next director must be willing and able to:

1. Lead a training organization, recognizing that the staff and instructors are the subject matter experts and working with them to develop and support the programs they will undertake.
2. Develop and monitor budgets; make decisions about resources, revenue, and expenditures; identify potential grant sources and develop applications in accordance with grant standards; and oversee the dispersal of funds received.
3. Assume a strong organizational management role that is direct, facilitative, and clear. He or she will need to delegate many tasks while understanding them and maintaining strict accountability.
4. Work cooperatively with DFS leadership to establish annual goals and objectives for the Academy and its departments, update the State Fire Marshal and staff on progress, and actively participate in the annual review of results and operations.
5. Engage directly and regularly with MFA personnel, DFS leadership, fire service professionals, the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, and, when called upon, with the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, state legislators, and other state and national agencies, organizations, and media.
6. Work openly with MFA program coordinators and instructors in a direct, collegial, facilitative style that fosters joint problem solving.
7. Create and sustain a goal-oriented environment by establishing, maintaining, and promoting effective policies and initiatives.
8. Bring passion and vision to the Academy and the fire service by applying innovation to address current, emerging, and future issues.
9. Analyze fire and emergency first responder skill development needs and, working with the other divisions within DFS, develop and deliver the training component. This includes anticipating future training needs, developing appropriate curriculum in a timely manner, and delivering courses through a cadre of highly experienced and competent instructors.
10. Formulate plans and strategies for the development, expansion, and construction of the agency’s Bridgewater facility through interaction with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance and work with fire departments with training facilities to provide more localized training.
11. Provide direction for statewide fire service training as a member of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and provide leadership within the educational community for standardizing fire science curriculum and granting credits for fire and emergency training.
12. Work closely with the superintendents of local, regional, state, and national training organizations to identify trends and respond to them through the development and delivery of state-of-the-art training.
13. Share in the development and promotion of agency-wide policies and procedures, initiatives, risk management, goals, and objectives and participate in the DFS overall program planning activities as a member of DFS senior management.

Candidates must have strong and polished written and oral communication skills. The position demands significant attention to detail, effective communication, and team collaboration. Occasional work on nights and weekends will be required. A cover letter and resume expressing your interest in this position must be submitted as part of the application process. These documents must be uploaded and marked as relevant to your submission.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

1. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
2. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
3. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
4. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

The primary work location for this role will be at the DFS Stow MA campus. Where appropriate, DFS offers a hybrid work model, consisting of in-office and telework to further enhance the work/life balance of its employees. The successful candidate would be required to work primarily on site during initial training and orientation period before telework may be offered and/or for certain positions, telework may not be appropriate.

Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Job: Public Safety* *Organization: Department of Fire Services *Title: *Director, MA Firefighting Academy Location: Massachusetts-Stow-State Road Requisition ID: 240008ZF