2027 Boston District Fire Chief

2027 Departmental Promotional Examination for Boston District Fire Chief If you currently have a Civil Service Online Account, do not create a new account to apply for this examination. Use Government Jobs Help & Support to access your account. Online Employment Application Guide | Massachusetts Civil Service Applications Test takers with two accounts may experience delays in the proper recording of applications and in receiving Civil Service notifications, including notices to appear and job opportunities. If you have questions, please email civilservice@mass.gov. The Human Resources Division (HRD) is administering this examination to create an eligible list from which District Fire Chief vacancies may be filled in the Boston Fire Department. Candidates must take and pass this examination to be placed on the eligible list. Written Examination Date: April 12, 2027 Application Period Begins: January 5, 2027 Application Deadline: February 9, 2027 Examination Processing Fee: $150 Written Examination Locations: Various sites across the Commonwealth Examination Information Eligibility: To be eligible for this examination you must: (1) be an employee in the Boston fire department for which the examination is given with permanent civil service status in the title of Fire Captain by the date of the examination; and (2) have served in the force at least one year since you were appointed and performed the job duties of the eligible title(s)*. A combination of temporary and permanent service from a certification can be applied towards meeting this one-year requirement. Time spent working in the title of District Fire Chief will not interrupt the service period in your permanent position. Note: Pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law (MGL) 31
• 59, if less than two applications are received from eligible candidates, this examination will be postponed. If the examination’s eligible title has been lowered to the entry level rank, the examination will go forward with less than two eligible candidates submit applications.
• If the eligible title has been lowered to the entry level rank you must have served in the force at three years. Eligible List: Individuals placed on the resulting eligible list shall be eligible for certification from such list for such period as the administrator shall determine, but in any event not to exceed two years, unless otherwise outlined in MGL Chapter 31
• 25 or the (HRD) revocation policy. Examination Weights: The examination weights are 48% Technical Knowledge, 32% Situational Judgment Test, and 20% Experience/Certification/Training & Education (ECT&E). Departments – Eligible Title(s)
• Boston
- Fire Captain Application: All applications and examination processing fees must be received by the application deadline. You will receive two confirmation emails when you have completed the process: one confirming that your application has been received and one confirming that your payment has been received. Your application is not complete until you have received both confirmation emails. Candidates approved for an examination fee voucher may record the voucher redemption on the application. If you have not submitted payment or redemption of an examination fee voucher on or before the application deadline, your application will not be accepted. Note: Although the online application system allows candidates to elect to receive notifications by email or regular mail, HRD uses email only for all candidate notices. Current Military Personnel: All military personnel who, in connection with current service, have military orders that indicate their unavailability due to military service on the examination date, must file an application, examination processing fee and a written request for a makeup examination along with a copy of the military orders attached. All requests must be submitted via Civil Service Military Makeup Examinations | Mass.gov by the application deadline. Makeup Examination: With the exception of current military personnel as described above, no candidate has a right to a makeup examination due to personal or professional conflicts on the testing date. Candidates are advised to consider this before applying for the examination. If you file an examination application and paid by the deadline but are unable to appear for the examination on the examination date due to an emergency or unanticipated hardship, you may request a makeup examination by filing a written request with verifiable documentation to HRD no later than seven calendar days from the original written examination date. HRD reserves the right to approve or deny your request. HRD may require an additional examination processing fee upon approval of your request. Reasonable Accommodations: If you need reasonable accommodations due to a documented impairment, or medical condition, you must fill out the Testing Accommodations Request Form and submit supporting documentation as outlined on the form from a qualified professional detailing what type of accommodation you require at the exam site. The form and supporting documentation must be scanned and attached to the application or emailed to CS-ReasonableAccommodations@mass.gov no later than four weeks prior to the exam date. Without such a letter, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to grant your accommodation. This information is requested only to provide reasonable accommodations for exams and will not be used for any other purposes. Examples Of Essential Duties Duties: Under the general supervision of the municipal appointing authority, directs the operations of the Fire Department, exercising supervision over direct reporting staff and overseeing the delivery of major municipal fire services; conducts long-range planning to determine policies, program priorities, and the utilization of resources in order to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the goals and objectives mandated by state laws, local bylaws or ordinances and departmental rules and regulations; evaluates the availability of fiscal and equipment resources, personnel, and local needs relative to the protection of life and property and the prevention and suppression of fire; directs and performs fire prevention duties including code and pre-fire inspection duties; directs, performs and reports the results of fire investigations; personally responds to fire and non-fire emergencies in order to supervise actions of fire service personnel; carries out public relations activities and prepares and disseminates news releases; plans and conducts hearings and meetings on issues of public concern; prepares and submits budget requests and administers department budget; interviews and selects personnel for promotion; reviews and negotiates contract proposals from contractors and/or vendors; and performs related duties as required. Examination Subjects Technical Knowledge: The written examination will be designed to test, where practicable, the following knowledges, skills, and abilities that have been established as qualifications for the position:1. Knowledge of the chemistry and physics of fire; 2. Knowledge of fire ground operations/fire suppression; 3. Knowledge of special operations; 4. Knowledge of building design, construction, and materials; 5. Knowledge of fire prevention; 6. Knowledge of fire protection; 7. Knowledge of fire cause determination; 8. Knowledge of hazardous materials; 9. Knowledge of legal considerations; 10. Knowledge of supervision; and 11. Knowledge of administration and management. Additional Resources for Candidates: Reading Lists & Examination Preparation Guide Note: Examination Preparation Guide will be released approximately three months prior to the examination date. Situational Judgment Test (SJT): The examination will assess the following competencies: Judgment and Decision-Making; Accountability; Adaptability; Guiding and Developing Others; Leadership, including Managing Activities and Building Teams; and Interpersonal Skills, including Conflict Management. Experience/Certification/Training & Education (ECT&E): All candidates must complete the 2027 Boston District Fire Chief Promotional Examination Experience, Certification, Training & Education (ECT&E) Claim online. Instructions and a link to the ECT&E Claim application will be emailed to candidates prior to the examination date. Candidates will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission of their application. ECT&E Claims must be submitted through the designated online claim process. Claims submitted by any other method will result in an “INCOMPLETE” score for this examination component. All ECT&E Claims and required supporting documentation must be received by April 19, 2027, which is seven calendar days following the examination. Candidates who fail to submit the required supporting documentation by the deadline will receive an “INCOMPLETE” score for this component. Supporting documentation may be uploaded to the candidate’s Civil Service account when submitting the ECT&E Claim application or emailed to civilservice@mass.gov by the deadline. Documents already on file and attached to the candidate’s Civil Service account, such as previously submitted educational transcripts, do not need to be resubmitted. A new Employment Verification Form (EVF) must be submitted for each examination. Statutory Preference Points: Upon submission of written proof, two points will be added to the passing score of qualified Veterans and Disabled Veterans or individuals who have 25 years of service as a member of a regular municipal fire force in Massachusetts. If you are qualified for both the Veteran's Preference and the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, please be advised that two points are the maximum allowable number of points to be added to your passing, overall examination score. To claim the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, candidates must claim this preference in the ECT&E claim application and verify eligibility on the Employment Verification form submitted with your ECT&E application. To claim veterans' preference, claim veteran status in the application and attach your DD214 to the application or email it to civilservice@mass.gov. For more information on veteran status refer to the Military Information section on our website. Note: No action needs to be taken if you have already been approved for the Veteran/Disabled Veteran or 25 year statutory preference points. Updating Information: Candidates are responsible for maintaining accurate contact information. Failure to keep your records current may jeopardize opportunities for employment. For information on how to update your information, visit the Update Your Account. During the HRD review process or during the life of the applicable eligible list(s), candidates must make original supporting documentation available should the issue of authenticity arise with any submitted document copies. Refunds: There will be no refunds of the examination processing fee unless the examination is cancelled by HRD. Private School or Service: HRD does not recommend or endorse any private school, service, or publisher offering preparation and/or publications for examinations and is not responsible for their advertising claims. Supplemental Information Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information about this and other civil service examinations, visit http://www.mass.gov/civilservice or email the Civil Service Unit atcivilservice@mass.gov. Inquiries may also be made to HRD Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at the following numbers: Boston area: (617) 878-9895 Within Massachusetts: 1-800-392-6178 TTY Number: (617) 878-9762 There is no Benefit Code