Job Details

Davenport, IA (pop. 101,724) Nestled along the Mississippi River, the City of Davenport has a mix of rich history, scenic beauty, and lively culture and has been declared “The Most Livable Small City in America”. Whether you enjoy art, nature, or history, there's something for everyone in this charming city. Wake up to stunning riverfront views, stroll through the Figge Art Museum, and find fresh produce at the Freight House Farmers. Davenport is known for its friendly Midwestern hospitality, historic architecture, and endless opportunities for exploring nature along the Great River Trail. It's a city that offers both peaceful retreats and exciting events, making it a well-rounded place to live, work, and play.

Located in Scott County, Davenport is the county seat and Iowa's third most populated city after Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Three interstates (74, 80 and 280) and two major US Highways serve the city. Manufacturing is Davenport's largest labor industry, employing over 7,600 people. John Deere is the second largest employer in the Quad Cities area (IA: Davenport and Bettendorf, IL: Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline) after the Rock Island Arsenal. The City of Davenport has a Mayor/Council form of government with a professional City Administrator.The City of Davenport is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Fire Chief upon the retirement of the current Chief.

• The Davenport Fire Department is an accredited agency with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). The Department is one of only 311 agencies from around the world to achieve Internationally Accredited Agency status. The Department has an ISO 2/2X rating.
• Fire Administration consists of the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal, Assistant Chief of Operations, District Chief of Training, EMS Officer (Captain), a Management Analyst, and an Administrative Assistant. The city is divided into two districts with 3 shifts of personnel assigned to operations working a 24/48-hour schedule, including 6 District Chiefs, 11 Captains, 22 Lieutenants, 33 Engineers, and 55 Firefighters. These personnel provide emergency response and non-emergency services to the community from 7 fire stations with as many as 11 fire companies. Personnel from the ranks of Firefighter to Captain are represented by the IAFF, Local 17. The current collective bargaining agreement is in place from July 2023 – June 2027.
• The Fire Department responded to 20,922 calls for service in calendar year 2024 and is an all-hazards agency. The Department provides first response EMS services that are supported with transport functions by MEDIC EMS, which provides EMS to Scott County residents. The Department has 71 paramedics and 63 EMTs (2024).
• The Department functions as the regional response team for HazMat and is part of the State WMD Team and State Task Force. In addition, the Department also has a Technical Rescue Team which includes the disciplines of Rope Rescue, Confined Space, Trench, Water/Ice, Collapse and Vehicle/Machinery functions.
• The Department has a functional training site located in the northern end of the Davenport Public Works facility on 46^th The 2-acre location contains a 2-story burn building for live fire and special operations training. The Department also provides recruit training through their academy process.
• The Fire Marshal's office maintains and enforces the 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments, along with National Fire Protection Association codes and standards.

The City of Davenport seeks a leader with the following qualities:

• Experience: The areas of fire operations, emergency management, and large-scale events planning are all crucial areas of experience for this position. Business acumen and experience with budgetary control and compliance are also important.
• Communication: Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.Prioritize open and regular communication with department personnel, union leadership, City leadership team and staff, external partners, and outside agencies. Represent the department in public forums, make presentations, and communicate with the community, media, elected officials, and other agencies.
• Leadership: Be dedicated to becoming an effective servant leader and building collaborative and positive relationships with employees, colleagues, and outside organizations. excellent relationship-building abilities, an accessible leadership style, and a calm demeanor; be one who can establish trust quickly with others. Prioritize the professional development of staff. Have thorough knowledge of the principles of personnel management, including recruiting, training, promoting, and disciplining employees within a fire service context.
• Team-Oriented: Must have a positive track record of strong union/management relations with proven experience in fostering collaboration with bargaining unit members. Demonstrate a record of fairness, transparency, and consistency in the administration of policies and procedures and the willingness to address issues in a positive and timely manner.
• Innovation: Bring fresh ideas to the organization and offer unique perspectives and experiences.
• Energy: Provide enthusiasm and bring focused energy to all projects, with a passion for service to the community. Demonstrate the ability to develop and articulate a long-term plan for the Fire Department with the charisma to lead the team to an even higher level of excellence. Be a highly motivated, visionary, goal-oriented leader with a proven ability to gain cooperation and communicate in a clear direction.
• Versatility: Play an important role in coordinating, facilitating, and managing projects that require involvement across multiple service areas with a strong desire to work in a collegial, team-oriented environment. Must demonstrate the ability to develop strong relationships with surrounding Fire/EMS agencies fostering a regional approach to emergency responses.

Minimum requirements candidates must possess:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.
• Extensive experience in Fire Department Emergency Operations and Administration with a considerable management role.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Must possess a valid driver's license required to operate fire apparatus in the State of Iowa and maintain throughout the duration of employment.
• Must pass a background check as prescribed by the City of Davenport.

The annual starting salary range for this position is $152,500 depending upon qualifications. The City of Davenport also offers a comprehensive and innovative benefits package. The successful candidate must live within the City of Davenport within a prescribed time period. Candidates should apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com by July 25, 2025 @ 1700 hours CST with resume, cover letter and contact information for five work-related, or professional references (electronic applications only). Questions may be addressed to the attention of T.E. Sashko, MGT Approved Independent Executive Recruiter (847) 380 – 3240 x 123. The City of Davenport is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Tagged as: Iowa Firefighter Jobs