<p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;">The Municipality of North Cowichan (population 31,990) is located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Southern Vancouver Island, between Nanaimo and Victoria. Our communities of Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay, and the South End are home to a multitude of artistic, cultural and outdoor recreational activities. The Municipality provides a stable and varied work environment, competitive pay and benefits. We are inviting applications from candidates with proven skills, qualifications and abilities for the Exempt position of Assistant Chief, Wildfire Operations. <span style="color: black; background: white;">If you are self-motivated, looking to take on a new challenge where you can make a difference, enjoy both responsibility and accountability, and are ready to join one of British Columbia's most inclusive and environmentally conscious municipalities, we look forward to receiving your application!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;">This is an exempt management position, excluded from union membership, and requires flexibility in hours of work. The Assistant Chief is expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the strategic, operational, and emergency response requirements of the position, including evenings, weekends, and emergency call?outs as required.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: #4f81bd;">COMMUNITY SAFETY</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black;">The Assistant Chief, Wildfire Operations is a senior exempt management position responsible for providing strategic leadership, executive direction, and authoritative oversight of the Municipality's wildfire mitigation, preparedness, and response functions. Reporting directly to the Fire Chief, the position operates at a senior leadership level and exercises significant independent judgment, discretion, and accountability in matters related to organizational priorities, service delivery models, resource allocation, and risk management. The role contributes to confidential planning, advisory, and decision?making processes, including the development of strategy, policy, and operational frameworks, and is responsible for translating Council?approved and corporate objectives into effective operational outcomes that enhance community safety and resilience.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: #4f81bd;">PROGRAM LEADERSHIP &amp; GOVERNANCE</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black;">The position has delegated authority to lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of wildfire?related strategies, operational and emergency response plans, and service delivery models in a dynamic and evolving risk environment influenced by climate conditions, legislative requirements, and community needs. The Assistant Chief is accountable for the management of complex, multi?year programs and projects, including FireSmart initiatives, fuel management and mitigation programs, community risk?reduction strategies, and grant?funded activities. Responsibilities include establishing program scope, performance standards, budgets, and timelines; authorizing expenditures within approved limits; directing consultant and contractor services; preparing technical and financial reports; and ensuring fiscal responsibility, regulatory compliance, and achievement of approved outcomes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: #4f81bd;">OPERATIONAL COMMAND &amp; PEOPLE LEADERSHIP</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black;">The Assistant Chief provides senior operational command and organizational leadership for all phases of wildfire operations and exercises management authority over tra