Director, Protective Services/Regional Fire Chief

Regional District of Central Okanagan -
Kelowna, BC

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Job details

Full-time
$183,752–$224,540 a year
10 hours ago

Qualifications

Presentation skills
Leadership
Communication skills
Driving Licence

Full job description

Director, Protective Services/Regional Fire Chief

Kelowna

Closes: 2026-08-10

Overview

The Director of Protective Services is part of the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s (RDCO) Senior Leadership Team, led by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), that provides corporate, legislative, financial, and strategic policy advice to the Board of Directors and the organization. Working with the CAO, the Director is responsible and accountable for the overall service delivery, leadership, performance and continuous improvement of RDCO’s Protective Services. This includes oversight of Emergency Management Services (including the Regional Emergency Management Program), Fire Services (including four Paid-on-Call Fire Departments), Bylaw Services, Dog Control, Community Safety Services and Victim Services. This position will strategically lead the evolution of the Protective Services Department in conjunction with the CAO’s mandate to achieve the Board’s vision and strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

1. Governance and Strategic Direction

Provide strategic advice and recommendations to the CAO and Regional Board on sensitive, high-risk, politically complex, and community-facing matters, ensuring recommendations are defensible, timely and aligned with legislative requirements, governance principles, and organizational direction.
Lead the development of Board reports, bylaws, policies, service reviews, and strategic goals related to the Protective Services portfolio.
Negotiate service delivery agreements, contracts and partnership agreements with local governments, First Nations, service providers, and external agencies to support organizational objectives and Regional Board priorities.
Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, legal, reputational, regulatory, and public safety risks affecting the organization.

2. Protective Services Programs and Operations

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Emergency Management, Fire Services, Bylaw Services, Dog Control, Community Safety Services and Victim Services programs by establishing and evaluating service standards, training expectations performance measures and accountability frameworks.
Ensure services are responsive to community needs, changing legislation, emerging risks, and Regional Board priorities and delivered in a fair, consistent, legally defensible, and risk-based manner.
Lead the continuous evolution of the Protective Services portfolio by identifying and implementing opportunities for service improvement, modernization, innovation, organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

3. Emergency Management and Community Resilience

Provide strategic oversight of the Regional Emergency Management Program to ensure operational readiness, legislative compliance, emergency preparedness, wildfire resilience, training standards and effective regional coordination.
Provide strategic leadership and direction to RDCO Fire Services, including fire service planning, training and operational standards, apparatus and equipment replacement planning, mutual aid relationships and community risk reduction initiatives.
Provide leadership during major emergencies, disasters, and recovery efforts and assume emergency leadership responsibilities as required.

4. Financial Stewardship

Ensure departmental financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation, procurement activities, grants and contracts are in compliance with financial policies, fiscal accountability, corporate objectives and service delivery requirements.

5. Leadership and Organizational Development

Lead, mentor, and develop departmental leaders by setting clear expectations, fostering accountability and supporting professional growth.
Provide timely leadership on complex workforce, labour relations, succession planning, and organizational change matters, supporting respectful workplace communication, effective labour relations practices and proactive identification and resolution of workplace concerns.

6. External Relations and Partnerships

Build and maintain strategic relationships and collaborative partnerships with member municipalities, First Nations, provincial ministries, emergency service agencies and community organizations to enhance public safety, emergency preparedness, and service delivery outcomes.
Represent the RDCO on regional, provincial, and community committees, initiatives, and working groups.
Ensure communications with stakeholders and the public are coordinated, professional, and aligned with organizational objectives.

Qualifications

Degree in a relevant subject area or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
Ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including senior leadership experience in fire services, emergency management, public safety, protective services, or a related operational environment. Experience working with paid-on-call and volunteer emergency service models is considered an asset.
Experience working with governing boards.
Valid B.C. Driver’s License.
Strong knowledge of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, Fire Services Act, Local Government Act, and other relevant provincial legislation.
Knowledge of fire service governance, operational readiness, training standards, emergency response coordination, community risk reduction, and paid-on-call fire service delivery models.
Demonstrated strategic leadership, political acumen, relationship management, and decision-making skills within complex service delivery environments
Exceptional integrity, sound judgment, curiosity, humility, and professionalism.
Excellent presentation, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information, risks and recommendations to elected officials, senior leaders, community partners, staff, and the public
Demonstrated systems-thinking ability, including the capacity to assess organizational challenges, identify root causes, evaluate competing priorities, and develop practical recommendations that balance risk, service levels, financial sustainability, and community expectations
Strong digital literacy, including the ability to utilize business systems, information management tools, and technology solutions to support operational effectiveness, strategic planning, and informed decision-making

Employment Level

Full-time

Work Conditions

Physical Effort: Seated position for most of the day with flexibility to move when desired.

Physical Environment: Office environment and field work

Mental Stress: Multiple priorities with tight deadlines. Dealing with organizations staffing issues, problem solving of non- routine issues. Work may be scrutinized by the public.

Sensory Attention: Accurate assessment of large quantities of information. Need for detailed and precise work is high.

Additional Information

In accordance with BC's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is $183,752 (min) to $204,146 (mid) $224,540 (max) annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package. It is the RDCO’s philosophy to pay in the middle of the range for a fully qualified applicant.

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Director, Protective Services/Regional Fire Chief

Kelowna

Closes: 2026-08-10

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Employment Level

Work Conditions

Additional Information

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