Deputy Fire Chief – Operations

YVR is a place of connection, bringing together people, places, and cargo while ensuring a safe and efficient experience for everyone. YVR Fire & Rescue is a value and integrity-based department with a strong culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging that enables the team to deliver on our Mission, of being dedicated to protecting and educating our customers, our community, and our environment through the delivery of professional aircraft fire rescue service. This drives us toward our Vision to be the best Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting department in Canada.

Position Overview  

Are you a highly motivated leader with a passion to direct and maintain proper order and conduct of firefighters to ensure the department meets or exceeds required tactical operations while ensuring compliance with all applicable standards and regulations? Can you exercise considerable independence of judgment and action in carrying out assignments in accordance with both corporate and departmental policies, plans, and objectives? The Deputy Fire Chief – Operations role might be for you.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Assist the Fire Chief as the primary tactical operations support in the development and implementation of an overall long-term strategic plan involving fire protection
• Plan, administer and supervise the operational functions to ensure the department meets or exceeds required tactical abilities in aircraft rescue and firefighting, as well as medical response
• Maintain all mandatory ARFF training in compliance with CARS regulations
• Evaluates levels of staffing for proper response, and coverage policies and present recommendations to the Fire Chief
• Manages and provides significant leadership, communication, technical, and operational skills in the YVR Fire & Rescue Department 
• Manages, oversees, and participates in the development of work plans; assignment of work activities, projects, and programs; monitors workflow
• Assume the Fire Chief’s responsibilities in his or her absence to ensure compliance with CARS regulations, NFPA standards, and the Airport Emergency Plan or any other standards or regulations as assigned by the Fire Chief 

Key qualifications include:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in fire and rescue services, supplemented by a post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Emergency Management, Fire Service Leadership or a related field; or an equivalent combination of training and experience
• NFPA 1021 Level III, NFPA 1521 and NFPA 1041 Level II, plus Incident Command Certification Level 300
• Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications – Fire Officer III
• Valid BC Class 3 driver’s license with air brake endorsement
• Obtaining and maintaining a DAVOP license to operate equipment/vehicles in airside areas.
• Available for rotational after-hours on-call duty with a maximum emergency incident response time of 45 minutes from the time of notification to on-scene
• Demonstrated computer competency in related business and office software programs
• Demonstrated business writing competency including briefings, memorandums and reports

Preferred Qualifications: 

• NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications - Fire Officer IV
• Executive Fire Chief Officer (ECFO) and/or Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation

This position is open to both Vancouver Airport Authority employees and external applicants. Previous job performance will be taken into consideration for all internal candidates that apply for this position.

As part of our recruitment process, short-listed candidates may be required to participate in an assessment process.

Salary Range : $119,680 to $179,250 per annum, based on a 37.5-hour work week. This is individually tailored to reflect your unique experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Performance-Based Incentive: Eligible for an annual bonus target at 15% of your annual salary.

At YVR, your work experience goes beyond the paycheck. We support your personal and professional development, well-being, and a thriving work culture with generous vacation days, extensive health benefits, retirement savings matching, wellness programs, community engagement, commuting support, and continuous learning opportunities. Learn more at https://careers.yvr.ca/benefits.

YVR is more than just an airport. We connect our beautiful province and all it has to offer to the world. We are all leaders and trailblazers for change and innovation, so no matter the department or team you’re a part of, the work you do matters.

At YVR, we are flexible in everything we do. We will work together to find ways to deliver customer excellence that helps us all thrive.

Whatever your background and wherever you’re from, you belong at YVR. If you have any questions about accessibility or require any assistance applying, please reach out at careers@yvr.ca.