The City of Leawood seeks a principled, approachable, and visionary leader who combines operational expertise with a strong commitment to people, service, and organizational excellence. The ideal candidate will be an experienced executive who understands the evolving role of modern fire and emergency services and can effectively balance strategic leadership, organizational development, and operational excellence while fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL...

Lead with Character

Lead with integrity, humility, and professionalism.
Build trust with transparency, communication, and accountability.
Champion the City's values and contribute to a “One Leawood” culture.

Develop People

Foster a positive, supportive and high-performing workplace culture.
Develop future leaders and invest in employee growth.
Support succession planning and employee engagement initiatives.

Build Partnerships

Collaborate effectively across departments and with regional partners.
Build strong relationships with residents, businesses, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
Communicate effectively and build consensus among diverse groups.

Lead Strategically

Balance operational excellence with long-term strategic planning.
Embrace innovation while maintaining a commitment to exceptional service.
Use data, technology, and continuous improvement principles to enhance service delivery.

The successful candidate will bring a strong strategic perspective and guide the department’s future while building on its strong foundation of service and professionalism. Embracing a “One Leawood” philosophy, they will collaborate across departments, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and foster a culture of trust, accountability, and exceptional service. They will be committed to developing employees, supporting innovation, and identifying opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, service delivery, and community safety.

THE NEXT FIRE CHIEF IS EXPECTED TO:

Build strong relationships with department personnel, City leadership, and community stakeholders.
Assess organizational strengths and opportunities while maintaining the department's high standards of service.
Balance station and staffing needs and public expectations with existing resources.
Advance succession planning and leadership development efforts.
Support strategic planning initiatives and future service delivery needs.
Continue fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required: Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, along with at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a career fire service organization, including at least 5 years in a supervisory or command-level leadership role.

Preferred: A master's degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, or a related field. Highly desirable qualifications include possession of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing, completion of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, designation as a Kansas Certified Emergency Manager, and demonstrated executive-level experience leading organizational change, strategic initiatives, succession planning, accreditation efforts, and community risk reduction initiatives.

Leawood, KS

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