Division Chief - Investigations, Quality Assurance/Legal, and Engineering

• Job ID: 67755
• Job Category: Emergency, Fire and Paramedics Services
• Division & Section: Fire Services, Fire Svcs Community Risk Reduction (CRR)
• Work Location: FIRE & PARAMEDIC HQ & EMS STATION 53, 4330 Dufferin St, North York
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent Vacancy

• Salary Range: $222,804.40, TM1214 and EMF1

• Shift Information: 35 hours per week, shift to be determined
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 05-NOV-2026 to 03-DEC-2026

Job Description

Reporting directly to the Deputy Fire Chief, Community Risk Reduction, the Division Chief is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, and operational management of the Division, including the effective deployment of staff and resources. As a member of Toronto Fire Services' Senior Management Team, the Division Chief provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and leadership to ensure the effective administration and enforcement of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA) and related legislation within the City of Toronto.

This position is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the following program areas:

Fire Investigations

Provides leadership and oversight for investigations into the origin, cause, and circumstances of significant fires within the City of Toronto. This includes supporting investigations conducted in partnership with the Toronto Police Service and other investigative agencies where fires may be suspicious or criminal in nature.

Quality Assurance/Legal

Leads the Quality Assurance Team in monitoring, evaluating, and improving inspection and enforcement practices to ensure consistency, legislative compliance, adherence to best practices, and alignment with applicable NFPA standards and organizational policies.

Accountable for overseeing all Toronto Fire Services prosecution activities under the Ontario Fire Code, including disclosure, case preparation, witness coordination and liaison with Prosecution Services.

Fire Protection Engineering

Provides leadership to Fire Protection Engineering staff responsible for interpreting and applying the Ontario Fire Code and related legislation, ensuring fire safety risks are appropriately identified, assessed, and mitigated in complex or high-risk situations, including Immediate Threat to Life and Order to Close processes.

The Division Chief is expected to work collaboratively with other Division Chiefs and senior leaders and may be required to assume responsibilities across Community Risk Reduction programs during absences or as otherwise assigned.

Major Responsibilities:

• As a member of the Toronto Fire Services Senior Management Team, participates in strategic and operational decision-making and contributes to the development of short- and long-range plans, priorities, and resource allocation strategies.
• Leads, manages, and administers all activities, programs, services, and staff within the Division.
• Provides strategic direction and support to staff conducting fire inspections, investigations, engineering reviews, and enforcement activities in accordance with applicable legislation and standards.
• Ensures investigations, inspections, and enforcement activities are conducted in a manner consistent with legislation, policies, procedures, and accepted professional standards.
• Participates in the development and implementation of divisional goals, objectives, business plans, and performance measures.
• Provides leadership, mentoring, coaching, and professional development opportunities to staff through training and the appropriate delegation of authority and responsibility.
• Supervises, monitors, and evaluates the performance of assigned staff.
• Effectively manages labour relations matters, including attendance management, conflict resolution, grievance administration, and the application of discipline where required.
• Analyzes short- and long-term staffing and organizational requirements and implements strategies to ensure operational effectiveness and service excellence.
• Participates in the development and administration of the Division's annual budget and monitors expenditures to ensure alignment with approved objectives.
• Initiates and directs the review of policies, programs, procedures, and performance measures to ensure ongoing relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance with legislative requirements.
• Ensures prompt, accurate, and complete preparation of reports, records, correspondence, and required documentation.
• Establishes environmental scanning processes to identify emerging issues, risks, trends, legislative changes, and industry best practices that may affect service delivery.
• Supports enforcement actions conducted under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Provincial Offences Act, Building Code Act, and Criminal Code of Canada.
• Provides oversight of investigative documentation, disclosure processes, evidence management practices, and prosecution support activities in accordance with legislative and organizational requirements.
• Accountable for all Fire Safety Commission (Tribunals Ontario) proceedings, including case conferences, mediations, and hearings.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC), Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), Toronto Police Service (TPS), Prosecution Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLSE), Toronto Emergency Management (TEM), Toronto Paramedic Services (EMS) and Toronto Buildings (TB).
• Collaborate effectively with senior leaders across the city, external agencies, and government partners to achieve organizational objectives.
• Creates and promotes a workplace culture characterized by professionalism, collaboration, accountability, diversity, inclusiveness, and respect.
• Champions equity, diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being in all aspects of divisional operations.
• Participates in a rotational on-call system and responds to critical incidents and operational issues outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required.

• Responds to significant fire incidents during and outside of regular business hours, as required, to provide leadership, oversight, and operational support.

• Performs other related duties as assigned

Key Qualifications:

1. Extensive progressive leadership and management experience within fire services, public safety, regulatory enforcement, or a related field.
2. Post-secondary education in a relevant discipline or an approved equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
3. NFPA 1033 certification, or the ability to obtain certification from the Office of the Fire Marshal within (6) months of appointment.
4. NFPA 1072 certification, or the ability to obtain certification from the Office of the Fire Marshal within six (6) months of appointment.
5. NFPA 1031 and NFPA 1035 certifications are considered assets.
6. Demonstrated experience leading complex investigations, enforcement activities, and prosecution-related processes.
7. Demonstrated experience managing complex, sensitive, and high-profile case files.
8. Demonstrated experience applying legislation, regulations, codes, standards, and enforcement authorities.
9. Experience in the interpretation and application of the Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Building Code, and relevant NFPA standards is considered an asset.
10. Experience preparing and presenting cases before courts, Coroner's Inquests, Public Inquiries, administrative tribunals, and/or the Fire Safety Commission.
11. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Provincial Offences Act, Building Code Act, Coroners Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Criminal Code of Canada, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
12. Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams comprised of investigative, engineering, inspection, technical, and enforcement personnel.
13. Strong strategic planning, organizational, project management, and change management skills.
14. Ability to develop staff, foster professional growth, and build high-performing teams focused on service excellence.
15. Highly developed interpersonal, communication, and relationship management skills, including the ability to effectively engage with employees, senior officials, elected representatives, external agencies, and the media.
16. Demonstrated sound judgment, political acuity, and the ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and high-risk matters.
17. Commitment to professional development and continuous learning.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.