Chief Fire Protection Engineer

Requisition ID: 45911 

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace.  Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose and Function

This uniformed position provides direct leadership and management of the VFRS’ Community Safety and Risk Reduction Division. The position manages the technical and administrative priorities of the VFRS’ Community Safety and Risk Reduction Division. The Chief Fire Protection Engineer administers the requirements of a variety of by-laws as  the  professional authority for fire protection engineering and life safety for Vancouver Fire Rescue, the City of Vancouver and multiple areas outside of City jurisdiction (through MOU’s and Service Agreements, including but not limited to, University Endowment Lands, Vancouver Port Authority, Senakw, Granville Island, BC Place) The role has the authority to exercise independent decision-making providing  professional engineering judgment and technical leadership in the interpretation, application, and equivalency of fire and building by-laws and codes. This role ensures decisions affecting public safety, firefighter safety, and regulatory compliance are grounded in sound professional practice and applicable legislation.

The position develops and implements a strategic approach in carrying out the planning, development, delivery and management of projects, programs and policies associated to fire protection engineering and life safety, to align with City priorities and emerging trends.  In turn, they advise senior leadership, other City departments, certified professionals, code consultants and other external stakeholders on complex fire protection and life safety matters

The role carries significant professional liability exposure and organizational impact due to the authority exercised over legislative interpretation and development approvals affecting public safety infrastructure. They make key decisions that may affect the ongoing financial or operational effectiveness of the City.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Professional Engineering and Technical Authority

• Provides full people leadership and management of assigned staff, including recruitment, performance management, coaching, discipline, and workforce planning, ensuring alignment with divisional priorities and regulatory requirements. Represents VFRS on various internal and external regulatory technical and advisory committees, or working groups dedicated to specific compliance initiatives, providing independent specialized professional engineering expertise related to fire protection, life safety systems, and building design for existing and proposed developments
• Leads the interpretation and application of the BC Fire Code, BC Building Code, Vancouver Fire and Building By-laws, and applicable standards and regulations across the City, including areas governed through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), service agreements, and complex multi-jurisdictional arrangements
• Evaluates alternative solutions, variances, and code equivalencies, exercising independent professional judgment to assess risk and compliance
• Acts as the City’s subject matter expert on fire protection engineering matters, including complex or non-standard designs
• Provides technical leadership and oversight to develop, administer, interpret, and revise Vancouver Fire Bylaw to ensure consistent application of fire protection standards.
• Establishes technical standards, engineering guidelines and interpretive frameworks that are applied across the Fire Prevention Division and influence development approval processes City-wide.
• Acts as the final technical authority and decision maker on complex fire protection engineering matters where no precedent exists.
• Develops and regularly monitors and reports on metrics illustrating quality, cost and productivity
• Prepares reports on Inspection findings at the request of the Deputy Fire Chief or Fire Chief
• Meets with representatives (property owners, business operators, contractors, engineers etc) for the purpose of technical discussions on controversial issues and resolve conflicts
• Researches emerging industry trends

Advisory and Operational Support

• Leads and directs complex, multi-disciplinary technical reviews associated with major development projects, infrastructure initiatives and jurisdictionally complex sites, ensuring consistent application of fire protection standards and mitigation of municipal risk.
• Provides strategic technical authority and guidance to inspections, investigations, enforcement teams, senior leadership and cross-departmental project teams on high-risk or non-standard fire protection engineering matters.
• Leads the development and modernization of technical guidelines, engineering standards and fire protection policies to ensure alignment with legislative requirements, emerging building technologies and best practice.
• Represents Vancouver Fire Rescue Services in legal, regulatory, interdepartmental and industry forums, including providing expert testimony and technical determinations with financial, legal and reputational implications for the City.

Decision-Making Authority

• Exercises independent professional engineering judgment within established legislation, policy, and professional practice standards
• Makes technical decisions and recommendations where outcomes have direct implications for public safety, firefighter safety, legal exposure, and regulatory compliance
• Escalates matters with significant legal, political, or organizational impact to senior leadership as appropriate
• Makes binding technical determinations on fire protection equivalencies and alternative solutions that have financial, legal and reputational implications for the City.

General Departmental Responsibilities

• Performs additional duties and assumes responsibilities as assigned, consistent with the scope and professional accountabilities of the position, recognizing that priorities and responsibilities may evolve to meet organizational and operational needs as determined by the Fire Chief.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering and a minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in fire protection engineering or a closely related discipline supplemented with management training, working in a leadership role within public sector, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Experience delivering on service in a demanding environment, with competing priorities, requiring ongoing reassessment of alignment of services with the strategic needs of the organization
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects which require delivery under demanding timeframes and conditions
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) with Engineers and Geoscientists BC
• Experience working in a municipal, regulatory, or public safety environment is preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to manage and lead a team of professional staff.
• City Specific management skills, knowledge and leadership competencies.
• Extensive knowledge of current methodologies and practices of fire protection engineering and life safety systems, including fire modelling
• Strong understanding of fire and building codes and their application in complex regulatory environments
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and professional judgment skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly
• Ability to lead or facilitate meetings, groups and teams, including controversial subjects
• Ability to analyze, interpret, develop and implement regulatory requirements
• Strategic thinker with the ability to assess risk and anticipate long-term implications
• Analytical skills in independently reaching sound decisions and resolving complex problems based on engineering judgement while collaborating effectively across organizational boundaries

Business Unit/Department: Fire and Rescue Services (1600) 

Affiliation: Senior Exempt 

Employment Type: Regular Full Time 

Position Start Date: May, 2026 

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-111: $125,619 to $165,280 per year

Application Close: April 12, 2026

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.