Dir of Admin & Operations

The Cambridge Fire Department consists of approximately 293 swornpersonnel and six civilian staff members dedicated to serving thecommunity. Its mission is to protect life and property in Cambridge bypreventing and responding to fires, hazardous materials incidents, andother natural or human-caused emergencies; to save lives throughhigh-quality emergency medical services; to advance fire prevention andpublic education; and to foster a workplace culture that valuesdiversity, equity, and respect. ABOUT THE ROLE: Responsible for leadingthe Department?s fiscal and human resources team, the Director ofAdministration and Operations is key member of Cambridge Fire Departmentleadership. Reporting to the Assistant Chief of AdministrativeOperations, this role oversees departmental budgeting, payroll, andpersonnel systems; coordinates labor-management and policy matters; andensures that administrative functions operate in alignment with Citygoals and regulations. This position directly supervises the FiscalManager and the Payroll Analyst, while also providing indirectsupervision of supporting fiscal and administrative staff. In additionto overseeing the preparation of a $70+ million budget and allpersonnel-related matters, this role serves as a strategic advisor tothe Fire Chief and Assistant Chiefs, helping to modernize departmentalsystems, strengthen accountability, and enhance coordination across theDepartment. The role requires a collaborative, hands-on leader who canbalance long-range planning with operational execution in a complex,highly unionized public-safety environment. ESSENTIAL DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES: The essential functions or duties listed below areintended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may beperformed. The omission of specific statements of duties does notexclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or alogical assignment to the position. Provide leadership and direction forthe Fire Department?s administrative operations, including fiscalmanagement, payroll, human resources, procurement, and policyimplementation. Serve as a principal administrative advisor to the FireChief and Assistant Chiefs on issues of departmental organization,resource allocation, and operational effectiveness. Lead and direct thedepartment?s human resource functions?including hiring, onboarding,performance management, and employee development?in collaboration withthe City?s HR Department. Participate in labor relations activities,including collective bargaining preparation, grievances, and jointlabor-management meetings, ensuring consistent application ofcontractual and City policies. Oversee the preparation, monitoring, andmanagement of the department?s operating and capital budgets; ensurefiscal compliance and responsible stewardship of departmental funds.Collaborate with the City?s Budget, Finance, Purchasing, and ITdepartments to align administrative practices with City policies andensure compliance with all procurement and fiscal regulations.Supervise, mentor, and evaluate administrative and fiscal staff; promotea collaborative culture emphasizing accountability, professional growth,and continuous improvement. Establish and refine departmentaladministrative systems and standard operating procedures to improveefficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision making. Represent theFire Department at City Council meetings, union discussions, andinterdepartmental forums on administrative and fiscal matters asdirected. Support organizational planning and strategic initiatives thatenhance the department?s capacity, succession planning, and long-termsustainability. Full job description:

Created: 2026-01-12