Vacancy ID

2219

Department/Authority

Kilkenny County Council 

Department/Authority Website

https://kilkennycoco.ie/eng/

Working pattern

Full-Time 

Advertising Date

08/05/2026
 

County

Kilkenny 

Location

Kilkenny County Council

Closing Date for Application

28/05/2026, 15:00
 

Grade

Chief Fire Officer 

Contract

Permanent 

Type of role

Local Authority

Accessibility Information: We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act. Please see our Statement on Accessibility

Job summary

The post holder has responsibility for the overall management and administration of 
Kilkenny County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and Civil Defence. The duties will include responsibility for strategic planning and the implementation of any associated change requirements throughout the Fire and Emergency Services. The Chief Fire Officer may also be assigned responsibility for the management of any other relevant function(s) at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Fire Officer will be expected to prepare budgetary estimates for their area of operation and to work within allocated finances to the best overall effect. They must have the ability to work across section teams and interact with other area/teams and with Chief Fire 
Officers in adjacent local authority areas. The post holder will also be required to have contact with property owners/organisations, Government Departments, the public, media, courts, as required, as well as interaction with elected members and liaising with staff/union 
representatives.

A full Job Summary/Description is available in the Information Booklet.

Main Duties of the Job

Planning, directing, organising, overseeing and managing: Fire Service Operations, Technical Fire Safety, Community Fire Safety, Major Emergency Management and Civil Defence service for Kilkenny County Council.

Ensuring achievement of KPIs and service delivery targets. Preparing and delivering detailed and accurate management and performance reports as may be required by Senior Management and Central Government in a timely manner.

Strategic Planning and Change Management in an evolving environment and working with the various stakeholders of the Fire and Rescue Service to develop a comprehensive balanced strategy for prevention, protection, and response in relation to the built environment and the enhancement of a Culture of Compliance in the Community which will be informed by national guidance and statutory legislation to ensure a fit for purpose fire service.

Management of Safety, Health and Wellbeing in Kilkenny County Council’s Fire and Rescue Services, in accordance with Legislative requirements, National Policies and Kilkenny County Councils Safety Management Systems. This shall include contributing to the development of future policies, procedures and ISO 45001, etc.

A full list of main duties is available in the Information Booklet.

Information about the organisation

Kilkenny County Council provides services to a population of over 103,000 citizens in County Kilkenny in areas of housing, roads, transportation, planning, environment, economic and community development, tourism, libraries, fire and emergency response, parks, amenities, heritage, arts and water services.

We have over 750 employees and can offer exciting careers across our services in various roles such as engineering, technical, financial, management, administration, library services, fire services and general services.  Our headquarters are in Kilkenny City, and we have area offices throughout the county.

An opportunity now exists in Kilkenny County Council for the position of Chief Fire Officer.

Benefits

Salary Scale effective from 1st February 2026:

€92,770 - €95,045 - €97,310 - €99,586 - €101,855 - €104,136 - €107,565 (LSI1) - €110,997 (LSI2)

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours gross per week.

The annual leave allowance for the position of Chief Fire Officer is 30 days.

Selection Process Details

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Local authorities are committed equal opportunities employers.