While many may aspire to be a fire chief the job once you land there can be daunting. I used to attend the monthly Fire Chief Association Meetings and there are significant personal challenges that come with the position.
The Boston Fire Chief position that is currently being recruited for will require someone with great skill and emotional maturity. The chief does not hold a hose or ride a ladder truck, but sometimes I think the position would be better suited for the U.S. State Department as you work through internal and external intra and inter-jurisdictional issues. Building 360 degree "positive" relationships is a must.
With the way the economy is going and the pressures on local government budgets you can be sure that labor negotiations and relationships will be a topic that dominates the new fire chief's time. The other thing I know about Boston is that, as a city, they are on the cutting edge of using social media. If you don't like technology or citizen engagement--this is not going to be a good fit.
Please forward this along to deputy or assistant chiefs in "larger jurisdictions" who you know might be interested and willing to relocate.
