THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of Lake Worth, Texas, is offering an exceptional opportunity for an emerging or experienced fire service executive to serve as the next Fire Chief. This position provides a dedicated fire service professional with the opportunity to lead a suburban, all-hazards, ISO Class 1-rated, and Texas-accredited Fire Department committed to delivering comprehensive emergency services to the City of Lake Worth, the neighboring community of Lakeside, and portions of unincorporated Tarrant County.

ABOUT LAKE WORTH

The City of Lake Worth is in Tarrant County, about 11 miles northwest of downtown Fort Worth, near the intersection of Interstate 820 and State Highway 199. Named for the nearby lake, the City of Lake Worth is situated within a unique wildland-urban interface where residential neighborhoods and commercial development blend with natural vegetation and open spaces. Lake Worth encompasses approximately 2.5 square miles and serves a residential population of about 5,000, while its strategic location and commercial activity contribute to a daytime population that exceeds 50,000.

Guided by a vision of being a safe, vibrant community and a leader toward new horizons, Lake Worth remains focused on responsible fiscal stewardship, strategic infrastructure investment, exceptional service delivery, meaningful community engagement, enhanced open spaces, and continued revitalization efforts that strengthen the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Lake Worth Fire Department provides comprehensive emergency services, including fire suppression, fire prevention, annual commercial fire inspections, development plan review, and community-centered fire safety education programs. The Department is dedicated to delivering responsive, professional service while promoting safety, preparedness, and resilience throughout the community. The Department’s mission is centered on serving the Lake Worth community with an unwavering commitment to protecting life and property through effective emergency response, proactive fire prevention, and public education.

The Department is staffed by 24 FTEs and has an operating budget of $4,220,882.

THE POSITION

Lake Worth is seeking a contemporary, people-centric, and community-focused fire service leader to serve as the next Fire Chief. The primary responsibilities of the Fire Chief include assisting in the protection of lives and property by leading the day-to-day operations of the fire department and its associated personnel. Other responsibilities include directing employees, enhancing departmental operations, maintaining fire apparatus and equipment, promoting fire safety, preparing and managing the Department’s budget, and working cooperatively with community members, municipal staff, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on, approachable leader who thrives in a collaborative, small-city environment; a well-rounded fire service professional with extensive experience in fire and rescue administration, contemporary fire suppression and prevention practices, emergency medical services, fiscal forecasting and planning, and budget management; a strategic thinker committed to working alongside the City leadership and in tandem with the Department’s leadership, rank-and-file personnel, partner agencies, and the community; have experience serving as a Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Division Chief, or in a comparable senior leadership role in a similarly sized fire department; experience coordinating interdepartmental activities related to emergency planning, disaster response, and operational readiness; and have proven capabilities in critical incident management, emergency preparedness and response coordination, and the administration of interlocal agreements.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of equivalent experience, education, and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may qualify. A typical way to obtain the requisite knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science/Administration, Emergency Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, is required. A Master’s degree in Public Administration, or a related field, from an accredited college or university is preferred.

• Completion of at least one of the following is desired: National Fire Academy/Executive Fire Officer Program, Texas Fire Chiefs Academy, Texas A & M Fire Service CEO Program, or Fire Service Executive Development Institute.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible, full-time paid municipal, county, or regional fire service experience at the rank of Division Chief or above, including five (5) years in a supervisory capacity, is required.

For an extensive list of required licenses, certifications, and additional requirements, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure by clicking on the .pdf link on this page.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The annual compensation range for this position is $135,000 - $175,500, with final placement in the range dependent on qualifications and experience. Lake Worth offers an excellent benefits package. Key benefits include retirement through the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). The City matches the employee’s required contribution of 7% with a contribution of 14%. The retirement program contributions begin on hire date. Employees are vested in the retirement system after five years of employment and are eligible for retirement after 20 years. The City of Lake Worth requires Social Security System contributions.

For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure by clicking on the .pdf link on this page.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a compelling letter of interest and comprehensive résumé below by Monday, June 22, 2026.

Due to the public nature of searches in the State of Texas, confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Jacqueline “Jackie” Seabrooks, Senior Consultant | Jackie@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 581-1430