The City of Leawood seeks a principled, approachable, and visionary leader who combines operational expertise with a strong commitment to people, service, and organizational excellence. The ideal candidate will be an experienced executive who understands the evolving role of modern fire and emergency services and can effectively balance strategic leadership, organizational development, and operational excellence while fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL...
Lead with Character
Lead with integrity, humility, and professionalism
Build trust with transparency, communication, and accountability.
Champion the City's values and contribute to a “One Leawood” culture.
Develop People
Foster a positive, supportive and high-performing workplace culture.
Develop future leaders and invest in employee growth
Embrace innovation while maintaining a commitment to exceptional service. Use data, technology, and continuous improvement principles to enhance service delivery
The successful candidate will bring a strong strategic perspective and guide the department’s future while building on its strong foundation of service and professionalism Embracing a “One Leawood” philosophy, they will collaborate across departments, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and foster a culture of trust, accountability, and exceptional service. They will be committed to developing employees, supporting innovation, and identifying opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, service delivery, and community safety
THE NEXT FIRE CHIEF
IS EXPECTED TO:
Build strong relationships with department personnel, City leadership, and community stakeholders.
Assess organizational strengths and opportunities while maintaining the department's high standards of service.
Balance station and staffing needs and public expectations with existing resources.
Advance succession planning and leadership development efforts.
Support strategic planning initiatives and future service delivery needs.
Continue fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required: Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, along with at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a career fire service organization, including at least 5 years in a supervisory or command-level leadership role.
Preferred: A master's degree in Fire Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, or a related field. Completion of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, designation as a Kansas Certified Emergency Manager, and demonstrated experience leading organizational change, strategic initiatives, succession planning, accreditation efforts, and community risk reduction programs are highly desirable. A Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing and possession of a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record are preferred.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Leawood Fire Department is a highly respected, internationally accredited organization dedicated to delivering exceptional emergency response, community risk reduction, and public safety services. The department maintains Accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and holds an ISO Class 1 Public Protection Classification, reflecting its commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and service to the community.
Operating from three fire stations, the department provides comprehensive fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and community risk reduction programs. Through strong automatic and mutual aid partnerships across Johnson County and the Kansas City metropolitan area, the department ensures coordinated, high-quality service during both routine and large-scale incidents.
Beyond emergency response, the department is deeply committed to community engagement through public education, CPR and AED training, child passenger safety programs, fire prevention initiatives, and other outreach efforts that enhance safety and quality of life throughout the community
WHY LEAWOOD?
The Fire Chief serves as a key member of the City's leadership team and provides strategic direction for all aspects of fire and emergency services. Reporting directly to the City Administrator, the Fire Chief leads department operations, personnel development, emergency preparedness, community risk reduction, and long-range planning efforts.
The Fire Department, along with the rest of the City of Leawood, recently received extremely high marks on the resident satisfaction survey conducted by ETC Institute. Fire Services received high ratings for fire response to emergencies (94% satisfied or very satisfied), fire response to medical calls (92% satisfied or very satisfied), ambulance transport services (84% satisfied or very satisfied), and efforts to manage emergencies and natural disasters (84% satisfied or very satisfied).
The next Fire Chief will have the opportunity to build upon a strong tradition of excellence while helping shape the future of public safety in one of the Kansas City region's premier communities.
Community Background
A safe and beautiful community of about 34,000 residents situated just 10 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City, the City of Leawood is known for its nationally ranked schools, thriving businesses, and incomparable public art collection.
One of the most desirable suburbs in the region - and recently named a Top 20 Best Small City in America - Leawood stretches along the edge of the Kansas-Missouri state line in Johnson County, bordered by Overland Park, Prairie Village, and Kansas City, Missouri. Its compact size of roughly 15 square miles packs a lot of punch: walkable, mixeduse communities and more than 50 restaurants, and brand-name or boutique shopping to please every taste. An easily accessible highway system links residents, workers, and visitors to every corner of the larger metro area, some 2.2 million people strong.
Native Americans were the first to call the area home, and early records show an expedition by Daniel Boone exploring the region in the early 1700s alongside French and American traders. An adventurer in his own right, retired Oklahoma police officer Oscar G. Lee made his way to the area in 1922 and purchased land that would become the foundation of present-day Leawood. Additional growth followed with incorporation achieved in 1948.
Since those early days, Leawood residents have planned for a tight-knit community offering the convenience of a big city and the quiet of a small town. More than 75 years later, the city has grown into all its founders had envisioned with an inviting mix of elegant, established neighborhoods, new high-profile developments, and distinctive office buildings that combine the best of Leawood’s historical traditions with modern sensibilities.
Residents enjoy a variety of cultural amenities in the region, including a mix of museums, music venues, professional sports
stadiums, and quality special events. Leawood has quality educational and recreational opportunities and events, along with multiple installations of public art throughout the City. Our long-standing reputation for artistic excellence is a point of pride for the community's residents.
Leawood families have educational opportunities in both the Blue Valley School District #229 and Shawnee Mission School District #512 in grade levels K-12. Those who prefer private schools have their selection of Cúre of Ars, Church of the Nativity, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic elementary schools, a Barstow Elementary School satellite campus, and the Shul-Chabad of Leawood Hebrew School. More than a dozen public and private colleges and universities offer secondary education with easy commutes. The median household income in Leawood is just over $185,000, with home prices averaging about $890,000.
Compensation and Benefits
The 2026 salary range for the Fire Chief position is $143,500 - $222,500. Placement within the range will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Salary is complemented with a City-provided vehicle allowance, civic membership, professional development, attendance at local and national industry conferences, top-notch facilities, Governing Body support, and a team of employees with a desire to support and serve the citizens of Leawood
Greater detail regarding health and welfare benefits can be found on the City’s employee benefits website, leawood-benefits.org. This position is covered under the Kansas Police and Firemen’s (KP&F).
Application and Selection Process
Exceptional candidates interested in being considered for this exciting career opportunity to join one of the Kansas City metro’s most sought-after communities will need to submit a cover letter, resume, and Application for Employment via the City’s Career Opportunities website, careers.leawood.org.
Application Review Begins June 29, 2026.
Selected finalists will be asked to participate in interviews on-site. Finalists will meet with department employees and other City representatives as part of the selection process.
For more information, or should you experience any issues while submitting your materials, contact:
Nicholas Sanders Director of Human Resources nics@leawood.org (913) 663-9105
