Manager, Fire Services Communications

Role overview

The City of Guelph is seeking a full-time, permanent Manager for Fire Services Communications. This in-person role is based at Fire Services, 50 Wyndham Street S in Guelph, Ontario, and sits within Public Services. It is a non-union position with one vacancy available.

Reporting to the Fire Chief/General Manager of Fire Services, the successful candidate will lead the Communications Division, overseeing daily operations, quality assurance, performance analysis, and long-term planning. This role is part of the Fire Services management team and plays an important part in shaping strategy, supporting continuous improvement, and strengthening service delivery for the community.

About the organization

By joining the City of Guelph, you become part of a workforce of more than 2,000 employees serving the community every day. The organization is guided by its Future Guelph Strategic Plan and corporate values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness, and learning, with a focus on building an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city.

What the role involves

• Lead the Communications Division and manage its day-to-day administrative activities.
• Oversee emergency call-taking and dispatch operations, along with quality assurance and ongoing improvement efforts in an NG9-1-1 environment.
• Work with department leaders to provide guidance that supports strategic direction and long-term priorities.
• Model visible, constructive leadership for Communications staff and help build a respectful, inclusive, and motivated workplace culture.
• Support the Fire Department in remaining responsive, adaptable, and well positioned to meet changing community needs.
• Help prepare annual operating and capital budgets, track financial requirements, and identify variances and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure the department complies with relevant federal and provincial laws, regulations, and City by-laws.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives and help improve communication, collaboration, and consistency across departments and corporate functions.
• Represent the department at City Council and Committee meetings when required and act as a spokesperson with community and stakeholder groups.
• Guide the Communications and Clerical teams in identifying and tracking best practices and recommending tools and applications that support modernization and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including elected officials, staff, union leadership, community partners, suppliers, vendors, contractors, and municipal, provincial, and federal counterparts.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications and experience

• Relevant experience in similar duties, usually built through a Grade 12 diploma plus prior education and/or experience in dispatch, especially with a first responder agency.
• Examples of related credentials include APCO Telecommunicator, APCO Fire Communicator, APCO Paramedic Communicator, APCO Police Communicator, APCO Communications Supervisor, or equivalent qualifications.
• Strong working knowledge of radio systems, CAD systems, and RMS platforms used in communications environments, typically gained through extensive use and involvement in system acquisition.
• Knowledge of NFPA communications standards, such as NFPA 1225 or an equivalent standard, with the ability to qualify as Telecommunicator 1, Telecommunicator 2, and Public Safety Communications Supervisor.
• Candidates with a suitable mix of education and experience may be considered, but must complete the required certifications within 12 months of hire.
• Experience providing strategic advice and direction to leadership teams, preferably in a municipal environment.
• Ability to work with data to identify needs and solve problems through extraction, forecasting, analytics, reporting, and visual presentation of complex findings for different audiences.
• Understanding of collective agreements and the ability to manage effectively in a unionized setting.
• Strong organizational and critical thinking abilities, with the capacity to collaborate on cross-departmental projects.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulators, including MFIPPA, PHIPPA, FPPA, OHSA, and related legislation.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• A customer-focused and team-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently.
• Experience with incident management systems in an emergency operations centre is considered an asset.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and other applicable software.
• Valid Ontario Class G driver’s licence and an acceptable driver’s abstract in line with City vehicle policy.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including being reachable by cell phone and responding outside regular business hours when needed.
• Proven understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other applicable legislation.

Working hours

The regular schedule is 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Compensation and benefits

The salary for this position is between $124,259.20 and $155,324.00.

• Paid vacation days that increase with years of service
• Paid personal days
• Defined benefit pension plan through OMERS with 100% employer matching
• Extended health and dental coverage, including a Health Care Spending Account
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Parental leave top-up program
• Learning and development support, including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs

Application and hiring information

The posting is open from June 12, 2026 to June 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Candidates must submit their application by June 30, 2026.

The City of Guelph follows fair and transparent hiring practices. Applicants who are interviewed for this role will receive written notice of the hiring decision within 45 days of the interview, either in writing or through technology.

Equity, accessibility, and privacy

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes diverse applicants. The organization is committed to inclusive hiring and complies with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodation is available during the hiring process for qualified candidates who request it in advance.

Personal information collected during recruitment will be used only to assess eligibility for employment. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.