Known as the “City of the Arts,” the City of Costa Mesa, with its diverse population of over 111,000 residents, stands as one of California’s most eclectic and vibrant communities.
Featuring 32 neighborhood and community parks; a dynamic blend of traditional, trend‑setting, and innovative restaurants; world‑renowned shopping destinations; and the iconic Orange County Fair (just to name a few of the City’s special attributes), the City of Costa Mesa is a special and unique community to live, work and visit.
For leading the Fire Department, the City is seeking a fire professional who is motivated by public service, recognizes the Department’s success is founded on the success of the City, works collaboratively with others, embraces teamwork and collaboration, is progressive and creative, cultivates strong community ties, supports professional development, leads by example, and serves as a leader in intergovernmental relations throughout the region. The typical background for a successful Chief is extensive experience in fire suppression and prevention work, including supervisory and administrative experience; graduation from a 4-year college with major coursework in fire science, public administration, or a closely related field; Certification as a Chief Fire Officer by the California State Board of Fire Services; and knowledge of the principles, practices and equipment of modern fire department administration for the protection of life and property.
The City offers a competitive salary of $222,324 up to $297,924 based on experience and qualifications, plus a competitive benefit health and retirement package.
Filing deadline: September 18, 2026
Resumes are acknowledged within 2 business days.
By submitting an application and clicking “submit application” for this position, I agree to the terms of conditions here of the recruitment process facilitated by Peckham & McKenney Executive Search.
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