Wilmington Fire Department — Wilmington, NC
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Wilmington Fire Department in Wilmington, North Carolina is hiring for Fire Lieutenant. The posted pay is $27–$42 an hour (about $56,160–$87,360 a year at full time). Applications close November 1, 2026 — 13 days from now. Stated requirements: EMT certification (at application); Firefighter I/II (at application); Hazmat certification (at application); CDL / Class B license (within 6 months of hire); Associate's degree (required).
Among 72 current North Carolina postings on Driftsmoke with a listed salary, this top-of-range pay is higher than 92% of them; the median among them is $60,894/yr.
Wilmington Fire Department is a career department with 10 stations. Operational crews work a 24-hour shifts. ISO rating Class 1.
An internationally accredited, ISO Class 1 fire department serving coastal Wilmington, with specialized marine/dive, hazmat, and water rescue capabilities and a paid six-month recruit academy.
Wilmington Fire Department has 1 other current opening on Driftsmoke. Department page, openings and history →
Summary by Driftsmoke from the official bulletin and department records; the full posting follows below.
| EMT certification | At application |
| Firefighter I/II | At application |
| Hazmat certification | At application |
| CDL / Class B license | Within 6 months of hire |
| Associate's degree | Required |
**The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ** ## Position Description The Wilmington Fire Department is hiring Fire Lieutenants
The purpose of this position is to protect life and property of the citizens of Wilmington. Performs supervisory and technical duties in the areas of fire suppression, emergency medical care, hazardous materials incidents, fire personnel training and public relations. This is accomplished by exercising a high degree of judgment and initiative while making critical fire and life safety related decisions, supervising personnel, overseeing housekeeping duties and equipment maintenance, and assuming responsibility for the apparatus. Other duties include serving on committees, acting as Fire Captain, completing reports, testing equipment and apparatus, attending continuous professional training, inspecting hydrants, and coordinating monthly training. Performs all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary at the discretion of the Battalion Chief.
**Application Procedure: ** To be considered for this excellent opportunity, applicants must submit a completed online employment application, the Career Plan Report, Supplemental Questionnaire and upload all required documents by posting deadline.
External Candidates must : - Upload certification/proof of EACH required qualification - Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Certification numbers will not be accepted in lieu of uploaded documents.
Internal candidates must also : - Submit a Letter of Recommendation from your supervisor - Ensure all certifications are in your training folder
**All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. ** Applicants are encouraged to frequently check their e-mails after the closing of the post to obtain any correspondence associated with this recruitment. If selected to move forward, applicants will receive their scheduled date and time for testing and interview, and all supporting information that may be needed. Please be sure the email provided on this application is always current; it is your responsibility to update your personal information. Update your Spam, Junk, Bulk and Firewall settings as needed to ensure that you receive all information pertaining to this recruitment. Missing an email will not be an accepted justification for missed assessments.
Selection Components
Career Plan Report The Career Plan Report shall be a document that details the candidate's professional growth. The document will describe the candidate's Experience, Formal Education, Professional Development, and Organizational Commitment. The assessment must be completed in accordance with the specific guidelines included in Section 8 of the Promotion Process Engineer/ Lieutenant/ Captain/ Battalion Chief/ Assistant Chief (210). Assessment documentation will be supplied to candidates at required WFD Candidate School sessions outlined below.
WFD Candidate School II All candidates submitting an application must attend one of the virtual sessions below in order to meet this requirement for qualification. Participant attendance will be taken at beginning of the meeting.
Process PhaseTitleScoringPhase I By closing date Nov 1Career Plan Report Top 15 candidate scores move forwardPhase II ** Tentative ** Nov 18-19 Fire Problem 40 % of final scorePhase III ** Tentative ** Nov 18-19Management Problem30% of final scorePhase IV ** Nov 18-19*Presentation30% of final score*
*Phases II-IV require candidates to have a passing score of 70% or higher to move forward *
Final List
The cumulative scores obtained in phases II-IV of the process with determine the final ranking of the candidates. A candidate that scores less than 70% at any phase, or overall, will not be eligible for the final list. This selection process will produce a certified roster in rank order. When a vacancy occurs the Fire Chief will select the top candidate on the certified list unless a written disciplinary action has been taken or poor performance has been documented as per the Promotional Procedures for Lieutenant. In the event of a tie after the final score, promotion will be determined by the final score provided on the Career Plan Report. The eligibility roster generated by this promotional process will expire 1 calendar year from the certification date.
For external candidates selected for hire, the anticipated Lieutenant orientation date will be February 8, 2027 ** ## Typical Tasks - Supervises personnel by prioritizing and assigning tasks, ensuring tasks are completed, conducting performance evaluations, identifying training needs, coordinating, and presenting training for personnel, administers disciplinary actions in accordance with the City policy, responding to citizen complaints and employee grievances, writing reports, keeping personnel records, maintaining a state of readiness, and communicating to personnel. - Commands fire ground operations during emergencies by directing subordinates in all aspects of fire ground activities, using apparatus and equipment for fire suppression and control. - Ensures the safety and accountability of all personnel and citizens during emergency operations. - Performs non-emergency operations and public relations by assisting the Fire and Life Safety division and working with the public to protect life and property. - Performs administrative tasks by writing reports, serving on committees, maintaining records, and participating in the review of departmental policies and procedures. - Will perform all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary. ## Qualifications All Applicants Must Possess:**
Additional Information:
Failure to meet certification requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination
Internal candidates:
A driving history and a criminal history check will be performed on all internal candidates who are placed on the certified roster for promotion. External candidates: ** The next steps are only for those candidates given a conditional offer of employment after the process has completed:**
Required documentation submitted to HR
Copy of a High School Diploma, High School Transcript or GED Certificate. Note: Copy of a College Diploma and/or official or unofficial transcript may be attached in lieu of High School Diploma and/or HS Transcripts. Continuing education credits are not accepted
Driving History Check, Personal and Professional Reference Checks, *Fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check
*This position has been identified to interact with children and must comply with NC G.S. 153A-94.2(b) requires an applicant for employment that "works with children in any capacity, must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI.” These checks must be conducted in accordance with G.S. 143B-1209.26(Download PDF reader), the statute which authorizes the SBI to provide a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check to cities and counties.
Post-offer Pre-Employment Physical, Stress Test and Drug Screen
Our Core Values: _ _
INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY
Our Mission Statement: _ _ Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.
What we offer:
The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
Free on-site city gym access
Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
6-weeks paid parental leave
Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
Tuition assistance benefits
Applicant Status Updates: ** After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department. All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal. **
Benefits are offered to employees working at least 30 hours per week.
** **
Health Insurance ** - The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage. Dental Insurance ** - Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Employees, their spouse and dependent children are eligible for coverage.
**Life Insurance ** - The city pays to provide coverage valued at one times your annual salary. Supplemental insurance is available for employees to purchase. Optional coverage for dependents is also available for purchase.
Retirement: ** - NC Local Government Retirement System - All benefits eligible employees make a mandatory 6% contribution every pay period. - Deferred Compensation – ** For all employees, the city contributes 4.5% of salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution and the City contributes an additional 3% of salary to the 457 plan for Public Safety Fire employees. In addition, the City offers to match an employee contribution dollar for dollar up to 3% of the annual salary for Public Safety Fire employees to the 457 plan. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.
- Social Security benefits – ** calculated under Windfall Elimination Provision**
Paid Leave: ** ** - Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year
** - Annual Leave - ** Accrual based on years of service and classification. Employees can earn from 10 to 24 days each year. - Holidays - ** 13 paid holidays annually - Paid Parental Leave - ** Six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child.
Miscellaneous: - Tuition reimbursement up to $1500 annually - Employee Assistance Program - Bereavement Leave- School Support Leave
Short & Long Term Disability
Cancer & Critical Illness
Note: The City of Wilmington is on a bi-weekly pay cycle. New employees should expect to receive their first paycheck approximately 4 weeks after their start date.
This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.