Hanover, New Hampshire is looking for a new Fire Chief. Could it be you? Read the packet and find more information at hanovernh.org/employment. Hanover is an EOE.

1. FIRE CHIEF
Photo Credit FF Ebben Whitehair
The Town of Hanover, New
Hampshire invites your
interest in the position of:

2. Alex Torpey, Town Manager
There’s a lot happening in Hanover!
If you have a passion for service and having an
impact in a local community... read on.
We are looking for a Fire Chief who will continue
to support our already incredible department.
We hope you find the included information
valuable and look forward to meeting you!
This packet contains information on
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps

3. We invite you to search online about Hanover and the “Upper Valley” to learn more about the region.
Hanover is a quaint, scenic, dynamic New England community located in west central New Hampshire on
the Vermont border, home to approximately 12,000 people. Nestled along the beautiful Connecticut River,
the town is home to Dartmouth College, numerous outdoor and recreation opportunities, local arts, food and
agriculture, cultural activities, and much more. Hanover has consistently been voted a “top place to live” by
a variety of news sources. And we agree!
There are thousands of acres of preserved land for hiking (The Appalachian Trail runs through downtown
Hanover), biking, skiing, and much more. You can catch movies, concerts, or art exhibits right downtown, and
accessing the the entire Upper Valley “Micropolitan area” by car or bus is easy, you’re within a quick drive to
dozens of points of interest (You can find plenty searching online).
Housing can be expensive in Hanover, and there are significant housing pressures in the region. The Town
can help find housing. The Hanover public school system is consistently ranked as the best in the state.
The community is a very safe place to work and to raise a family. Crime rates are low and community
policing is a priority of the Hanover Police Department.
Residency in Hanover, or even in New Hampshire, is not required. The Fire Chief is expected to live within 30
minutes of Hanover.
HANOVER & THE UPPER VALLEY
The “Upper Valley” | A Place
of ‘Unexpected Discoveries’ |
Yankee Magazine
What is the Upper Valley? |
Upper Valley Arts
Visit Dartmouth College
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Creative Commons - Tuck School of Business
Creative Commons - Tuck School of Business
Creative Commons - TYankee Magazine Kindra Clineffs
Learn more

4. The Hanover Selectboard consists of five members elected to three year terms. The Board holds some
legislative powers not typically granted to Selectboards in New Hampshire, but Town Meeting serves as the
legislative body for adoption of the annual budget, issuance of bonds, and zoning amendments.
The Hanover Selectboard has a well-earned reputation for being very stable, non-partisan and professional,
working extremely well together as a group and providing quiet, thoughtful, forwardlooking leadership for
the community, deferring and providing support to staff, while helping set our longterm vision.
The Town Manager, who is empowered by statute as the CEO of the organization is Alex Torpey, who began
his position in June of 2022. Alex was previously a (non-party affiliated) mayor, town administrator, graduate
professor, consultant, and volunteer Emergency Medical Technician in New Jersey, where he is from.
Alex is a forward thinking manager who values an open and collaborative work environment, strong work-
life balance, and supporting departments' agency and initiative. He has brought on a new Human Resources
Director and Finance Director, among other recent key hires, and together this team is working to transform
the workplace based on feedback from over 60 small group meetings with staff, and driving forward a range
of new policies and programs that will support the continued development of the organization and stability
and expansion of the Town’s public services during a time when labor and housing markets are forcing new
perspectives and creative approaches.
Hanover’s department heads are a group of highly competent, largely autonomous professionals who
successfully work to manage and implement key programs in their respective service areas.
HANOVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Learn more
Take a listen to the new
“Hanover Happenings”
podcast
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Read the Town Manager's recent
publication on Substack about
hiring challenges

5. HFD provides fire prevention and suppression, ALS EMS services, and a wide range of technical rescue
services for the Town of Hanover, as well as two adjacent smaller communities of Norwich, VT and Lyme,
NH. HFD routinely collaborates with Lebanon, NH and Hartford, VT, and is frequently called to provide or
assist in rescue efforts throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.
The Department employs 12 firefighters (AEMTS and Paramedics), four lieutenants, four captains, one
administrative assistant, one Deputy Chief and one Fire Chief. The department maintains four regular 24-
hour shifts.
The department currently operates two fire engines, one ladder truck, two ambulances, two support trucks,
three motorized boats, two non-motorized boats, a technical rescue trailer, a UTV and ATV, a forestry skid
unit, HAZMAT trailer, ice rescue equipment, and a water rescue trailer.
The Department runs approximately 2,175 calls a year, nearly 60% of which are medical/rescue.
The Hanover Fire Department works closely with other Town departments and Dartmouth College around
all aspects of the College’s operation, from insuring that all new construction meets or exceeds all Life
Safety Code requirements to coordinating with the Dartmouth’s Environmental Health and Safety
Department to insure proper handling, management and response around use of hazardous materials.
In addition to the Main Station, Hanover Fire Department also maintains a paid on-call fire station in Etna
Village that operates two engines.
HANOVER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps

6. The Town is looking for a motivated, dynamic, people-first leader.
This includes:
Technical Skills: Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Emergency Services, Public
Administration or a related field. Candidates should have ten years of progressively responsible experience in fire
prevention, suppression and emergency medical service systems and five to ten years of leadership-level work
experience that demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of and the ability to oversee all Fire Department functions
and operations. Candidates should possess or have the ability to readily obtain NH firefighter certification requirements
such as Fire Officer III or IV, Fire Instructor II, Fire Inspector II, Incident Safety Officer and NH EMS certifications such as
EMT or higher.
Management Skills: This position has direct supervisory authority and responsibility for the following: Deputy Chief,
Fire Captains, Fire Lieutenants, Firefighters/EMS Providers, Administrative Assistant and on-call Firefighters.
Department’s budget is approximately $5m. Candidates must have a strong track record of operating and capital
budgeting, long-term planning, personnel, union negotiations, internal and external communications, as well as other
related senior management experiences and skills.
(Inter)personal Skills: The ideal candidate should not only meet the technical requirements, but they should also have
excellent communication skills, be forward thinking, encourage positive inter-departmental growth, have the ability to
leverage the relationships between neighboring departments and be an integral and engaged leader of the Fire
department. The ideal candidate will have a passion for preserving and improving firehouse culture and serving as an
advocate for all Fire Department employees.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
View the full job
description here
Photo Credit Dartmouth College
Learn more
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Watch the recruitment
video here

7. Planning, administering and supervising fire prevention and suppression activities and emergency
medical services for the Town.
Plans, directs and coordinates all operations of the department; manages the provision of fire
prevention and suppression services to the Town.
Directs the activities of the regional emergency medical services operations.
Ensures that all apparatus and equipment are properly maintained and in safe working condition.
Develops and implements standard operating procedures, policies, rules and regulations for the
department.
Oversees the selection, training, evaluation, promotion and discipline of department personnel.
Writes equipment specifications; evaluates the need for new equipment; tests equipment and
recommends purchases to Town officials.
Manages department files, including incident reports, training records, department activities,
inspection reports and vehicle and equipment maintenance records.
Serves as Forest Fire Warden for the Town; issues burning permits, responds to forest and grass fires
and serves as incident commander.
The scope of the Fire Chief position covers areas such as:
Creating new
detailed long-
term capital
plans
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Continuing to
support
personnel amidst
labor/hiring
challenges
Continuing to
supprot and
expand diverse
array of
provided
services
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps

8. Other Important Information. The Town of Hanover is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity. We
strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply. The Town is a drug-free,
smoke-free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon the results of a pre-employment criminal
background check. Criminal conviction does not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration for this or
other Town positions. Each case is considered separately.
Residency. Residency either in Hanover, or the State of New Hampshire, is not required, though it is preferred.
Candidates must reside no more than 30 minutes from Hanover.
Compensation. This a salary exempt position. The salary range is $94,029.90 - $142,517.98 based on qualifications.
Benefits. The Town’s “flex benefits” are excellent. They include health, dental and prescription plans, short and
long-term disability, life insurance, new paid FMLA, plus supplemental coverage options. Most candidates will find
the benefits package comprehensive and generous by public sector standards.
Work schedule. The position is fulltime “plus” exempt salaried position, which will sometimes require long work
days, after hours work, being on-call, and responding during emergencies.
Application Timing. Candidates will be screened and interviewed on a rolling basis starting September 25th, 2023.
A highly
competent,
supported, and
well functioning
department
POSITION DETAILS
Per New Hampshire Law, public records of a personal nature may be kept confidential. As such, if
a candidate so requests, the Town may keep their application confidential until an appointment
Extraordinary
benefits, even
based on public
sector standards
Access tons of
professional
development
and support
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps

9. Interested in applying?
Application, cover letter, and resume must be submitted via the
Town’s online recruiting system. No paper applications accepted.
Have more questions?
Contact Human Resources at 603-640-3208
APPLY NOW
NEXT STEPS HOW TO APPLY
www.hanovernh.org/employment
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Position Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Thanks for reading!
If you’re interested, or have more
questions, please see instructions
provided to the right.
Hope to see you soon!
- Alex Torpey, Town Manager