Fire Captain

This position is restricted to current Minneapolis Fire Department employees.

Important Application Information:

• The City of Minneapolis only accepts applications online. We do not have a paper application.
• A valid email address is required to create an account. All communication with applicants will be via email, so be sure to check your email frequently (including spam/junk mailbox).
• Provide your legal name. Format your name in upper- and lower-case letters.
• All required documents listed on the job posting must be submitted with a completed application by the closing date. Incomplete applications may be rejected. If required information is not submitted by the application deadline, it will not be considered in the review of the applicant's qualifications.
• A resume is not a substitute for completing the online application. If the online application does not include complete information, it will not be considered further.
• The City of Minneapolis does not retain applicant login or password information. Forgotten passwords can be reset by clicking "Reset Password" on the login page.

For technical assistance with the online application, contact NEOGOV Customer Support at 1-855-524-5627 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CDT, Monday-Friday.

This position is the first-level supervisor in Minneapolis Fire and is responsible for supervision of a fire company in the areas of: fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical response, technical rescue, hazardous material response, etc. and may perform work in various administrative posts if assigned.

• Supervise fire and other emergency scenes, deploying staff and equipment, to safely mitigate emergency events, until relieved by a senior ranking officer.
• Supervise cleaning and maintenance of equipment and facilities at the fire station.
• Enforce rules and regulations of the department.
• Instruct personnel in technique and in new procedures and strategy for emergency medical, fire, and other emergency response.
• Supervise the maintenance of records of inspections and actions of the fire company and verify the status of equipment.
• Supervise and participate in the fire prevention work of the fire company.
• Perform all administrative and budgeting duties for the company.
• Prepare daily personnel, fire, and other routine special reports.
• Evaluate individual Firefighters and Fire Motor Operators on job efficiency.
• Supervise a crew of firefighters at the task level.
• Provide information to individuals and groups regarding prevention and safety topics.

Required Qualifications: Must be a certified Firefighter or Fire Motor Operator

Required Experience: Current, permanent member of the Minneapolis Fire Department with at least five years and six months of experience in the Department.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• Emergency Medical Technician Certificate
• State of Minnesota Firefighter License
• Valid Driver's License
• Hazardous Materials Technician Certificate
• ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800

Selection Process and Testing Components
The examination and selection process for this position will consist of the following:

Written Job Knowledge Exam (30%): Must score 70% to move forward. The written test will be based on the MFD Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) accessible on the shared drive: M:\Fire\Fire Shared\2015-MFD SOP FILES, Fire Officer-Principles and Practice Fourth Edition and Brannigan's Building Construction for The Fire Service Sixth Edition. There will also be a Human Resource portion.

A Fire Captain preparation course will be offered through the Department from May to July. The content is available to those who are not attending the course on the shared drive: M:\Fire\Fire Shared Documents\2025 Captain's test prep material.

Incident Command Scenario Test (35%): Must score 70% to move forward. The Incident Command Scenario (ICS) portion of the test will consist of live video-based incident scenes in which candidates will demonstrate orally their working knowledge of the Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures and tactics that are needed as a Fire Captain at emergency incidents.

Oral Exam (25%): Must score 70% to move forward. The oral exam is a behavioral based interview process that will ask the same standard set of questions. These questions are designed to determine an individual's expertise in a specific competency area.

Seniority (10%): Your seniority score is calculated based on your length of service in each rank. The points to be entered for seniority in promotional exams in the Fire Service shall be obtained by adding applicable increments to a base score of seventy percent (70%), as computed by the scale below:

• Two-hundredths (.02) of a point for each month or major fraction thereof, of service in the positions in Rank I (Firefighter).
• Four-hundredths (.04) of a point for each month or major fraction thereof, of service in the positions in Rank II (Fire Motor Operator).
• Eight-hundredths (.08) of a point for each month or major fraction thereof, of service in Rank III and Rank IV (Fire Investigator, Fire Captain, Fire Staff Captain).
• One-tenth (.1) of a point for each month or major fraction thereof, of service in Rank V or higher (District Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Chief Fire Dept).

You will receive your detailed seniority score and calculation after the application window has closed.

Minimum Passing Score Percentage: Minimum passing score is 70% for each of the exam components. Human Resources reserve the right to limit the number of candidates included in any phase of testing.

Exam Schedule: All exam components will take place at the Emergency Operations Training Facility (EOTF).

• Written Job Knowledge Test: July 14, 2025 (0900-1200)
• Incident Command Scenario Test: July 15-18, 2025
• If needed, July 21-23, 2025 will be used for further testing
• Oral Exam: July 15-18, 2025
• If needed, July 21-23, 2025 will be used for further testing

Veteran's Preference: For an eligible veteran to receive Veteran's Preference points for this promotional exam, the veteran must submit all supporting documentation (disabled or non-disabled veteran) with the online application as an attachment and submit the completed application with documentation no later than the application deadline. If the applicant is a veteran who qualifies for disability veteran's preference, please note the veteran must attach supporting documentation which designates the percentage of disability with the online application as an attachment. Points will not be awarded without supporting documentation. Veteran's Preference Points will not be awarded if supporting documentation is submitted after the deadline.

Background Check: The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Union Representation: This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Fire Fighters, Local #82. For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit http://www2.minneapolismn.gov/hr/laboragreements/labor-agreements_fire-fighters_index.

Eligible List: The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire on April 30, 2027.

• Successful completion of the preparatory classes offered by MFD: Building Construction and Fire Officer is preferred.
• Additional courses in managing and administering fire personnel or in business administration, or additional IS certifications preferred.
• Advanced education preferred, for example- an Associate Degree in Fire Science or Fire Administration, or a 4-year degree with relevant course work.
• Considerable knowledge of the operation of fire motor vehicles and apparatus.
• Considerable knowledge of City of Minneapolis street addressing system and geography and the water distribution system.
• Considerable knowledge of the rules, policies, and procedures and techniques used by the Minneapolis Fire Department to deal with each type of emergency.
• Thorough knowledge of Department organization, laws, rules, and ordinances pertaining to fire operations.
• Ability to effectively supervise the work of Firefighters and Fire Motor Operators.
• Ability to respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, in a manner that affirms the worth and preserves the dignity of individuals, families and communities.
• Ability to observe and document human behavior and intervene where necessary to promote good interpersonal relationships and morale among employees.
• Demonstrated ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultures, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills along with the ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Proficiency in any of the following prominent languages in Minneapolis other than English is highly desired:
  1. Spanish
  2. Somali
  3. Hmong
  4. Laotian
  5. Amharic
  6. Oromo
  7. Vietnamese
  8. American Sign Language (ASL)

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.