Vice President - Fire Equipment Division

Description

W.S. Darley & Co is seeking a Vice President for our Fire Equipment Division to join our Team!  

The Opportunity

For more than 115 years, Darley has equipped those who protect communities and serve on the front lines. As a family-owned company with a long-term perspective, we provide equipment, technology, and mission-critical solutions to firefighters, first responders, and military professionals around the world.

We are seeking a strategic, commercially minded Vice President to lead Darley’s Fire Equipment Division. This executive will own the division’s growth, profitability, and long-term success, with responsibility for strategy, sales, operations, customer and supplier relationships, and talent development.

The right leader will bring executive-level judgment and a hands-on operating style. You will work closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, lead a national sales organization, strengthen Darley’s position in the fire service market, and build the people, systems, and operating discipline required to scale.

Why This Role Matters

• Lead one of Darley’s most visible businesses in a market where customer trust and mission readiness matter.
• Shape strategy while retaining direct influence over customers, partners, commercial execution, and operating results.
• Build on Darley’s long-standing reputation, industry relationships, and broad portfolio of emergency equipment solutions.  Join a values-driven, family-owned company that invests with a long-term view and values innovation, service, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What Success Looks Like

• A focused strategy and operating plan are understood across the division and translated into consistent execution.
• Revenue, margin, forecasting accuracy, working capital, and operating performance improve in a sustainable way.
• The sales organization has clearer priorities, stronger pipeline discipline, and deeper strategic customer relationships.
• The leadership team is stronger, accountability is clearer, and the organization is better equipped to scale.
• Darley’s reputation and relevance grow with customers, suppliers, OEMs, and the broader fire service community.

About W.S. Darley & Co.

Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) remains a family owned and operated business, supplying the highest quality equipment solutions to its military and first responder customers. With origins in the equipment distribution and Midwest manufacturing, Darley offers a family of leading innovate emergency equipment brands and innovative solutions. Darley prides itself on delivering the highest quality solutions and services from its corporate headquarters in Itasca, IL and its’ ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing operations in Chippewa Falls, WI and Janesville, IA.

Requirements

Strategic Growth

• Own the division strategy, full P&L, annual operating plan, and long-range growth agenda.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear commercial and operating plans with measurable outcomes and accountability.
• Drive sustainable revenue growth, margin improvement, working-capital performance, and disciplined resource allocation.
• Evaluate new markets, products, partnerships, and business opportunities using clear investment logic and success criteria.
• Provide accurate forecasts and decision-ready insights through rigorous use of sales, financial, and operating data.

Sales, Marketing and Market Leadership

• Lead Darley’s national Fire Equipment sales organization and serve as a visible, credible leader in the fire service market.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies across municipal, industrial, distributor, OEM, cooperative purchasing, and government channels.
• Deepen relationships with fire chiefs, municipal leaders, purchasing decision-makers, distributors, OEM partners, suppliers, and industry influencers.
• Partner with Marketing to strengthen demand generation, brand visibility, customer engagement, and the connection between marketing activity and financial outcomes.
• Use Salesforce, Power BI, and market intelligence to improve pipeline management, forecasting, account prioritization, and commercial decision-making.

Operations, Risk and Execution

• Provide operating leadership across the division and establish a disciplined cadence for priorities, metrics, decisions, and follow-through.
• Improve scalability, service levels, operating efficiency, and cross-functional coordination.
• Identify and manage contractual, pricing, concentration, supplier, quality, and execution risks.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, applicable regulations, and quality requirements, including ISO 9001:2015 practices.
• Stay current on NFPA standards, market dynamics, emerging technologies, and changing customer needs.

People and Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of approximately 20 people, including 2–3 direct reports.
• Create clarity around roles, priorities, decision rights, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Attract, develop, and retain strong talent while building bench strength, succession plans, and leadership capability.
• Coach leaders, support onboarding and professional development, and foster a culture of collaboration, learning, recognition, and continuous improvement.
• Build an environment where people understand how their work contributes to customer outcomes and division performance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Provides leadership and oversight for the Fire Equipment team, supporting a team of approximately 20 team members including 2-3 direct reports.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment in Itasca, IL and requires frequent travel.  This role routinely uses company standard office equipment such as computers and cell phones.

Physical Demands 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Position Type and Expected Hours

This is a regular, full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or as otherwise required to meet business needs.  Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support sales events, customer needs and critical incidents.

Travel

Regular travel is required to customer sites, OEMs, Darley sites, management meetings and trade shows (approximately 25-30% depending on time of year).

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in the fire service, emergency response, industrial distribution, manufacturing, or a closely related market.
• At least 5 years in senior business or sales leadership with responsibility for growth, organizational performance, and measurable results.
• Demonstrated P&L and financial leadership, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and resource allocation.
• Success leading teams, developing strategy, managing complex customer relationships, and executing through periods of growth or change.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar revenue portfolios and leading a consultative, relationship-driven sales organization.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and executive presence, with the ability to represent Darley at customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Preferred

• Active or retired fire service experience, or deep professional credibility within the fire and emergency response market.
• Experience with municipal procurement, government contracting, cooperative purchasing, distributors, and OEM relationships.
• Knowledge of NFPA standards, emergency equipment trends, and ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Experience with e-commerce strategy and digital customer channels.
• Advanced use of Salesforce, Power BI, or comparable CRM and business intelligence platforms.
• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.

Skills

• Exceptional public speaking and negotiation skills with ability to represent Darley at national trade shows and industry events
• Strategic mind-set with hands-on capability 
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Ability to manage complex multi-division environments
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities. 

Compensation

$150,000-$175,000 base salary

Benefits

• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health & Wellness Reimbursement
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life & Disability
• HSA with Darley contribution
• FSA
• 401K/Roth with match and profit sharing
• Darley paid life insurance

AAP/EEO Statement

Darley is an equal opportunity organization. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law