Life Safety & Fire Prevention Officer

Responsible position ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to life safety and fire prevention. Responsible for and promotes the development and use of effective Fire Safety Programs through established public education initiatives.   Work is performed under the direction of the Fire Marshal.

• Responsible for planning, preparing, and presenting programs of instruction intended to educate and inform the public regarding Fire and Life Safety issues.

• Conduct or coordinate fire and life safety inspections for all commercial occupancies in the city.

• Inspect and test fire protection or detection systems to verify systems are installed in accordance with federal and state law, code, ordinance, regulation, and standard.

• Prepare reports and ensure follow up for fire and life safety deficiencies, violations, complaints, and hazardous conditions.

• Investigate and recognize complaints of fire and life safety hazards and apply the AHJ-approved process to initiate, record and resolve the complaint.

• Ability to process construction plans for fire and life safety compliance; recommend sound alternatives for new construction, repair, renovation, modification, reconstruction addition, change of use or occupancy classification.

• Assist with required fire drills, water flow tests, water supply applications, installation of fire protection systems and building services in new or existing buildings.

• Contact and interact regularly with city staff on process, applicable codes, standards, policies, and procedures of the jurisdiction for inclusion in ordinances, resolutions, and city legislative policy(s).

• Participate in Staff Development Review (SDR) process.

• Assume responsibility for assigned projects and serve as a liaison to city departments and external sources.

• Develop and deliver fire and life safety public education presentations for local businesses, civic groups, schools, and residents.

• Demonstrate and explain appropriate fire safety prevention and coordinate district smoke detector program.

• Investigate and recommend progressive fire prevention practices in accordance with city code, federal, and state law.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed.   Employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned, including City-directed work assignments in the event of a declared emergency.)

• Ability to obtain or have the knowledge of city code, federal and state law, rules, regulations, statutes, and ordinances pertaining to fire prevention and building construction.

• Ability to obtain or have the knowledge of educational methods for presentation and instruction of fundamental fire prevention techniques, Fire and Life Safety Programs, and their role in their community.

• Ability to obtain or have the knowledge to read and interpret documents, such as construction plans, safety guidelines, codes, procedure, and process manuals.

• Excellent customer service skills with ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Skilled in the use of small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

• Skilled in the use of computers for data entry, word processing and accounting purposes.

• Skilled in word processing, spreadsheet type programs and multimedia presentation programs.

• Ability to research/analyze data and present findings in various report formats.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple work assignments with competing deadlines with limited supervision.

• Ability to plan, organize and use mature judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions in accordance with established city code, policy, federal, and state law.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, supervisors, city employees and the public.

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma.

• Advanced education in prevention and inspection or three (3) to five (5) years Life Safety and/or Fire and Emergency Services experience are desirable.  

(A comparable amount of training, education and/or experience may be substituted for the above qualifications.)

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Florida driver's license by date of hire.

• Certification by the State of Florida as a Life Safety Inspector is preferred or attained within 3 months from date of hire.

• Certification by the State of Florida as a Fire and Life Safety Educator is preferred or shall be attained within 6 months from date of hire.