Fire Marshal

COME JOIN THE CITY OF PLACENTIA FIRE & LIFE SAFETY TEAM!

THE CITY OF PLACENTIA IS NOW RECRUITING FOR THE POSITION OF FIRE MARSHAL

The Placentia Fire & Life Safety Department was established in 2020 and this new role will be granted the opportunity to create their own community risk division. This is a great chance to grow in a small family-oriented agency and have a real impact on the entire organization.

We are looking for a strong candidate who is a self-starter and recognizes the need for commercial and urban interface fire prevention work in the City. The Fire Marshal will provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Fire Chief and be directly responsible for the activities and operations in the Community Risk Reduction Division, and directly supervise one full-time Fire Inspector and Office Assistant. Building the fire prevention risk division will be the candidate’s number one priority. 

 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Fire Marshal is the third level in a three-level fire management series responsible for directing and managing the Community Risk Reduction Division. The Fire Marshal provides coaching and training for Fire Prevention Personnel to create a positive work environment and maintain departmental standards. The Fire Marshal provides leadership and management within the Community Risk Reduction Division and performs related duties that support the mission and vision of the organization. The Fire Marshal possesses a clear understanding of how the division’s services, directly and indirectly, impact the community and collaborates with community members and other city departments to improve services. The Fire Marshal is responsible for the greater scope of budgeting authority, administrative responsibilities, and supervisory responsibilities.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Coordinate all services and activities of the Community Risk Reduction Division.
• Coordinate and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs including public relations, public information, public safety education, arson and fire investigation, fire inspection and plan checking; and recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement and review with the Fire Chief.
• Serve as a liaison for the Community Risk Reduction Division with other City departments, divisions, and outside agencies; negotiate and resolve significant and controversial issues.
• Provide responsible staff assistance to the Fire Chief; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Participate in a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommend modifications to fire prevention and inspection programs, policies and procedures as appropriate.
• Select, train, motivate and evaluate Community Risk Reduction Division personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
• Manage, direct, coordinate and review the work plan for the Community Risk Reduction Division; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; assign work activities, projects, and programs; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures.
• Manage and participate in the development and administration of the Fire Prevention Division annual budget; direct the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; direct the monitoring of and approve expenditures; direct and implement adjustments as necessary.
• Coordinate with the Operations Division on fire investigations in determination of the status of fires as accidental or deliberate.
• Direct the installation of software applications in the Community Risk Reduction Division; ensure the training of all personnel in computer system use; supervise data entry activities for the fire permits program, hazardous materials disclosure program, and emergency plans.
• Participate on a variety of boards and commissions; attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of fire prevention and inspection.
• Participate as a member of the Fire Command Team in establishing strategic goals, service level priorities, department policies, and organization development plans.
• Respond to citizen and business owner inquiries and resolve difficult and sensitive complaints.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in fire prevention, fire investigation, fire code enforcement, hazardous materials management, and fire education; including divisional or departmental supervision experience.  

• Requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; major coursework in Fire Protection Engineering is highly desirable.

*Up to four (4) years of job-related experience can be substituted for up to two years of the education requirement for this position; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

DESIRABLE:  Technical certification or coursework in hazardous materials management, code enforcement, and fire investigation practices, or a similar level of education, training, and certification.   

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License, and an acceptable driving record.
• Possession of current International Code Council (ICC) Fire Inspector II Certification OR a California State Fire Inspector II Certification. 
• Possession of an ICC certification from the Office of the State Fire Marshal must be obtained within 2 years of employment. 

 KNOWLEDGE OF:

Organization and administrative practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs; principles and practices of fire prevention; principles and practices of fire inspection and code enforcement; fire prevention and suppression theory, Incident Command System principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of emergency situations; fire scene investigation methods and techniques; fire prevention education principles and methods; modern firefighting principles, practices and techniques; principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration; principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation; pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations including EPA regulations pertaining to hazardous materials.

 ABILITY TO:

Manage, direct and coordinate the work of management, supervisory, professional and technical personnel; select, supervise, train and evaluate staff; provide administrative and professional leadership and direction to fire prevention and safety personnel; participate in fire scene investigations; develop, enforce and interpret City fire codes; develop, implement and administer goals, objectives and practices for fire prevention programs and services; prepare and administer large and complex budgets; prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals; research, analyze and evaluate new program techniques, methods and procedures; interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including a variety of City and other government officials, community groups and the general public.

MENTAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with officials and the public, including occasionally dissatisfied or quarrelsome individuals.

Salary : $118,311 - $146,011