Assistant Fire Marshal

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office, housed within Planning and Development Services, provides safe, livable environments through inspection, investigation and education.  The county Fire Marshal's Office is built around a group of creative and resourceful individuals whose primary role is "Focus on Safety" and who understand our goal is to support our citizens.  Taking the lead in relationships with other government agencies, businesses and public groups on a daily basis, we pride ourselves on being highly motivated professionals, working around the clock to provide the utmost in problem resolution and public well-being.

Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office focuses on fire investigations, plan review and inspections for new construction and development as well as annual fire and life safety inspections for the renewal of certiificates of occupany for existing commercial businesses within unincorporated Snohomish County.
 
Planning and Development Services (PDS) is currently seeking highly motivated, self-directed, solution-oriented, and innovative applicants to serve as Assistant Fire Marshal. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the fire marshal’s office in various capacities.  They will have the responsibility of overseeing and potentially assisting with fire investigations, will assist in educating the community on fire safety and prevention, and will promote fire and life safety through compliance with county and state fire prevention codes and regulations.
  
Not sure you meet the minimum qualifications? Apply and let us decide. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage everyone to apply.

Benefits 
Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, pension opportunities, and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Flexible work schedules for some positions.
• Career development training.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including medical and dental, vision, life insurance, Long Term Disability, deferred compensation and more.
• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step. 
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments. 

Teleworking Options

This position will include office and field work and will be assigned a county vehicle. The administrative work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office, that option is available.
  
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop; and when working remotely, must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.
  
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

About Snohomish County
Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
 
Snohomish County - The Future We Choose - video

BASIC FUNCTION
To supervise and coordinate the activities and operations of the Office of the County Fire Marshal in the Department of Planning and Development Services.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Plans and directs office and field operations in coordination with the Fire Marshal related to fire investigations, fire-life-safety inspections, fire-related permit inspections and fire-related plan reviews.
2. Assigns, supervises and evaluates the work of professional, technical and support staff as required; advises, assists and trains subordinates as necessary; participates in the selection, hiring, promotion, discipline and termination of subordinate employees;; promotes and contributes to a work environment consistent with the department mission, vision and values.
3. Acts as a technical resource for staff resolving problems related to fire investigations fire-life-safety inspections, and fire-related permit inspections; oversees the preparation of plans, reports and documents necessary to carry out functions and operations of the Office of the County Fire Marshal while remaining consistent with county and department standards, principles, methods and priorities; signs off on documents as required and authorized.
4. Recommends, develops and implements work programs, service plans, controls, standards, policies, procedures and budgets related to Office of the County Fire Marshal functions and programs;  ensure that areas of operation comply with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines, and with county ordinances, policies and procedures.
5. Coordinates operations and promotes partnership with other county departments and programs, outside agencies such and fire districts and departments, citizen groups and the general public as necessary; provides technical assistance to other public agencies or sections as required.
6. Coordinates and conducts studies or needs assessments to plan for, evaluate and improve or streamline services provided by the Office of the County Fire Marshal; drafts recommended modifications to applicable ordinance, regulations, policies, procedures and standards.
7. Prepares reports and recommendations to the Fire Marshal; represents the Fire Marshal's Office and PDS at public hearings or meetings with public officials and commissions, community groups and outside agencies as necessary,
8. Advises Fire Marshal on the need for public information and involvement efforts; directs designs and implementations of such efforts; responds to public inquiries regarding specific problems or issues in area of operations; notifies the Fire Marshal of politically sensitive issues and evolving trends in public concern or feedback.
9.  Assumes the duties of the Fire Marshal in his/her absence as required or directed; represents the department before the county council, county executive and outside agencies as directed; communicates policies, goals, programs and objectives as appropriate.
10. Works as a team with the other supervisors to make a customer service organization that will facilitate departmental mission; promotes problem solving partnerships within and across divisions. 

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES 

1. May be required to perform the duties of all subordinate level employees, including possible shift work.  
2.  Performs related duties as required.

A Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or other related fields; AND, four (4) years’ experience working in law enforcement, fire investigations, fire inspections, general fire service, and/or building/fire code interpretation, which includes two (2) years supervisory experience in any of these areas;  OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.  Must pass job related tests.
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
 A valid Washington State Driver's License is required for employment.
    
Candidates must successfully pass a complete background investigation, criminal records check, fingerprinting, psychological evaluation and a polygraph examination as determined by the County Fire Marshal. 
 
Ability to complete WA State Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Reserve Academy, or equivalency (timeframe to be determined upon hire). 
 
Commissioned employees may be required to be armed at all times while on duty and will carry official identification when armed. Commissioned employees will need to qualify with firearms on a regular basis as required by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
 
Knowledge of:

• NFPA 921 – Guide for Fire Investigation
• fire codes and standards
• standard law enforcement procedures
• supervisory methods and techniques
• Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment
• computer technology

 
Ability to:

• effectively supervise, train and evaluate the work of subordinate employees
• motivate personnel and develop team spirit and positive atmosphere
• recognize, identify, and correct conditions which are hazardous to public safety
• read, interpret and apply work related laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines
• identify procedural problems and develop solutions
• critically analyze situations quickly and objectively utilizing good judgment
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• cope with stressful or emergency situations calmly and effectively
• operate computer terminals and applied software packages
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with superiors, peers, associates, and the general public
• maintain necessary records and prepare required reports

 
SUPERVISION
The employee reports to and receives general direction from the Fire Marshal. The work requires considerable independent judgment and discretion in developing and achieving work unit goals and objectives.  Direct supervision is exercised over assigned staff. The work is reviewed through meetings and periodic status reports and by evaluation of results obtained.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The majority of work is performed in the usual office environment with trips to locations in the surrounding community.
 

Salary : $110,280 - $134,110