Director, Fire and Life Safety

Texas A&M University - Victoria • Victoria, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, the Director, Fire and Life Safety serves as the senior campus official responsible for all fire and life safety, emergency management, and incident preparedness activities at Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria). This position is responsible for the development and oversight of essential campus functions such as fire prevention, inspection, plan review, code enforcement, emergency operations, and continuity planning. The Fire Marshal & Director of Emergency Management ensures a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors through proactive program development, regulatory compliance, emergency response leadership, and collaborative engagement across all campus units.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Twelve years of combined experience in fire and life safety, emergency management, environmental health and safety, or a closely related field.
• NFPA Fire Inspector I.
• Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner certifications (TCFP, ICC, or NFPA).
• Comprehensive knowledge of NFPA, ICC, TCEQ, and TDSHS regulations.
• Ability to interpret and apply fire and life safety codes in complex or non-standard environments.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and safety-related software and equipment.
• Completion of FEMA/NIMS (IS-100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800).

Nice To Haves

• Five (5) years in an increasingly responsible management position in a higher education safety organization.
• Master’s degree in emergency management, public administration, safety, or related field.
• Fire Investigator, Fire & Life Safety Educator, or additional ICC/NFPA/TCFP certifications.
• Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification
• FEMA Professional or Master Continuity Practitioner

Responsibilities

• Serves as the Campus Fire Marshal, or the Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (Local AHJ) for fire and life safety and is responsible for all aspects of the fire and life safety program.
• Directs all fire prevention, inspection, and code enforcement programs, including plan review, system testing oversight, and building fire safety compliance.
• Reviews and approves construction and renovation plans for fire and life safety requirements; ensures integration of NFPA and ICC codes.
• Oversees fire protection systems, hot work procedures, event permitting, special occupancy reviews, and life safety risk assessments.
• Ensures campus compliance with current codes adopted by the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) and A&M System Regulation 34.01.02 Fire and Life Safety.
• Develops and delivers fire and life safety education, training, and outreach for the campus community.
• Facilitates or ensures appropriate completion of fire investigations, cause/origin assessments, and associated reporting.
• Serves as the primary liaison with local fire departments, building officials, and other regulatory agencies.
• Directs A&M-Victoria’s Emergency Management Program, ensuring compliance with System Policy 34.07 Emergency Management, and System Regulations 34.07.01 Emergency Operations Plans, and 34.07.02 Business Continuity Plans.
• Develops, maintains, and updates the A&M-Victoria Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), hazard-specific annexes, incident response guides, and continuity plans.
• Coordinates the campus Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and leads all campus preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.
• Designs and conducts emergency exercises, drills, tabletops, and full-scale events; completes After-Action Reviews and manages corrective action plans.
• Oversees emergency preparedness education, outreach, and campus-wide training.
• Coordinates emergency planning and response with city, county, state, and federal partners.
• Responds to on-campus emergencies, special events, and after-hours incidents as required.
• Develop procedures, standards, and protocols supporting comprehensive Fire and Life Safety and Emergency Management programs.
• Maintains operational documents, records, compliance reporting, and regulatory correspondence.
• Supports campus risk reduction initiatives, hazard mitigation planning, and safety culture development.
• Supervises personnel supporting fire safety, emergency management, inspections, equipment maintenance, or code compliance.
• Represents A&M-Victoria on local, regional, and system-wide fire safety and emergency management committees.
• Serves as the institution’s primary interface with regulatory agency officials for fire safety and emergency management-related matters.
• Provides guidance to campus leadership on campus life safety requirements, compliance risks, and emergency readiness strategies.

Benefits

• This position is designated as essential personnel and will require participation in emergency response and after-hours operations.
• The position may require occasional travel to coordinate with System Offices, agencies, and external partners.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director