Fire Protection Specialist

City of Gainesville•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

This is advanced professional work providing technical and analytical reviews and designs related to fire protection systems, features, devices, and issues. The single position allocated to this classification reports to a designated supervisor and works under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of supervisory responsibility and from lower classes by its emphasis on advanced technical skills.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in fire protection engineering technology or related field and two (2) years experience in public fire protection; or bachelor’s degree with major course work in structural, mechanical, or civil engineering, building construction, or architecture or related field and five (5) years progressively responsible professional engineering experience in fire protection; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Valid Florida Driver License required.
Florida State Municipal Fire Inspector certification required.
Extensive knowledge of modern fire and emergency service principles, procedures, techniques, and strategies.
Knowledge of building construction, design, and materials as related to fire prevention, fire control, and life safety.
Thorough knowledge of applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to fire protection codes, principles, standards, and practices.
Knowledge of fixed fire protection systems and their design criteria, fire resistance rating systems and their application, fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems.
Knowledge of the principles of fire resistance of and its application to construction, the contents and occupancy of buildings and their effects on fire dynamics and building design, availability of water supplies, hydraulics, and water delivery systems.
Knowledge of fire behavior and dangerous properties of flammable and hazardous substances and their effects on building design and protection.
Knowledge of fire department organization, operations, and public management.
Knowledge of water, sewer, public utility, and mechanical systems.
Knowledge of planning and research methodology.
Knowledge of computers and relevant software.
Ability to read and interpret fire codes, ordinances, building codes, plans, specifications, and systems descriptions.
Ability to plan procedures for fire prevention and fire suppression and to teach these procedures.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, and legal documents.
Ability to function as an expert in matters of specialized code, rules, policy, analysis, or complex scientific or technical systems.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, and members of the business community.
Ability to prepare and deliver presentations, and write articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
Ability to present information to various levels of management, public groups and/or civic associations.
Ability to effectively represent the department and its programs in various public situations.
Ability to work effectively with co-workers, representatives of other agencies and the general public.
Ability to take the teamwork approach to the job by cooperating with others, offering to help when needed, and considering larger organization or team goals rather than individual concerns.

Nice To Haves

Certified Fire Protection Specialist (preferred)
Hazardous Materials Awareness Level (preferred)

Responsibilities

Reviews and evaluates site and construction plans for developments, and engineered fire protection system plans, shop drawings and specifications (suppression, detection and alarm, smoke and fire control) to determine compliance with national standards, Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, fire and building safety codes and standards, fire department policies, and procedures, and recognized fire protection principles and practices.
Reviews, evaluates, and analyzes existing structures, facilities and subdivisions for fire protection needs and helps develop fire safety improvement plans in conjunction with owners, developers, city, state, and other regulatory departments/agencies consistent with both prescriptive and performance based codes and standards.
Inspects construction sites and evaluates complex systems and/or devices required for fire and life safety within buildings or at specialized facilities and makes recommendations on modifications or potential modifications to the as-built environment utilizing technical expertise and innovative techniques.
Works closely with other city, county, state departments or bureaus and federal agencies to ensure proper coordination and timely completion of plans, to review tasks, and to maintain uniformity of code interpretations and policies between the Fire Department and those departments and bureaus.
Provides technical consultative assistance to architects, engineers, builders, developers and owners addressing code related needs or deficiencies pertaining to fire prevention and protection.
Provides technical assistance and advice relating to application, enforcement, and interpretation of codes and standards relating to fire protection to Fire Department members and other codes enforcement personnel.
Conducts studies and evaluates new building methods and materials to recommend methods for improving fire protection through promulgation and adoption of codes, changing procedures and practices, acquisition of reference materials and fire equipment to be used by the department in prevention, protection, suppression and incident control.
Attends work on continuous and regular basis.
Prepares and conducts presentations relating to fire safety and code enforcement matters on request for professional organizations, fire and building code officials, and civic groups.
Stays current with technological advances related to fire protection and life safety.
Assists the fire official with risk analysis of the community and developing strategies to reduce fire risk, evaluates code related issues and presents viable solutions to conflicts.
Participates in the first step review process, including reviewing plans, attending meetings and providing guidance to staff and the public on fire prevention/protection related issues
Identifies training needs of inspection staff and develops course outlines to meet continuing education requirements of the inspection staff as required by the various licensing agencies.
Assists with technical training of code enforcement and fire suppression staff in specialized areas of fire protection and inspection.
May act in absence of supervisor.
Performs other related duties as assigned.