Fire Safety Systems Specialist

University of South Florida•Saint Petersburg, FL

73d•Onsite

About The Position

The Fire Safety Systems Specialist is responsible for the inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair of fire and life safety systems at the St. Petersburg campuses with occasional support of the Sarasota Campus. This includes fire alarms, sprinklers, smoke evacuation systems, fire/smoke dampers, fire doors, emergency lighting, exit signage, and portable fire extinguishers. The position coordinates with contractors, ensures accurate compliance documentation, supports fire safety training and evacuation drills, and maintains systems in a state of readiness to protect the university community. This is an essential personnel position and may be required to report to work during emergencies or university closures.

Requirements

Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in fire alarm, sprinkler, or life safety systems inspection, maintenance, or repair.
Two (2) years of direct experience for an associate degree.
Four (4) years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.
Related work experience may not substitute for required licensure, certification, or registration.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree or higher in Fire Science, Electronics, or a related technical field.
State of Florida Fire Safety Inspector I, NICET certification in Fire Protection (Level II or higher), or equivalent credential.
Experience with large institutional or campus environments.
Proficiency with NFPA standards, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and fire alarm/sprinkler system components.
Experience using digital inspection management systems or maintenance tracking software.

Responsibilities

Performs and/or supports inspections, testing, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs of fire and life safety systems, including fire alarms, sprinklers, smoke evacuation, fire/smoke dampers, fire doors, emergency lights, exit signage, and extinguishers.
Directs and oversees vendor activities for inspection, testing, and corrective maintenance of fire safety systems to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards.
Provides field support to contractors and internal maintenance teams for timely and compliant repair of building systems and equipment; enables and disables fire alarm systems as needed.
Conducts advanced troubleshooting and diagnostics using blueprints, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals to identify and resolve system issues.
Ensures all fire safety activities comply with NFPA codes, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and university standards.
Maintains accurate inspection reports, service records, and equipment inventories using the university's computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Assists with fire safety education and outreach, including fire extinguisher demonstrations and participation in building evacuation drills.
Provides backup coverage for team members, participates in the on-call rotation, and assists with hurricane and emergency preparedness (e.g., fire watch, sandbagging).
Cleans and maintains workspaces, vehicles, and assigned tools and equipment to ensure operational readiness.
Provides mentorship, guidance, and technical direction to fire safety technicians or student employees as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.