State Fire Marshal

State of Maryland • Baltimore County, MD

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Political Special Appointment position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. The Secretary of the Maryland State Police appoints the State Fire Marshal to a six-year term (Public Safety Article, secs. 6-301 through 6-322, Annotated Code of Maryland). To prevent deaths, injuries, and property damage due to fires, the State Fire Marshal's office inspects buildings for fire safety, investigates arson, and provides instruction on fire safety. Manufacturers, dealers, and users of explosives are regulated by the State Fire Marshal, who also issues permits for fireworks displays, and operates a bomb squad unit. Supervision is received from the Secretary of the Department of State Police. It is important that all experience be fully documented. Failure to ANSWER ALL SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY AND ACCURATELY may cause the candidate to be rejected. PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY. ➢ The application is part of the examination process. Your answers will determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the selection process. ➢ Clearly describe your qualifications in detail. Credit cannot be given for education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that you fail to indicate. ➢ Do not leave any answer spaces blank; if a question does not apply, write "N/A". ➢ Although you may attach a resume to further describe your qualifications, it does not substitute for completing the application form. An incomplete application form may result in disqualification. Do NOT write "see resume" in your work history or responses to supplemental questions. ➢ Failure to comply with these instructions may result in disqualification. ➢ Read the Job Announcement carefully for specific filing instructions, supplemental questions, and final filing dates. GRADE 24 (Effective July 1, 2026: Increase to Grade 26) LOCATION OF POSITION Maryland State Police Headquarters Office of the State Fire Marshal 1201 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, MD 21208 Main Purpose of Job This position is appointed by and reports directly to the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. The State Fire Marshal is the agency head of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The position is charged with the protection of persons and property from fire and explosions in accordance with the provisions of Public Safety Article, Title 6, Title 9, Title 10, and Title 11 of the Maryland Code and the State Fire Prevention Code. This is a management-level position with the overall responsibility for leading all operations and functions of the Office of the State Fire Marshal to ensure it is strategically sound. The State Fire Marshal is responsible for the execution of all activities related to fire prevention, fire and life inspections, plan reviews, fire investigation, and explosives licensing and mitigation. The State Fire Marshal handles special projects as assigned by the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

Requirements

• Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university.
• Applicant must have five (5) years of recent progressively responsible experience, at least three (3) years of which shall have been at the administrative level, in fire prevention inspection, fire investigation, fire safety promotion, fire protection engineering, fire fighting, or teaching fire safety engineering.
• Three (3) of the five (5) years of the required minimum experience must have included managing the non-field operations, focusing on policy development, budget management, staffing, and compliance of a private or public organization tasked with performing any of the following safety activities: 1. Ensuring compliance with fire code enforcement as created by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA); AND/OR 2. Developing and implementing statewide public education programs, coordinating fire prevention efforts, collecting data to target risks, and partnering with local agencies to promote community safety and risk reduction, aiming to protect life and property through awareness and proactive measures; AND/OR 3. Fire data collection and analysis using either the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) or the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS); AND/OR 4. Budget management experience where the primary goal was ensuring the safety and security of people to include analysis, allocation, execution, and adjustment as required.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarization with government functions, regarding policy and procedures management, legislative processes, and strategic government management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Fire Administration or Fire Protection Engineering

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, communicates, and monitors the OSFM strategic plan consistent with the agency’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives
• Manages and leads all activities of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which includes engineering services, fire prevention, code enforcement, fire and explosives investigation, public fire education, and fire data collection and analysis.
• Serves as the Office of the State Fire Marshal liaison with State agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Human Resources, Department of Juvenile Services, Department of General Services, Department of Labor and Licensing, Maryland Department of Emergency to carry out the appropriate provisions of the State Fire Prevention Code.
• Develops and delivers fire safety education programs for the public, businesses, and other stakeholders.

Benefits

• Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.
• In accordance with Section 2-204 (b) (6) of the Public Safety Article, candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an initial drug screening, a physical examination, and a complete criminal background investigation, to include a polygraph examination, before permanent appointment can be made. A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees