Fire Safety Specialist

City of Ontario; Canada; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government body in Canada is seeking a Fire Safety Specialist to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations across various building types. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, along with technical experience in fire prevention and safety inspections. Responsibilities include conducting inspections, investigating violations, and educating the community on safety practices. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to public safety and welfare, working with a committed team in the Ontario Fire Department.

Qualifications

• Two years of technical experience related to fire prevention or safety inspections.
• Valid Class C CA driver license.
• Fire Inspector Certifications 1A, 1B, 1C, & 1D.

Responsibilities

• Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with regulations.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Investigate complaints regarding alleged code violations.
• Provide public education on fire and life safety.

Skills

Excellent organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Independence

Initiative

Education

High School diploma or recognized equivalent

Job description

The Fire Safety Specialist plays a key role within the Department's Fire Prevention Bureau through inspection and enforcement work on commercial, industrial, residential, state-regulated and public assembly buildings to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local codes and regulations governing fire and life safety.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about providing exceptional service to the community; have the ability to operate with independence and initiative; demonstrate excellent organizational and time management skills; and possess outstanding interpersonal and communication skills enabling them to effectively work with the public in giving direction and options to resolve violations. Technical training and/or experience in fire prevention, related codes and ordinances, fire protection systems, and specialized fire protection equipment is desirable. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have a true desire to be part of a team dedicated to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the City's residents and businesses, emulate the qualities of a Five Tool Player – Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant – and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.

The Following Procedures Will Apply

• The Eligibility List will consist of both internal and external applicants who meet the qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
• The hiring department has the discretion to consider internal applicants on the Eligibility List prior to considering external candidates on the Eligibility List.
• The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
• Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

The Ontario Fire Department

The Ontario Fire Department is a team committed to professional and compassionate public service. The Department responds to more than 23,000 calls per year serving and protecting a population well over 180,000 residents, covering nearly 50 square miles. There are eleven (11) fire stations that house ten (10) engine companies and four (4) truck companies and two (2) battalion chiefs.

Ontario is a full-service department providing fire/rescue services; medical services through the department's paramedic program; safety education; fire inspections; plan review; and various specialty teams such as SWAT medics, bomb squad, hazmat, and urban search and rescue.

The Ontario Fire Department is proud to serve the residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Ontario with a high degree of professionalism. The members of the Ontario Fire Department realize the value of each team member and constantly strive to improve service to the community by upholding the Department’s core values: Integrity – Accountability – Service – Respect – Honor.

The City of Ontario

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full‑time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The essential functions typically performed by the Fire Safety Specialist include the following

• Inspects commercial, industrial, residential, state-regulated and public assembly buildings for fire hazards, efficiency of fire protection equipment, adequacy of fire escapes and fire exits, and general compliance with fire prevention codes, laws and regulations relating to hazardous materials and fire and life safety.
• Prepares and maintains records and reports.
• Investigates complaints concerning alleged code violations.
• Operates a City vehicle in the performance of job duties.
• Researches and responds to technical fire and life safety questions from the general public.
• Presents public education on fire and life safety to schools, factories and businesses.
• Provides instruction on the use of fire extinguishers, alarm systems, proper fire and chemical storage safety precautions and other fire protection equipment requirements.
• Issues notices of violation and citations; assists in the legal process to gain code compliance.
• Interviews juvenile fire setters and their families; provides education on the dangers of playing with fire.
• Remains abreast with current knowledge of developments in the field, maintains contact with professional and trade associations and performs related research.
• Acts as liaison to federal, state and local agencies in securing abatement of nuisances and other outdoor fire and life safety hazards.
• Designs and/or maintains public educational information materials.
• Interpets and explains codes, regulations, permit programs, code enforcement rules, hazardous materials, high pile storage, and other requirements and procedures to developers, contractors, property owners, and the general public.
• Performs standby for special events as needed, may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Performs after hours inspections at public assemblies; visits sites and makes safety recommendations in advance of events.

Education

High School diploma or recognized equivalent.

NOTE:

Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of high school diploma, Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.

Experience

Two (2) years of technical experience related to fire prevention, code enforcement, fire safety inspections, fire related building inspections, or a closely related field.

Licenses

Valid Class C CA driver license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Certifications

• Fire Inspector 1A, 1B, 1C, & 1D
• Fire Prevention 1A, 1B, & 1C

Desirable

• Technical training and/or experience in fire prevention and investigation, related codes and ordinances, fire protection systems and specialized fire protection equipment.
• Knowledge of field investigation methods and techniques.
• Ability to read and understand various blueprints.
• Graduation from a fire inspection academy.
• Possession of PC 832 or ability to obtain within one year of appointment.
• OSHA Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Certificate or ability to obtain within one year of appointment.

How To Apply

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

• List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
• List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
• Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City's online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required documentation may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.

Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position, you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.

Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.

Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

Email Notices

Email is the primary way that the Human Resources or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the city of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.