Assistant Fire Marshal

City of Bellevue; Bellevue (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Bellevue seeks an Assistant Fire Marshal to serve as technical assistant to the Fire Marshal, interpreting and enforcing the city's fire, building, and municipal codes. You will oversee staff, participate in plan reviews, inspections, and investigations, and provide public fire-prevention education.

The role involves supervising review of construction plans for code compliance, coordinating with building officials, and stepping in as acting fire marshal when needed.

Qualifications

• Degree in fire protection engineering/technology or related field.
• Four+ years in fire prevention, code enforcement or investigation with supervisory experience.
• Washington PE license in Fire Protection is desired.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and prioritizes work of staff providing support and review.
• Reviews and approves assigned projects and plans for code compliance.
• Responds to code interpretation inquiries and hazards.
• Maintains records of inspections, reviews, and investigations.
• Provides public education in fire prevention and safety.
• Acts as acting fire marshal in the absence of the fire marshal.

Skills

Fire prevention

Code enforcement

Inspection techniques

Public speaking

Staff supervision

Education

Fire protection engineering/technology degree

Washington Professional Engineer license (Fire Protection)

Job description

Bellevue Fire is looking for an Assistant Fire Marshal who will serve as the technical assistant to the fire marshal, interpreting and enforcing the provisions of the international fire, building, and municipal codes of the city. You’ll perform a variety of administrative, technical, and supervisory work related to fire prevention. Duties can include supporting Development Services functions—such as plan reviews and construction inspections—or Fire Department functions, including maintenance inspections, operational permitting, and fire investigation team.

• Manages, organizes, and prioritizes the work activities, schedules, and assignments of staff providing support and review where needed.
• Guides, reviews, and approves assigned projects.
• Provides performance feedback to employees through oral and written reviews.
• Provides leadership in citizen relations, technical support, safety and problem solving in addition to identifying priorities and goals for prevention staff.
• Responds to inquiries for code interpretation, determination of violations or hazards, requests for information, conciliation, etc.
• Provides input to division director on staffing needs and makes recommendations for staffing or budget changes or additions.
• Supervises, inspections of existing structures, construction, and remodel sites for compliance with fire code and issues stop work orders as appropriate
• Resolves compliance problems with owners within scope of knowledge and authority.
• Supervises the review and approval of construction plans for codecompliance.
• Coordinates with building officials for fire related code and plan reviews and approval of occupancy permits.
• Responds to and investigates significant fires as needed providing guidance and supervision.
• Provides public education in fire prevention, including giving talks, demonstrations and presentations.
• Maintains data and records regarding fire inspection, review and investigation; prepares a variety of reports and tracks progress.
• Recommends and develops proposed fire prevention policies, procedures andcodes.
• Serves as acting fire marshal in the absence of the fire marshal.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Works under the general supervision of the fire marshal.
• Supervises fire plan reviewer and fire prevention officers, as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Current fire prevention principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Building, electrical, mechanical, and firecodes.
• Inspectiontechniques.
• Fire suppression techniques andequipment.
• Firstaid.
• Firefighting tactics and hydraulics.

Ability to:

• Effectively apply standard fire preventiontechniques.
• Make difficult decisions within scope of authority and independently.
• Effectively plan, schedule, organize and delegate work.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the general public.
• Meet special requirements.

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in fire protection engineering/technology or a related field is desired.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible related experience in fire prevention, code enforcement, and/or investigation, as well as supervisory experience.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Washington Professional Engineer's License in Fire Protection Engineering is desired.

Physical Demands

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 40 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field.
• Work may routinely require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
• The employee may be required to work in outside weather conditions, in wet and/or humid conditions, in high, precarious places, or near fumes, airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals.

Flexible/Hybrid Working:

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.