Assistant Fire Marshal
Union County, NC
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Union County, NC is seeking an Assistant Fire Marshal to perform technical inspections and investigations, ensuring compliance with state and local fire codes. The role requires coordination of field inspections, documentation of findings, and independent judgment in enforcement actions.
The position includes on-call rotations, public safety outreach, and collaboration with emergency management and law enforcement agencies.
Qualifications
- Associate degree or equivalent in Fire Science or Emergency Preparedness Technology and 3 years of fire investigator experience.
- Experience inspecting occupancies and enforcing fire codes across public and commercial spaces.
- Ability to document findings and pursue appropriate actions to ensure code compliance.
Responsibilities
- Interprets, enforces, and applies county, state, and national fire codes.
- Conducts fire prevention inspections of county buildings and facilities.
- Writes technical reports listing all violations and conducts follow-up visits.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
North Carolina Standard Fire Inspector Level I Certification.
The Assistant Fire Marshal, under general supervision, performs technical and specialized inspections, examining various occupancies to ensure compliance with the state and local fire codes and ordinances fire / explosive investigations, and conducts Emergency Management functions. Work involves coordinating and conducting field inspections/investigations, and documenting inspection findings. Employee must exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in all phases of work.
Please note: The start date for this position will be in January 2027.
- Interprets, explains, enforces, and applies county, state, and national fire codes related to fire prevention.
- Conducts fire prevention inspections of existing county buildings and commercial and storage facilities.
- Recommends required corrective action where code violations are found.
- Writes technical reports listing all violations found during inspections and makes follow-up visits to ensure that violations have been corrected.
- Pursues appropriate judicial actions to ensure code compliance as necessary.
- Investigates the cause, origin, and circumstances of any fire occurring in the county which is of a suspicious nature, or which involves loss of life or injury to persons.
- Conducts fire scene examination, collects, and documents evidence, conducts interviews, and examines statements made by witnesses, suspects, or others.
- Works with law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and District Attorney's office in the investigation of both accidental and incendiary fires.
- Provides emergency responses to hazardous materials incidents in conjunction with other local agencies such as Environmental Health, Emergency Management, and Hazardous Material Response Team.
- Assists local fire departments with pre-fire planning activities, emergency response and hazard mitigation.
- Assists with special projects such as fire prevention activities, fire department training programs, and safety programs.
- Participates in an On-Call rotation which allows for 24-hour response throughout the County for fire investigation services, code enforcement and emergency management response. This position is also subject to call after normal working hours at the discretion of the supervisor.
- Gives presentations and performs other public relations activities to improve public consciousness of fire prevention and safety devices and procedures.
- Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
- Exercises safe defensive driving techniques and maintains clean, orderly vehicle and equipment.
- Functions in accordance with County’s Emergency Operations Plan and assumes assigned tasks related to Emergency Management.
- Assists with firefighting activities on an as needed basis.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Associate’s Degree from an accredited university in Fire Science or Emergency Preparedness Technology, and three (3) years of experience as a fire investigator; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- North Carolina Firefighter Certification.
- North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician Certification.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency NIMS Certifications at a level to prepare to assume duties at the management level. (100,200,700 and 800)
- Ability to obtain North Carolina Probationary Fire Level I certification within one (1) month of appointment.
- Ability to obtain North Carolina Fire Investigation Technician, North Carolina Fire Level I Standard, and NIMS IC S 300 certifications within one (1) year of appointment.
- Ability to obtain North Carolina Fire Officer I and North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educator Level I certifications within two (2) years of appointment.
- Ability to obtain North Carolina Fire Level II Standard and North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educator II certifications within three (3) years of appointment.
- Completion of National Fire Academy Chemistry of Hazardous Materials Course or equivalent is desired.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.
This position may be subject to a fingerprint background check. Per NC General Statute 153A-94.2(b), applicants for a position of employment required to work with children in any capacity will be required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record.
- North Carolina Standard Fire Inspector Level I Certification.
- North Carolina Fire Investigator Technician Certification.
- North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educator I Certification.
- North Carolina Fire Officer I Certification.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, air compressors, carbon monoxide testers, radiation kits, smoke machines, firefighting, rescue, medical, SCBA and emergency management equipment, copiers, etc. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 15 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work. Must successfully pass entry level firefighter physical and job suitability testing.
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Participates in IDLH (Immediately dangerous to life or health) environments as needed.
All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period. Preventative Care Coverage Prescription Coverage
Health & Wellness Center available exclusively to Union County employees, spouses and dependents covered under the health plan.
All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period.
Basic Term life Insurance in the amount of one times the annual salary is provided for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Additional coverage for Life Insurance (Accident, Cancer, Long Term and Short Term) is available for purchase through payroll deduction for the employee and eligible dependents.
Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System is a requirement for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have five (5) years of service, you are 100% vested in the NCLGERS.
The NC401(k) supplemental retirement program is available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees. The County establishes this 401(k) account for each eligible employee and makes a five percent (5%) contribution based on biweekly earnings. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions through payroll deduction.
The 457 Deferred Compensation program is available to all employees through payroll deduction. Deferred compensation is a voluntary investment plan to supplement retirement income and to defer taxable income.
Options are available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. The Flex Debit Card program gives you instant access to your account funds.
Health Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses.
Dependent Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible dependent care expenses.
Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice.
No Overdraft Fees
$100 Negative Balance Buffer
Online and Mobile Banking with Bill Pay
Vacation leave is accrued based on creditable years of service in the Local Government Employees Retirement System.
For full-time County employees, sick leave accrues at eight (8.0) hours per month. Benefitted part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time rate. Your unused sick leave balance can be applied as creditable service toward a service retirement under the guidelines of the NCLGERS.
Unused sick leave earned from another North Carolina Governmental Agency and/or entity, will be accepted and transferred to the County as follows: twelve (12) sick leave days will be transferred and added to the employees active sick leave balance after completion of six (6) months of employment. The remaining balance of sick leave documented for transfer at the time of employment will be recorded in the employees permanent personnel file. On the fifth anniversary of employment with the County, the remaining balance of transferred sick leave will be added to the employees active sick leave balance.
There are 13 County recognized holidays (includes 3 days for Christmas) per year with 1 floating holiday available.
Annual Training - 10 paid workdays granted.
Active Duty - 20 paid workdays granted.
Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof.
Federal law provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events. These events can include birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee.
Parental Leave provides the employee paid leave for the first eight weeks of approved FML for the birth of a son or daughter, or placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care.
Educational Leave is available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees when participating in a job-related, short course, such as an update, not to exceed ten (10) consecutive working days.
Volunteer Time Off will provide employees with 16 hours of paid time per calendar year to volunteer at approved Union County community partner agencies.
The Employee Assistance Program is open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. EAP provides certified counselors who administer assessment and brief therapy to employees who want help with a variety of personal and work-related issues such as stress, parenting concerns, grief, alcohol/drug use, family problems, financial concerns, and work-related problems.
We believe that staying healthy is more than just exercising regularly and eating well. Individual and family discount membership and monthly dues are available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees through payroll deduction.
The National College Savings Program is open to all employees. The Program is designed to provide certain tax advantages, encourage and facilitate saving to pay the costs of attending eligible institutions.
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