Fire Prevention & Life Safety Director

Sarasota County Government; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Sarasota County Government seeks a strategic fire prevention leader to plan, manage, and direct comprehensive life safety programs within the Office of the Fire Marshal. The role emphasizes enforcing adopted fire codes, supervising inspections, plan reviews for new construction, and developing fire code legislation.

The ideal candidate will drive continuous improvement, manage critical functions, and support public safety outcomes through regulatory excellence and proactive prevention.

Qualifications

• Master's or Bachelor's with supervision/management experience in fire prevention.
• Valid Florida driver's license or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Must possess and maintain Florida Fire Safety Inspector I Certification or equivalent within one year.
• Must obtain NIMS IC I-100, I-200, and I-300 within one year.
• Experience in fire prevention, inspections, plan reviews, and code enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, coordinate, and direct comprehensive fire prevention and life safety programs.
• Prepare or supervise annual work program, staffing, and budgeting for the Office of the Fire Marshal.
• Provide direct supervision of assigned personnel and evaluate staff performance.
• Supervise inspections, plan reviews for new construction, and maintenance of reports and records.
• Review construction plans for code compliance and conduct on-site inspections for fire/life safety.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, builders, and public groups to discuss fire service matters.
• Promote customer service and partnerships with other divisions and external agencies.
• Ensure adherence to policies, rules, and standard operating procedures.
• Analyze job performance and develop programs to improve efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Public safety focus

Education

Master's degree in Fire Protection Engineering / Emergency Management / Fire Science / Business Administration / Public Administration

Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering / Emergency Management / Fire Science / Business Administration / Public Administration

Florida Fire Safety Inspector I Certification

NIMS Incident Command Position Certifications I-100, I-200, I-300

Job description

Sarasota County Government seeks a strategic fire prevention leader to plan, manage, and direct comprehensive life safety programs within the Office of the Fire Marshal. The role emphasizes enforcing adopted fire codes, supervising inspections, plan reviews for new construction, and developing fire code legislation.

The ideal candidate will drive continuous improvement, manage critical functions, and support public safety outcomes through regulatory excellence and proactive prevention.