Fire Protection Program Manager (IL/WI Market)

Advocate Health; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking an experienced Fire Protection Program Manager to lead enterprise-wide fire protection programs across IL/WI facilities. This senior role requires expertise in life safety, CMS/NFPA standards, and collaboration with BIM, facilities, and construction teams.

The ideal candidate will have a PE, 10+ years in fire protection engineering (healthcare preferred), and strong communication skills to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering (ABET-accredited) or equivalent ABET degree.
• Minimum 10 years in fire protection engineering; at least 5 in healthcare.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Fire Protection Engineering.
• Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) or related certifications within 1 year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and monitors enterprise-wide fire protection programs.
• Provides consulting on fire and life safety codes (CMS, NFPA, NFPA 101, NFPA 99).
• Performs surveys and risk assessments of hospitals and clinics; documents findings.

Skills

Fire protection engineering

Code compliance

Project leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Technical reporting

Communication skills

Travel coordination

Facility systems knowledge

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. Fire Protection Engineering

B.S. Mechanical Eng with M.S. Fire Protection

Equivalent ABET-accredited degree

Tools

BlueBeam

CMMS

MS Office

Job description

It's More Than a Job, It's a Calling!

Position: Fire Protection Program Manager

Location: Will support the IL/WI enterprise market

Full Time; 1st Shift

Major Responsibilities:

• Program Development and Implementation:Serves as the enterprise authority on fire protection engineering.Develops, implements, andmonitorsenterprise-wide programs that drive value in the organization.
• Fire and Life Safety Code Consulting:Provides expert consulting on local,stateand federal fire and life safety codes, including relevant ICC codes and NFPA standards, ensuring compliance and safety across Advocate Health facilities.
• Surveys and Assessments:Performs fire protection and/or life safety related surveys in a variety of buildings such as hospitals, high-rises, freestanding emergencydepartmentsand medical office buildings toidentifypotential risks and areas for improvement.Preparesdetailed technical reports based on survey findings.
• Partnering with BIM:Collaborate with the Building Information Modeling (BIM) team to ensure that life safety code drawings are accurately updated to reflect any changes needed from inspections and assessments.
• Fire Safety Strategies:Develops and implements fire safety strategies for special hazards, tailored to the unique needs of healthcare environments.
• Regulatory Compliance and CMS Equivalency Review:Conducts comprehensive reviews of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) equivalencies and waivers related to fire protection and building construction across the enterprise. Includes Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) analysis to ensure compliance andoptimizesafety strategies.
• Fire Protection Systems:Utilizesworking knowledge of active fire protection systems, includingselection, design, installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
• Education and Training:Facilitatescontinuing education and training opportunities for teammatesto enhance their skills in fire and life safety.
• Incident Investigation:Investigate fire incidents and recommend improvements to prevent future occurrences, enhancing overall safety.In compliance with Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements,ensurestimelyreporting of incidents.
• Collaboration on Projects:Collaborate with architects, engineers, and construction teams on new healthcare facility projects and renovations to integrate fire protection measures from the design phase through completion.
• Insurance Risk Mitigation Collaboration:Partners with the organization’s insurance carrier to review and implement recommendations aimed at reducing Maximum Foreseeable Loss (MFL). Develops and integrates risk mitigation strategies into facility operations and capital projects to enhance fire protection and resilience.
• Committee Participation:Co-chairs and/orparticipatesin the Enterprise Regulatory and Safety Council.Participatesin other councils and committees as needed.
• Participates indepartmentsinitiatives.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Fire Protection Engineering.
• Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM), or other related industry certificationsrequiredwithin 1 year of hire.
• Other related industry certificationsrequiredwithin 1 year of hire.

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering preferable from an ABET accredited program, aBachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineeringwith a Master’s in Fire Protection, OR equivalent ABET accredited degree.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional working experience in fire protection engineering, with at least 5 years in a healthcare setting.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• In-depth knowledge of fire protection systems and technologies.
• Familiarity required with healthcare-specific fire safety codes and standards (e.g., CMS, TJC, NFPA 101, NFPA 99).
• Solid understanding of relevant software includingBlueBeam, Microsoft Office Suite, and facilities Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information in a clear and understandable manner to diverse audiences
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and cultivate strong internal and external relationships.
• Detail-oriented,demonstratedorganizational and time management skills, and ability to manage/prioritize, track, and complete tasks/projects within established deadlines.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems
• Committed to customer service,timelyresponse, collaboration, cooperative professional relationships, and diversity.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to conduct site inspections, which may include climbing ladders and accessing spaces such as mechanical rooms, hot locations, both inside and outside of facilities.
• Work involves exposure to construction sites and operational healthcare facilities.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 35% of the time as dictated by business needs.
• Valid driver’s licenserequired.

PreferredJobRequirements:

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Fire Protection or related field.

Experience Required:

• Current orpreviousexperience as a member of the National Fire Protection (NFPA) committees relevant to health care facilities such as the NFPA 101 Technical Committee.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Active membership in a recognized professional organization such as the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) or equivalent,demonstratingongoing commitment to professional development and staying current with industry standards and practices.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.