Quartermaster - Fire & OEM

Port Houston; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Port Houston seeks a Quartermaster to lead logistics and resource management for its Fire Department and OEM. The role covers procurement, inventory, maintenance, distribution, and lifecycle management of PPE, vehicles, and emergency equipment to ensure readiness for daily operations and incidents.

The position requires NFPA-based standards knowledge, strong analytical and vendor coordination skills, and experience in fire/emergency logistics.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; associate degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years related firefighting experience.
• Two years in logistics, data entry, or related field.
• FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Oversee PPE program compliance and inventory records.
• Lead emergency logistics during incidents using NIMS/ICS.
• Coordinate SCBA asset tracking and testing.
• Maintain equipment lifecycle, inspections, and certifications.
• Assist OEM with asset deployment and vendor coordination.

Skills

Logistics management

Inventory control

NFPA familiarity

Vendor coordination

Education

High School / GED

Associate’s degree in Emergency Management or Fire Science

Tools

PSTrax asset management system

Job description

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Position Summary:

The Quartermaster serves as the logistics and resource management lead for Port Houston’s Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management (OEM). This position is responsible for ensuring operational readiness through the procurement, inventory management, maintenance, distribution, and lifecycle management of emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), vehicles, communications assets, and emergency supplies. The role supports daily operations, emergency incidents, disaster response, continuity planning, and homeland security initiatives. Quartermasters in fire and emergency management environments typically oversee inventories, PPE, response equipment, fleet support, logistics planning, and emergency resource deployment.

In alignment with NFPA 1201, 1851, and 1970, fire departments are required to maintain systems for inventory control, equipment tracking, and maintenance documentation. Additional NFPA standards governing PPE, SCBA, and apparatus require structured inspection, maintenance, and lifecycle management programs. The Texas Commission on Fire Protection mandates that all protective equipment be properly maintained and compliant with applicable standards, reinforcing the need for centralized oversight. Operations within the Port of Houston include marine firefighting, fireboat response, petrochemical risk, and hazardous materials incidents. As these missions rely on specialized equipment such as fireboat systems, foam operations, hazmat detection equipment, and marine PPE. Ensuring readiness of these assets requires dedicated oversight by this position.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

PPE Program Oversight

• Serve as designated PPC Manager and maintain TFCP compliance
• Maintain PPE policies and records
• Track gear issuance by employee
• Coordinate inspections, repairs, cleaning, retirement
• Verify certification and compliance labeling
• Conduct annual compliance audits
• Assist the Office of Emergency Management with assets and equipment as needed. This may include deploying resources and attending outreach events with equipment.
• Schedules and works with outside vendors such as testing hose, ladders, pumps, SCBA, and hydraulic tools.
• Assists with recommendations on new equipment and gear

Emergency Preparedness & Incident Support

• Serve as Logistics Unit Leader during emergencies and special events.
• Coordinate resource requests during incidents utilizing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
• Support activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
  Ensure emergency response personnel have necessary equipment, fuel, food, shelter, and support resources during prolonged incidents.

SCBA / Respiratory Protection

• Track SCBA assets and cylinders
• Coordinate hydrostatic testing and annual flow tests
• Maintain facepiece inventories
• Manage breathing air quality testing and compressor logs
• Recall / repair management

Logistics & Asset Readiness

• Apparatus equipment accountability
• Fireboat readiness inventories
• Foam inventory and suppression agent management
• Hazmat cache management
• Procurement support
• PSTrax asset management systems
• Hazardous materials response equipment
• Emergency communications equipment
• Specialized OEM response equipment
• Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)
• Perform other duties as required

Education/Experience:

• High School/ GED required
• Associate’s degree in Emergency Management or Fire Science preferred
• 5+ years of related firefighting experience required
• Requires two years of logistics, data entry, or closely related experience

Certifications

• Required within one year of hire
• FEMA IS-100
• FEMA IS-200
• FEMA IS-700
• FEMA IS-800

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:

• Knowledge of NFPA’ 10, 17, 232, 1801, 1851, 1852, 1858, 1911, 1912, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1971, 1981, 1983, 1989
• Valid Class B Texas Driver License
• NIMS 300 & 400 preferred
• A Transportation Worker Identification (TWIC) must be obtained within 30 days of appointment and maintained for the duration of employment.

Key Competencies Required:

• Ethics and Integrity
• Organization and Time Management Skills
• Performance Management and Accountability
• Change Leadership
• Communication written and oral
• Relationship Building and Collaboration
• Operates in a hybrid position – office, warehouse, emergency environment

This work site location of this job is:

Port Coordination Center

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job.It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.