Deputy State Fire Marshal III – Special Operations (00066)

Title: Deputy State Fire Marshal III – Special Operations (00066)

State Role Title: Compliance / Safety Officer IV

Hiring Range: $70,000 - $80,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Department of Fire Programs

Location: Dept of Fire Programs

Agency Website: www.vafire.com

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

Job Duties

About the Agency
The mission of the Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is to make fire safety a way of life in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The office of the SFMO will accomplish this by educating citizens and visitors about fire hazards and fire prevention techniques and identifying factors that increase risks from fire and implementing programs to reduce those risks. The SFMO will also ensure and enforce compliance with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) through education and progressive enforcement activities, including fire prevention inspections of schools, night clubs, health care facilities and other occupancies in localities that do not have a local fire code official; fire prevention inspections of state-owned facilities, including colleges and universities, health care and correctional facilities, and offices; inspection of construction projects in state facilities; and investigation of complaints. The SFMO provides technical assistance to local building and fire officials in the application and enforcement of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code and the fire safety related provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code; analyzes fire incidents to identify needed changes to fire safety related code provisions; administers programs to regulate explosives, fireworks, and fire-safe cigarettes; and provides training to fire inspectors, fire investigators, and public educators through the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy.

About the Position
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs is seeking a qualified professional to serve as a Deputy State Fire Marshal III. This position will assist in the overall special operations of the State Fire Marshal’s Office to accomplish routine fire prevention inspections, investigation and disposition of complaints, and construction inspections of state facilities. The incumbent of this position will provide supervision of Deputy State Fire Marshals (DSFMs) at special events, collaborate with Assistant State Fire Marshal – Special Operations (ASFM-SO) and CDSFM’s in other regions / divisions to coordinate sharing of resources across the state to accomplish the SFMO mission and complete all program activities in a timely and efficient manner. The Deputy State Fire Marsal III will conduct investigations of hazardous material incidents, environmental crimes, blasting and fireworks incidents and issue Virginia Uniform Summons(s) as required; and provide enforcement and technical assistance to local fire and building officials, federal and state government officials, building industry professionals (architects, engineers, contractors, tradesmen, etc.), and professional industry organizations, regarding federal and state fire and building related regulations.

The Deputy State Fire Marshal III serves as a subject matter expert for SFMO field personnel, local fire officials and other customers and stakeholders regarding the technical requirements, application, administration and enforcement of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code and applicable referenced / related codes, standards, laws, policies and procedures; serves as a subject matter expert for SFMO field personnel, local fire officials, other customers and stakeholders regarding explosives, fireworks, crowd management, releases of hazardous materials and the reduced cigarette ignition propensity (RCIP) program; and actively participates in local and regional fire prevention and explosives industry associations.

This position will be responsible for participating in the code development process at the state and national level as directed; assists the RCIP-LSC program coordinator with oversight of blasting/firework permits, the issuance of blaster/pyrotechnician licenses, and required permit billing; assist the Assistant State Fire Marshal – Special Operations with oversight of special event planning; and develops and delivers training programs to external customers including, but not limited to, local fire departments, industry associations, community associations, and schools.

This position has a Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) assignment and is designated as essential personnel. Provides support during an emergency incident either within the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC), in a field assignment or in support of recovery operations. Maintains situational awareness throughout the region. Employees may be required to work during emergency situations, such as inclement weather and natural or man-made disasters/events as directed. This may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may also include duties other than those specified in the employee’s official Employee Work Profile/job description.

Minimum Qualifications

• Increasingly progressive experience demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the technical requirements, the application, interpretation, administration, legal opinions and enforcement of federal and state building and fire safety related regulations, state mandates, and legal opinions including: Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), NFPA Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), Virginia Industrialized Building Regulations, the Virginia Public Building Safety Regulations, and referenced model codes, standards, and compliance.
• Experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of applicable codes related to mobile vehicle food preparation and operations.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to conduct complex inspections of aerial firework shows before a proximate audience and extensive knowledge of NFPA 1124/1126/1123/495.
• Experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the relationship and hierarchy between building, fire and other related codes and standards.
• Experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the impact of the release of hazardous materials, applicable codes/standards/operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of building and fire protection system engineering, design, construction, operations, inspection, testing and maintenance.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to conduct complex fire prevention inspections.
• Experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge and abilities to develop and manage diverse and complex regional programs to provide safety to life and property from fire and associated hazards.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to coordinate and plan events with a variety of federal and state agencies.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to research and evaluate complex and sensitive issues to determine code compliance or equivalency, organize materials, write technical reports of findings, and publish technical material as needed.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to design and orally present training workshops and technical presentations to allied professional organizations and customers at the local and regional levels.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with diverse local fire and building officials, federal and state agencies, industry professionals, professional organizations, etc., and possess the ability to effectively manage complex expectations of competing customers and negotiate resolutions of sensitive issues with stakeholders.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to operate a computer and business applications including but not limited to Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, or other similar business applications to track program data, measure performance, produce reports and conduct routine business activities and communication.

Additional Considerations

• Experience demonstrating the ability to lead and provide guidance to staff performing fire safety, life safety, and pyrotechnic code inspections. Experience processing revenues/fees or expenditures.

Desired Certification /Training: Virginia Fire Marshal Academy (VFMA) - Environmental Crimes, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) - Post Blast Investigator Course, Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (Hazwoper), American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) - Fireworks for Fire Marshals, Virginia Department of Fire Programs - Hazardous Materials Operations, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries - Boaters Safety Course, Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) – Virginia.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Valid driver’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment. Fire Inspector II (NFPA 1031) from an accredited training organization recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia (IFSAC or ProBoard); Fire Prevention Inspector; Life Safety Code Surveyor (CMS). Certification as a Fire Official, as issued by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) within 18 months of employment.

Criminal History: Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Other: Must be eligible for employment in the State of Virginia and at least 18 years of age. A one-year probationary period is required of all newly hired or re-hired employees to the State. Available to workdays, evenings, nights and weekends as needed. Available for overnight travel as needed.

State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55 pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). Applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State applications and or in resumes. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided in the application, resume, or other relevant documents provided; therefore, it is essential for applicants to supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application/resume, or a state application/resume lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position.

The candidate selected for this position will be required to successfully complete a background check. State employees who have been affected by Policy 1.3 Layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card) must submit the card BEFORE the closing date for this position. The card may be scanned and attached to the application or faxed to (804) 371-7401. Please include your name and the position number on the fax cover sheet. You may apply for this position at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Ethel White at (804) 249-1992 for assistance. VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: 804-292-6482

Email: taris.harmon@dhrm.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.