Fire Specialist

Title: Fire & Life Safety Specialist

Location: Rockford, IL

Full Time Role

Salary: $70k - $100K annually

The primary focus of this role is to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and property. The ideal candidate will ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local fire and building codes, as well as the standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The specialist will be responsible for various activities including coordinating inspections, code compliance, project management, implementing fire prevention programs, and coordinating emergency response plans.

What You Will Do:

• Coordinate regular inspections, testing, and maintenance of all fire and life safety systems, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers.
• Collaborate with maintenance team supervisors and technicians accordingly
• Ensure all facilities and systems are in full compliance with Federal, State and Local fire codes; company policies, and any other relevant building codes and standards, such as the National Fire Protection Association [NFPA], the International Fire Code [IFC], and the International Building Code [IBC]
• Develop, implement, and coordinate emergency evacuation plans and procedures to include A) organizing & conducting fire drills and assisting with emergency response as required, B) collaborate with site security, EHS & maintenance team accordingly, C) support and coordinate all fire/life safety systems regulatory requests and activities for local, state, federal and other regulatory agencies. D) serve as liaison with local fire departments and other emergency response teams.
• Act as the subject matter expert [SME] of fire protection systems and identify potential fire hazards.
• Recommend and implement appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate risks.
• Provide subject matter expertise [SME] for all facilities related project regarding fire, life & safety compliance
• Serve as subject matter expert [SME] for all facilities related capital planning projects.
• Provide subject matter expertise [SME] for all Environmental Health & Safety [EHS] activities for the entire Rockford manufacturing facility
• Document all maintenance, inspection activities, and incident reports, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records
• Provide technical support and effective fire safety training to building staff and occupants on proper fire and life safety response procedures
• Participate in fire investigations to determine cause and origin. Implement corrective actions as identified

What You Will Bring:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. An Associate or bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Occupational Health and Safety, or a related field is preferred
• A minimum of 2-4 years of professional experience in fire prevention, fire inspection, or a related field. Experience with an all-hazards approach to safety and emergency management is a plus
• National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] certification or equivalent is highly desirable
• Solid understanding of fire safety codes and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise instructions.
• Professional approach to workplace interactions with maintenance staff, facilities engineering staff, contractors and business unit leadership members.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, capable of communicating with customers both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks effectively, and adapt to changing situations.
• Physical fitness and mental resilience to perform duties in potentially hazardous environments.
• Project Management experience.
• Experience consulting with management on fire system maintenance and repair issues.
• Solid computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Project, Outlook) and AutoCAD.