Fire and Safety Representative Trainee 1/2 (NY HELPS)

Duties Description

Responsibilities include conducting on-site fire safety inspections prior to the issuance of initial and renewal licenses, evaluation of submitted documents, including floor plans and blue prints, completing inspection checklists and writing violation letters, providing technical assistance, investigating complaints, and maintaining up to date licensing activities which are recorded in the Child Care Facility System database as they pertain to fire safety standards.

Activities related to enforcement actions, such as, gathering factual information, writing reports, preparing for and testifying at Administrative Hearings are also a critical responsibility for the Fire Safety Representative.

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Minimum Qualifications

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or a title that is 70.1 transfer eligible.

Open To The Public

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.

The Qualifications For The Trainee 1 Level Are

Either 1. Three years of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade.

Or 2. Six years of experience in a volunteer fire department.

Or 3. An associate or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; and one year of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade.

Or 4. An associate or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; and four years of experience in a volunteer fire department.

The Qualifications For The Trainee 2 Level Are

Successful completion of 52 weeks as a Fire & Safety Representative Trainee 1; OR

Either 1. Four years of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade. At least one of the four years must have been as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*.

Or 2. Seven years of experience in a volunteer fire department. At least one of the seven years must have been as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*. In addition, you must have successful completion of three fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Two of the three courses must include: Firefighter 1 or Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter or equivalent.

Or 3. An associate or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; and two years of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade. At least one of the two years must have been as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*.

Or 4. An associate or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; and five years of experience in a volunteer fire department. At least one of the five years must have been as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*. In addition, you must have successful completion of three fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Two of the three courses must include: Firefighter 1 or Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter or equivalent.

The Qualifications For The Full SG 18 Level Are

Five years of full-time active service in a professional fire department or industrial fire brigade (including members of the military who spent their service time performing firefighting and fire protection activities) WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs OR

Eight years of active service in a volunteer fire department WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs, AND the successful completion of six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control or a verifiable equivalent. Five of these courses must include: Firefighter 1 or Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter or equivalent; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part 1; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part II; and Inspection Procedures for Existing Structures.

• Fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training refer to programs that are general fire service training for firefighters and include hazardous materials, arson investigation, fire equipment maintenance, and other firefighter training.
• A catalog of fire training programs available through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services can be found at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/dhses-training .
  
  

This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.

Additional Comments

• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non- competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In June 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
  
  

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.
  
  

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.