Fire Marshal

THE TOWN OF GLASTONBURY IS RECRUITING FOR THE POSITION OF FIRE MARSHAL. THE STARTING SALARY FOR THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMENSURATES WITH EXPERIENCE AND INCLUDES ALL FULL-TIME BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE TOWN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF WORKING WITH YOU!

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction of the Director of Community Development, incumbent is responsible for leading the Fire Marshal Division; overseeing a comprehensive plan review, fire inspection, investigations, prevention and education program, and serves as the Town’s Open Burn Official in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes and Connecticut State Fire Safety Code.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:  

1. Supervises the daily activities of assigned staff; provides performance feedback both formally and informally. Ensures training on and enforces compliance with best practices for safe work practices, with attention to risk management and loss control.  Develops and administers policies to ensure clear communication of performance expectations.
2. Determines and documents work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow, evaluating and standardizing procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.  Maintains records of fire and inspection activity and completes related reports. 
3. Reviews construction building plans, specifications and fire protection system designs for conformance with applicable fire codes and provides comment to Building Official for permit approval.  Provides consultation to developers, contractors and owners on corrective action to be taken. Performs inspections during construction and provides comment to Building Official for certificate of occupancy.
4. Performs inspections for conformance with applicable fire codes of
   • buildings and facilities, as required by law
   • day care centers, medical centers, and liquor permit premises, certifying for state licensure
   • various facilities and services, including, but not limited to, fireworks displays, heaters, fuel stations, outdoor amusements, storage tanks used for fuel oil, gasoline and liquid propane gas 
   • open burning requiring a permit
5. Regulates the use of hazardous materials in Town; issues permits for the use, transportation and storage of explosives. Inspects all vehicles registered in Town that transport flammable and combustible liquids.
6. Reviews and issues open burn permits in accordance with state and local regulations.  Inspects burn sites for compliance, ensures safe burning practices, and enforces restrictions to protect public safety and air quality.
7. Issues abatement orders and state infractions on violations; prepares related court paperwork.  Works with States Attorney’s offices in case preparation and advice on case matters relating to investigations.
8. Investigates the origin, cause and circumstances of fires, explosions, and burn injuries within the Town and prepares reports to the State Fire Marshal.  Follows up on suspicious fires to determine possible wrongdoing and recommends enforcement action as appropriate.
9. Investigates and resolves customer service issues.  Takes corrective action and maintains records of concerns and resolutions.
10. Coordinates fire safety programs and activities, including, but not limited to fire prevention in the schools, senior housing communities, and other public venues.
11. Serves as a technical resource to the Director of Community Development and other staff to inform land use and long-range planning, and emergency operations planning.
12. Drafts annual Division budget.  Monitors revenues and expenditures, assuring effective and efficient use of budgeted funds and personnel.
13. Oversees the purchase and maintenance of all equipment for the Fire Marshal department.
14. Ensures a respectful and safe work environment for all by fostering a culture of mutual respect, accountability for ethical behavior and positive leadership, aligning policies, procedures and training with such values.  Sets high professional and customer service standards for staff and ensures accountability with those standards. 

OTHER DUTIES:

1. Assists in employee selection.
2. Performs other duties as required. 

CONFIDENTIALITY:

• Maintains confidentiality of records and information as appropriate

CONDUCT:

• Observes safe work practices
• Observes state traffic laws
• Represents the Town in a professional and courteous manner at all times

DEPENDABILITY:

• Regularly attends and is punctual for work
• Work evenings and weekends as necessary, including 24/7 on-call duties, and attendance at public meetings

NOTE:  The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and responsibility.  Incumbent must be able to perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE:

• Knowledge of
  • public administration principles and practices of a specialized work unit
  • Connecticut State Fire Safety Code and related  General Statutes
  • principles and practices of fire investigation
  • firefighting practices as they relate to fire investigation
  • principles and practices of fire inspection and code enforcement
  • building construction as related to fire safety
  • state traffic laws
• Ability to
  • interpret instructions in written, oral, or diagrammatic form
  • interpret federal, state, and local codes, regulations and standards relating to building construction
  • communicate findings in writing accurately, clearly and concisely
  • verbally explain technical information to lay persons in an understandable way
  • obtain proficiency in a variety of standard computer operating systems including; Word, Excel,  municipal fire code systems, Outlook and municipal accounting systems  
• Skilled in
  • interpersonal communication to build effective, collaborative working relationships, enforce regulations, and provide customer service
  • leadership to provide a positive, respectful, equitable and ethical work environment
  • supervision to provide guidance for staff and ensure accountability for performance
  • developing and leading  programs to support community risk reduction

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The environment involves potential risk exposure to dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress that requires a range of safety and other precautions
• Ability to
  • Walk over rough or difficult terrain, sit and stand for prolonged periods, stoop, climb, bend, reach and lift/carry items weighing up to 25 pounds occasionally
  • See distant objects, as in driving; close objects, as in observing evidence on a fire scene or reviewing building plans
  • Discriminate color, such as in distinguishing flame color
  • Perceive smells, as in identifying fuel sources
  • Hear normal sounds with background noise, as in conducting an oral investigative interview
  • Understand information and ideas presented in English through spoken and written words; communicate verbally and in writing so others understand
  • Detect a known pattern (e.g., figure, object, word or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material
  • Visualize how something would have looked before it was moved or when parts were rearranged
  • Perform complex data analysis, including coordinating, strategizing, and organizing information to support effective decision making
  • Exercise discretion and sound judgment in determining priorities, timing, and sequencing of work withing an organizational framework
  • Implement and oversee decisions based on data analysis to ensure successful execution of plans and objectives

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Graduation from high school, vocational school or GED
• Six (6) years of experience working as a Certified Fire Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshal
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience
• Experience in fire suppression, desirable

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION:

• Connecticut Fire Marshal Certification
• Driver’s license

Salary : $86,034 - $116,123