Fire and Safety Representative

Fire and Safety Representatives provide fire safety field services to adult and childcare facilities as part of a team that includes other program representatives and would ensure that these facilities are in compliance with applicable safety codes, regulations, and other state and local requirements.

Fire and Safety Representatives could conduct safety inspections, compile reports detailing findings, and review evacuation plans to determine the ability of facilities to respond to fire and other emergencies.

The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities provides high-quality, person-centered services, supports and advocacy to approximately 120,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in New York State.

We are guided in our interactions with the people we serve and each other by compassion, dignity, diversity, excellence and honesty.

Our motto is “Putting People First,” and it applies not only to the individuals we serve, but to our employees as well.

Operating within the Center for Property Supports & Emergency Services Fire Safety/Emergency Management Bureau, the Fire and Safety Representative will promote fire safety improvements, and emergency preparedness across the OPWDD enterprise.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitating fire safety training and awareness of regulatory and code requirements to staff responsible for the day-to-day management of safe programs.

The Representative will work with DDSOO Staff Development and Training departments as well as voluntary providers to ensure consistent adherence to fire safety curricula.

• Assisting in the development and monitoring of evacuation plans and facility-based emergency management plans to ensure facilities and community homes are prepared to respond to fire and other emergencies.
• Working in concert with the respective DDSOOs, providers and other stakeholders, and ensure that all applicable processes are followed and improvements are implemented as needed.
• Assisting the DDSOO Safety Officers in their reviews of state-operated homes and also working collaboratively with the Division of Quality Improvement to identify and promote resolution of fire safety concerns.
• Perform facility risk assessments for emergency planning activities to assist in meeting bureau goals.
• Attend local and regional meetings with emergency managers/ fire coordinators and other state agencies.
• Assist in the development and deployment of or with agency incident response teams during times of crisis
• Compiling reports detailing findings and recommendations.
• Establishing working relationships with local fire and police departments.

In addition, occasional work in the New York State Emergency Operation Center in Albany may be required during a natural disaster.

This may include modified working hours as needed.

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Minimum Qualifications

Fire & Safety Representative:

Open Competitive: 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.

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

Or An associate's or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; AND six years of experience in a volunteer fire department. At least two of the six 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 six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control or a verifiable equivalent. Five of the six 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.

Note: "fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs" are those programs which are general fire service training areas for firefighters, which include hazardous materials, arson investigation, fire equipment maintenance, and other firefighter training.

Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.

To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website: https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.