Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY:

Plan, coordinate, administer and monitor the City's emergency management, fire code and prevention compliance and fire protection inspection. Responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities; conducting fire and life safety inspections; and administering fire hydrant and fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance programs. Will oversee the City/County radio communications system.

Ensure assigned programs are administered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, fire codes, and City policies. Identify hazards, evaluate compliance, document deficiencies, coordinate corrective actions as authorized. Work closely with City personnel, emergency response organizations, property owners, businesses and contractors to reduce risks, improve emergency readiness, maintain fire protection capabilities, and promote a safe working environment for City employees and the public. Exercise independent judgment in administering assigned programs, prioritizing identified risks, and recommending corrective actions and resource needs to City management.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness:
• Develop, coordinate, implement and periodically review the City's emergency management plans, emergency operations procedures, continuity of operations procedure and other preparedness documents.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities with City departments, County, emergency services, state agencies and other organizations.
• Maintain emergency contact information, resource inventories, mutual aid information, response protocols, facility emergency plans, and other records necessary for effective emergency coordination.
• Coordinate emergency drills, tabletop exercises, functional exercises, training programs and after-action reviews to evaluate preparedness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate all NIMS course requirements for City staff and ensure all required staff are trained.
• Create a Community Volunteer Program to assist in emergencies.
• Assist the Communication and Marketing Department in creation of “blue sky” flyers to prepare the citizens for natural disasters.
• Maintain the City’s Emergency Management website page(s).
• Coordinate with Matagorda County and/or assist in the development of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
• Assist with establishing, activating and coordinating an emergency operations center when necessary, and support the collection, evaluation and distribution of incident information during emergency events.
• Coordinate resource requests and situation reports during emergency operations, and assist the Communications Department in disseminating emergency notifications, public safety information, and other timely updates to the public.
• Lead after action review and response plan.
• Assist with assessing damage, documenting response activities, coordinating recovery efforts, identifying mitigation projects, and preparing documentation for eligible disaster assistance and/or reimbursement programs.
• Fire Prevention, Inspection and Code
• Inspect and/or coordinate the inspection of means of egress, exit access, emergency lighting, fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers and hazardous material storage.
• Identify fire hazards, code violations, unsafe conditions and deficiencies that could endanger occupants and property.
• Prepare and maintain detailed inspection reports identifying observed conditions, code violations, required corrective actions, compliance deadlines and follow-up activities.
• Issue written notices of violation, correction notices and citation when required.
• Review applicable building plans, site plans, fire protection information and other documentation when assigned.
• Provide technical guidance to property owners, businesses, contractors and City personnel concerning fire prevention requirements, inspection findings, and corrective measures.
• Identify recurring violations and trends, recommend improvements to inspection procedures, and assist with developing fire prevention policies, public education programs, and risk reduction initiatives.
• Fire Hydrant Inspection and Maintenance Program
• Establish, administer, and maintain documented inspections, maintenance history and testing schedules for the City's fire hydrant inventory in coordination with Public Works and the Fire Department.
• Conduct routine visual inspections of fire hydrants to evaluate accessibility, visibility, physical condition, damage, leakage, and other observable deficiencies. Promptly report hydrant outages, testing activities, and any conditions that could affect fire suppression capabilities to appropriate City personnel and emergency response agencies.
• Coordinate functional inspections, flow testing, pressure testing and flushing, in accordance with operational procedures.
• Ensure inspection and testing activities are documented, deficiencies are reported promptly, and corrective actions are assigned to the appropriate department and/or personnel.
• Fire Extinguisher Inspection and Maintenance Program
• Manage the City’s fire extinguisher maintenance program.
• Establish annual inspections and procedures to ensure extinguishers are accessible, properly located and identified, visibly serviceable, and maintained in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Conduct and/or coordinate quarterly/semi-annual routine visual inspections, including checks for accessibility, mounting, physical condition, tampering, and/or other deficiencies and promptly coordinate corrective action.
• Maintain a current inventory of fire extinguishers, including location, type, inspection dates, service history, maintenance requirements, deficiencies, and replacement schedules.
• Provide basic fire prevention and extinguisher awareness training for City employees.
• Identify recurring deficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate and schedule first aid and CPR training for City personnel.
• Oversee the City-County radio communications system, including system coordination and maintenance, administration of the associated interlocal agreement, and management of grant funding and compliance requirements.
• Assist with budget preparation, identify equipment and supply needs, evaluate contractor proposals, and recommend expenditures for training, inspections, maintenance and emergency preparedness.
• Remain current on laws, regulations, codes, technical standards and guidance affecting emergency management, fire prevention and fire protection.
• Must be able to exercise discretion.
• Maintain good working relationships with staff, the public, contractors and vendors.
• May work abnormal hours as required to complete assigned tasks.
• This position is considered a Level I position in accordance with Section 6.11.6 of the Personnel Guidelines.
• Abide by all policies, procedures, rules, etc. associated with the City’s Safety Program. Must actively promote and personally observe safety and security procedures and use equipment and materials properly.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Mandatory Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• Valid Class C Texas State Driver's License and safe driving record.
• A minimum of three (3) years of responsible professional experience in emergency management, fire code, fire prevention, inspection and investigation, or equivalent work experience in related fields.
• Texas Commission on Fire Protection Inspector (TCFPI Certification), Fire Plans Examiner, Arson and/or Fire Investigator certification, or the ability to obtain certification within one (1) year of employment, additional certifications may be required depending on types of inspections performed.
• Knowledge of:
• Emergency management principles, disaster preparedness, emergency operations, incident coordination, recovery and hazard mitigation.
• Fire codes, fire protection systems, inspection procedures and code compliance practices.
• Fire hydrant inspection procedures and maintenance coordination.
• Types of fire extinguishers, inspection requirements and maintenance and testing standards.
• Recordkeeping practices.
• Ability to:
• Prioritize, organize and manage multiple simultaneous projects while maintaining accurate documentation and following established procedures.
• Conduct inspections, recognize deficiencies, interpret applicable requirements, prepare written findings, and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
• Prepare accurate reports, maintain detailed records, communicate technical information, and track corrective actions through completion.
• Exercise sound judgment, maintain professional working relationships, and communicate effectively with employees, officials, contractors, emergency responders and members of the public.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Maintain sensitive and confidential information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION:

• Endurance/Moving About: Frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time). Move from location to location.
• Endurance/Overall strength: Periodic. Exert force and/or lifts or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Walking: Frequently (1/3 or more of the time). Move about on foot.
• Sitting: Frequently (1/3 or more of the time).
• Lifting/Carrying: Periodic. Lift by manually raising or lowering an object from one level to another (including upward pulling), and/or carrying transport and object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder.
• Pushing/Pulling: Periodic. Push by exerting force on an object so that it moves away from the force or worker (including slapping, striking, kicking, and treadle actions); and/or pull by exerting force on an object so that it moves toward the force or worker (including jerking).
• Controls: Periodic. Use one or both arms and/or hands and /or one or either feet or legs to move controls on machinery or equipment.
• Climbing. Periodic. Ascend or descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, ropes, and the like using the feet and legs and/or hands and arms above or below 5 feet.
• Balancing: Periodic. Maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.
• Bending/Stooping: Frequently (1/3 or 2/3 of the time). Stoop by bending the body downward or forward by flexing the spine at the waist, and /or bend by extending the spine backward or from side to side.
• Kneeling/Crouching: Frequently (1/3 or 2/3 of the time). Kneel by bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees, and/or crouch by bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.
• Crawling: Periodic. Move about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Frequently (1/3 or more of the time). Extend hands and arms in any direction.
• Handling: Frequently (1/3 or more of the time). Seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with the hand or hands.
• Rotation: Frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time). Twist and turn the spine or a ball and socket joint such as the shoulder or hip.
• Talking: Constantly (2/3 or more of the time). Express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.
• Hearing: Constantly (2/3 or more of the time). Perceive the nature of sounds by the ear.
• Seeing: Constantly (2/3 or more of the time). Obtain impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, color or other characteristics of objects.
• Reading: Reviewing drawings, plans, codes, specifications, ordinances.
• Writing: Able to accurately write reports, record information and summary of events.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Location: Both inside and outside. Work is spent inside (where there is protection from weather, but not necessarily from temperature changes) and outside (where there may be no effective protection from weather).
• Extreme Cold: Endure temperature(s) sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort unless exceptional protection is used.
• Extreme Heat: Endure temperature(s) sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort unless exceptional protection is used.
• Wet Conditions: Endure contact with water or other liquids.
• Noise / Vibration: Periodic. Occasionally endure noises, either constant or intermittent, or work sites.
• Smell: Fumes chemicals, or toxic substances.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Receive directions from the Director of Public Works and/or the Assistant City Manager.

WORKING HOURS:

Normal working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with one hour for lunch. May work outside normal working hours as required to complete assigned tasks. In emergencies may be called into work and work schedule will be adjusted during the emergency.

EXPECTATIONS OF ALL CITY EMPLOYEES:

• Support City and Department goals and objectives.
• Serve and meet the needs of our citizens during routine or emergency situations.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team, demonstrate team skills, and perform a fair share of team responsibilities.
• Plan and organize his/her work, time and resources, and, if applicable, that of subordinates.
• Contribute to the development of others, to the Department, and the City.
• Produce desired work outcomes including quality, quantity and timeliness.
• Communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, subordinates and people to whom service is provided.
• Understand and value differences in employees and value input from others.
• Consistently report to work and work assignments prepared and on schedule.
• Consistently display a positive behavior regarding work, willingly accept constructive criticism and be respectful of others.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Bay City and the employee and is subject to change by the City of Bay City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change. The City of Bay City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In compliance with the American’s with Disability Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Formal application or letter of interest, rating of education and experience; oral interview, reference and criminal background checks, and drug screens are required. In addition, job related tests may also be required.