fire prevention specialist - Torrance, United States - City of Torrance, CA

Description

Salary: $6, $7,540.00 Monthly

Location : Torrance, CA

Job Type: Permanent Full-time

Job Number:

Department: Fire

Opening Date: 05/08/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

DESCRIPTION

(EXPERIENCE IN FIRE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL/CERTIFIED UNIFIED PROGRAM AGENCY (CUPA)/CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING SYSTEM (CERS)/HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE)WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance is recruiting for Fire Prevention Specialist to be part of the
Torrance Fire Department/Community Risk Reduction Division Team

Mission Statement
We serve with excellence through preparedness, response, and engagement.

The Department
The is a nationally recognized ISO Class 1 premier all-risk public safety organization and a Center for Public Safety (CPSE) Accredited Agency. The primary mission is to protect, serve and improve the quality of life for the entire community of Torrance. This is achieved through strong partnerships in all areas within the City of Torrance. Resources are strategically located across the City to ensure the community's expectations are being met. The Torrance Fire Department is comprised of the following functioning divisions: Administration, Communications, Community Risk Reduction, Emergency Medical Services, Logistics, Operations, Planning, Research & Development, and Training.

The Division
The personnel are a well trained group of individuals who, as a team, work to prevent fires, loss of life, and property damage through code enforcement and regulatory measures. The Division provides fire safety information and assistance to City planners, commissioners and other City staff about new projects in the City; reviews new construction plans for fire protection regulations conformity and emergency access; and conducts additional special assignments throughout the City.

The Position
The Fire Prevention Specialist conducts inspections, plan review, and performs inspections of hazardous processes, fire protection and extinguishing systems to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and standards. This position performs progressively responsible activities of an administrative and technical nature related to environmental quality involving general compliance management (generally Hazardous Waste, Hazardous Material and Underground Storage Tank (UST) Management). The position maintains and coordinates records for permits and required testing and disposal of waste and hazardous materials; and reviews plans and conducts inspections of underground storage tanks based on regulatory compliance.

For more information about the duties of the position,

Note: Fire Prevention Specialists are required to work 10 hours a day, four (4) days a week (4/10 schedule).
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Experience and Education
Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

Equivalent to completion of high school supplemented by college-level coursework and/or specialized training in Fire Science and two years of progressively responsible experience in fire prevention including conducting inspections, plan checking and testing of hazardous processes and fire protection and extinguishing systems.

Familiarity with safety requirements for hazardous material use, handling, storage, disposal or inspection is desirable for assignment to Hazardous Materials.

Familiarity with fire safety and disaster preparedness or emergency management and public speaking and training/instructional techniques is desirable for assignment to Public Education.

Ideal Candidate:
Successful candidates will possess the following:

• Knowledge of laws, codes and ordinances pertaining to fire and environmental safety enforcement;
• Principles and techniques of fire and environmental inspection work;
• Knowledge of cause of origin/arson investigation;
• Enforce regulations tactfully;
• Maintain good working relationships with City staff and businesses within the City; and
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

License and/or Certificates
Valid California Class C Drivers' License

Possession of or ability to obtain the following:
California Penal Code 832 certificate;
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) certificate;
International Code Council (ICC) Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector certificate;
American Red Cross First Aid, American Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate;
Fire Investigator certificate from California State Fire Marshal (CSFM).

The following certifications are desirable:
Certified Stormwater Inspector - Municipal certificate;
ICC Fire Inspector I or II;
ICC Fire Plans Examiner;
CSFM Fire Inspector I or II;
CSFM Community Risk Educator.
HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at . Application submission will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. First review of applications will be those received by Wednesday, May 29, 2024at 11:59 p.m. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process, which will consist of the following:

Performance Exam: 40% (Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 13, 2024)
Panel Interview: 60% (Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 13, 2024)
The tentative test date will be based on a sufficient number of qualified applications received by the first review date. If a sufficient number of applications are not received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the test date may change to a later date.
SPECIAL NOTES

Visit to find out more information about our community.

The City of Torrance Conflict of Interest Code requires that employees in this classification file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement. Information about this requirement may be obtained from the City Clerk's office.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date(s). If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at before the test date.

As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check(including personal history questionnaire, background interview, Live Scan, reference check, and polygraph).

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

City of Torrance Inclusion Statement
The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally-rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees

BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR ENGINEERS & TORRANCE FISCAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (TFEA)
Note: Not all benefits listed may be applicable to all positions with in the unit. Please refer to the MOU for specifics.

Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance (sec.4.9)
The City's monthly contribution for health insurance effective 1/6/19 is as follows:

EE Only EE +1 EE +2 or more
Full time EE's $597.68 $1,140.36 $1,595.96
Part- time
(hired prior to 1/1/08) $493.11 $924.91 $1,277.43
Part-time
(hired after 1/1/08) $362.57 $628.31 $847.19

The City's monthly contribution for vision insurance is $3.33
The City's monthly contribution for dental insurance is $33.71/EE only and $67.42/EE +1 or more
The City provides a Cash In-Lieu payment of $400 per month for eligible full-time employees for as long as the employee opts-out of medical coverage
City provides a $50,000 life insurance policy

Premium Pay (sec. 3.1)
Varies by position and assignment. (See section 3.1 and 3.2)

Night Shift Differential (sec.3.2.1 and
Full time employees paid 5% above base hourly pay when 1⁄2 or more of the shift is scheduled to work after 5:00 p.m. or before 7:30 a.m.

Educational Incentive Premiums (sec
ENGINEERS: (Premiums paid above base pay, per hour. Total educational premiums not to exceed 12% combined)

• International Code Council (ICC) certificate: 4%
• 2% for each additional certificate, maximum of 12%
• Loss of 2% for each year's delay for failure to maintain certification
• LEED AP certificates (LEED AP, LEED AP BD+C, LED AP Homes, LEED AP ND): 2.5%
• Build It Green Certification (Green Point Advisor, Green Point Rater): 2.5%

Holidays (Sec 4.1)
13 paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday directly following Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve)

Vacation/Annual Leave (Sec. 4.2)
Engineers (Accrual rate per month):
Year 1: 6.58 hours; Year 2: 7.21 hours; Year 3: 7.87 hours; Year 4: 8.54 hours; Years 5-6: 10.54 hours; Years 7 -9: 11.21 hours; Years 10 -20: 14.56 hours; Years : 15.88 hours; Year 25+: 18.54 hours
TFEA (Accrual rate per month):
Year 1: 6.57 hours; Year 2: 7.51 hours; Year 3: 8.17 hours; Year 4: 8.84 hours; Years 5-9: 10.84 hours; Years 10 -20: 14.19 hours; Years : 15.51 hours; Year 25+: 16.17 hours

Sick Leave/ Personal Leave (sec.4.3)
Accrual rate is 6 (six) hours per month to a maximum of 600 hours accrued sick leave. *Two work shifts of sick/vacation leave may be used for personal leave.

Bereavement Leave (sec 4.6)
Three (3) working shifts with pay (Additional leave, up to 2 additional working shifts for travel 300 miles or more for eligible family members)

Disability Insurance (sec 4.9)
Employee receives 2/3 base pay after elimination period (14 consecutive days for STD and 180 consecutive days for LTD)

Retiree Insurance (Sec. 4.9)
TFEA only: City will pay $51/month for retirees who continue health insurance coverage in one of the PERS health insurance plans

Retirement (sec
PERS 2%@55,
Employees hired before 1/11/2011, City pays 7% EPMC*
Employees hired on or after 1/11/2011 pay 7% EPMC*
*Employer Paid Member Contribution (EPMC)
PERS
"New members" hired on or after January 1, 2013, pay (50%) of normal cost with three year average final compensation.

Uniform Allowance (sec
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER & SENIOR FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER ONLY:
$107.50 every 6 months (Paid June and December).

Tool and Educational Materials Allowance (sec
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$175 per year (Paid in February).

Licenses and Certificates (sec
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$220/year for license/certificates with recurrent fees: Registered Professional Engineer, Licensed Land Surveyor, and American Institute of Certified Planners.

Shoe Allowance
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$135 per year (Paid in September) for employees required to wear safety shoes or boots

Deferred Compensation Plan (Sec. 4.13.B)
A voluntarily 457 plan is available to all employees.
Employees are automatically enrolled in the 401(a) plan upon completion of one year service.

Retirement Health Savings Plan (sec 4.13.C)
Any hours under or equal to 600 (sick) and 600 (vacation) will be deposited into the ICMA-RC RHSP Plan, for retiring and separating employees. The remaining balance up to limits allowed by law will be disbursed into the City's 457 plan or be paid in cash.

01

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

• Yes
• No

02

I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe IN DETAIL my qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application. In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL JOBS, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any volunteer experience during my entire work history.I UNDERSTAND that when providing my work history, ALL DATES should be UPDATED, starting with my most recent job.I UNDERSTAND that answers that I provide to the supplemental questions should be reflected in the Work Experience Section of my application.I UNDERSTAND that if I am currently employed by the City of Torrance, I MUST provide my appropriate job classification/title and provide a description of my duties in the Work Experience Section of my application.I have read these statements in their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

• Yes
• No

03

What is your highest level of education completed?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College Coursework
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or above
• None

04

Have you taken college-level coursework and/or specialized training in fire science?

• Yes
• No

05

If you have taken college coursework, provide the name of the institution attended and the title of the course(s). (Type N/A if not applicable)

06

Do you have two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in Fire Prevention/Community Risk Reduction in the following areas (check all that apply)?

• Fire prevention inspections
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
• Inspecting of hazardous processes
• Plan checking/review
• Fire protection and extinguishing systems
• None

07

Explain in detail your experience in Fire Prevention/Community Risk Reduction based on the areas you checked on item #6. (Type N/A if not applicable)

08

Provide in detail your experience and training in Fire Prevention/Community Risk Reduction and Haz Mat environmental enforcement. (Type N/A if no applicable)

09

Do you have experience with hazardous material use, handling, storage, disposal or inspection?

• Yes
• No

10

Provide a description of your experience with hazardous material. (Type N/A if not applicable)

11

Do you have experience in the following areas (check all that apply)?

• Fire safety and disaster preparedness
• Emergency management and public speaking
• Training/instructional techniques
• None

12

Describe any experience you may have in any of the areas you checked on item #11. (Type N/A if not applicable)

13

Do you possess a valid California Class C driver's license?

• Yes
• No

14

Do you possess any of the following certificates (check all that apply)?

• None
• California Penal Code 832 certificate
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) certificate
• International Code Council (ICC) Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector certificate
• American Red Cross First Aid
• American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR certificate
• Fire Investigator certificate from California State Fire Marshal (CSFM)
• Certified Stormwater Inspector - Municipal certificate
• ICC Fire Inspector I or II
• ICC Fire Plans Examiner
• CSFM Fire Inspector I or II
• CSFM Community Risk Educator
• Other

15

If you checked other on item #14, provide the title of any other certificates you possess. (Type N/A if not applicable)

16

Provide in detail your experience working in a team environment. Include any leadership experience or training.

Required Question