The City of Manhattan Beach Fire Department is seeking a highly qualified professional for the position of Fire Marshal. Join our team of dedicated individuals who are committed to preventing loss of life, property damage, and environmental harm, and take pride in delivering the highest level of service and expertise in partnership with the Manhattan Beach Community.
The Fire Marshal is a non-sworn, at-will, and exempt position. This position will lead the Manhattan Beach Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB), staffed by dedicated civilian professionals committed to protecting the Manhattan Beach community through proactive safety measures, education, and enforcement.
The FPB conducts fire safety inspections across a wide range of occupancies, including high-rise buildings, hotels, businesses, apartment complexes, schools, public assembly venues, healthcare facilities, special events, film productions, fire alarm systems, and medical gas installations. The FPB also oversees the issuance of fire permits, inspects new construction and tenant improvements, and evaluates automatic fire protection systems to ensure operational readiness and code compliance. In addition, the FPB delivers public education and safety awareness programs to residents, schools, and businesses, and conducts origin-and-cause investigations to identify contributing factors, support enforcement efforts, and assist with post-incident analysis.
The FPB provides a comprehensive suite of services encompassing community education and preparedness, emergency planning, fire prevention, fire investigation, vegetation management, and plan review for new and modified construction projects.
The duties listed below 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 class.
-
Plans, organizes, and manages fire inspections and plan checking, fire prevention and education, and arson investigation functions.
-
Determines how fire inspections will be assigned by geographic location, type of construction, and property uses.
-
Develops training programs, standards, and procedures for fire safety inspection and arson investigation.
-
Plans and conducts fire safety inspections of apartment buildings, condominium complexes, schools, day care facilities, medical establishments, and other types of properties based on occupancy and uses.
-
Issues recurrent and temporary permits, certificate of occupancy, and site plan approval.
-
Approves alternative solutions to fire prevention code violations.
-
Functions as Fire Safety Officer for special events and movie production in accordance with approved permits.
-
Performs and reviews flame acceptance tests on flammable fabrics and other materials.
-
Conducts fire plan checks of blueprints and specifications for adherence with fire safety codes, solar plan standards, and other requirements.
-
Organizes, assigns, and performs fire construction inspections.
-
May coordinate arson investigations; establishes investigation and inspection methods and procedures; leads and conducts inspections to determine source and nature of fires and incidents; performs interviews of witnesses and suspects and secures evidence; prepares and presents required reports.
-
Assigns public education presentations and prepares materials needed for presentation.
-
Oversees hazardous materials management functions, including interfaces with CUPA (Certified Unified Program Agencies) for the Los Angeles County Region.
-
Assigns, coordinates, and supervises the work of Fire Inspection and Prevention employees; trains personnel, explains standards and procedures, and conducts performance evaluations.
-
Prepares budget recommendations for fire safety training and expenses, and completes and presents activity reports.
-
Reviews and recommends current fire code adoption and amendments to ordinances.
-
May perform varied administrative assignments in support of the Fire Chief such as acting as Terrorism Liaison Officer.
-
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Education/Training/Experience:
-
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in fire prevention, hazardous materials management, fire code enforcement, fire education, and disaster preparedness is required.
-
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with a major in fire safety, operations management, public administration, or a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.
-
A minimum of one (1) year of supervisory experience is preferred. Previous municipal experience is highly desirable.
Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:
-
Completion of ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 by Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and/or National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) is required.
-
ICS 300 and 400 certificates must be completed within six (6) months of employment.
-
Possession of International Code Council (ICC) Fire Inspector II Certification or Fire Plans Examiner is required.
-
Possession of, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire, California PC 832 Certificate is required.
-
A valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record is required in compliance with the City’s Vehicle Insurance Policy standards.
-
State Registered Fire Protection Engineer and/or State of California Office of the Fire Marshal Certification as a Fire Prevention Officer or Fire Marshal is preferred.
-
In accordance with California Government Code Section 3100, City of Manhattan Beach employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to protect the health, safety, lives, and property of the people of the State.
Knowledge of:
Incident Command Systems and procedures and State Mutual Aid System; California Department of Motor Vehicles codes and regulations; emergency preparedness and terrorism prevention; Fire Safety, Emergency Medical Services, and Hazardous Materials codes, ordinances, and regulations; risk management, Fire Records Management System; facilities and fleet management systems; principles, practices, and procedures of fire prevention inspections, arson investigation practices, and plan check practices; construction methods and practices; City geography, streets, and water hydrant locations, and surrounding response areas; fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems; building materials; hazardous materials risks and storage requirements; record keeping methods and procedures; proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); technical report writing methods; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; supervisory principles and leadership techniques; budgeting practices; customer service practices.
Ability to:
Read, understand, and enforce departmental policies, rules, regulations, instructions; administer program and operating budgets; prepare, review and present reports and budgets for assigned operations; read plans and maps; fire inspection and prevention procedures; operate modern office equipment and computer hardware and use word processing, spreadsheet, and specialized software; communicate effectively orally and in writing; work cooperatively with staff, fire management, other fire agency personnel, officials, and the general public.
Interviews will be held continuously until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. This position may close at any time without notice.
All applicants will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training, and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Meeting the minimum requirements listed in this job announcement does not guarantee advancement in subsequent phases of the selection process. The selection process may be changed as deemed necessary by the City Human Resources Department.
If you need special assistance in the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (310) 802-5258.
NOTE: A drug test may be administered as part of the pre-employment medical exam. The provisions of this brochure do not constitute a contract, express or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
