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Fire and Life Safety Manager; Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning

Employer
Wake Forest University
Location
Winston Salem, NC
View more categoriesView less categories
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Application Instructions:

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** Cover letter required for all positions and optional for facilities, campus services, and hospitality positions unless otherwise specified.

Job Description Summary

The Fire and Life Safety Manager is responsible for ensuring the safety of University students, staff, faculty, and visitors by developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive fire and life safety programs. This role oversees compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to fire safety and emergency preparedness. The Fire and Life Safety Manager conducts regular inspections, manages fire safety systems, coordinates emergency drills, and collaborates with various departments to ensure the University environment remains safe from fire-related hazards.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

Fire Safety Program Management:

  • Develop, implement, and manage fire and life safety programs across campus.

  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal fire codes and regulations.

  • Collaborate with departments and building managers to ensure fire safety standards are maintained in all University buildings.

Inspection and Testing:

  • Coordinate and audit regular fire and life safety inspections of buildings, equipment, and systems, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and emergency lighting.

  • Coordinate and audit the testing and maintenance of all fire detection and suppression systems.

  • Identify fire hazards and recommend corrective actions.

Training and Education:

  • Meet regularly with building managers to audit fire and life safety procedures and offer guidance on fire safety protocols and best practices.

  • Develop and deliver fire safety training programs for University personnel, students, and visitors.

  • Organize and promote fire safety awareness programs and events across campus.

Emergency Response and Preparedness:

  • Develop and update emergency response plans and procedures related to fire and life safety.

  • Lead or support investigations of fire incidents on campus and prepare reports with recommendations for future prevention.

Documentation and Compliance:

  • Maintain accurate records of fire safety inspections, maintenance, and corrective actions.

  • Ensure all fire safety programs comply with OSHA regulations, NFPA standards, and other applicable codes.

  • Prepare reports and documentation for regulatory agencies and University administration.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation:

  • Conduct fire risk assessments for University buildings and events.

  • Provide input on fire safety aspects during the design and renovation of campus facilities.

  • Collaborate with risk management to identify potential hazards and develop strategies for risk mitigation.

Other Functions:

  • Work closely with campus security, facilities management, environmental health and safety, and other departments to promote a culture of safety.

  • Participate in safety committees and contribute to the development of University-wide safety policies.

  • Stay up to date on trends and developments in fire and life safety practices and technologies.

  • Upholds the principles of inclusiveness, diversity, dialogue, collegiality, respect, knowledge, integrity, learning, awareness, and responsiveness. Sets standards, goals and plans related to these areas.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Bachelor’s degree in fire science, safety management, or a related field with certifications such as Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), Certified Fire Safety Manager, or equivalent required.

  • 6-10 years experience in fire safety systems across higher education, institutional, or similar multi-site facilities operations or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Knowledge of fire codes, regulations, and safety standards (OSHA, NFPA, etc.).

  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

  • Excellent communication and training skills.

  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.

  • Familiarity with fire detection and suppression systems.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Experience working with a diverse group of constituents.

  • Direct management experience with ability to set direction, goals, and objectives to achieve departmental and individual goals.

Accountabilities:

  • Supervises Fire and Life Safety Specialist

  • Liaison to Winston-Salem Fire Department

  • Member of the University Incident Management Team

  • This position may be designated as essential personnel to support business continuity in the event of campus emergencies, disasters, or other special needs as directed by management. Essential personnel are subject to recall inside/outside their normal schedule. Additional details can be found in the Wake Forest University Policy on Weather Other Unusual Conditions.

Physical Requirements:

  • Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 20 lbs of force frequently and/or up to 10 lbs of force constantly to move objects.

  • Must be able to conduct building inspections, which may include climbing ladders, accessing rooftops, and inspecting confined spaces.

  • Close visual acuity such as operations of machines; using measurement devices; and/or visual inspections of small parts or devices.

Environmental Conditions:

Subject to indoor and outdoor conditions, year-round.

Disclaimer:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee’s supervisor.

To help provide a safe learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply. Wake Forest University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in employment for individuals with disabilities.

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Full timeNote to Applicant:This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.

Organization

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation.  WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs.  The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty.  It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount.

Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school's founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust.​

The University is comprised of:  the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus.  Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world-class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1.  Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part-time faculty and staff.

Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen-team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).  Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto “pro humanitate,” which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight-dimensional well-being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative.

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, NC, a beautiful, mid-sized city centrally located in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina.  Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene.

Winston-Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family.  Winston-Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town (www.visitwinstonsalem.com).

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