Fire Protection Systems Supervisor

Fire Protection Systems Supervisor

(non-union position)

The City of Alexandria is in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 160,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place with approximately one-quarter of the City’s square miles designated as a national or local historic district. Several buildings in these districts are monuments to the past, while being actively used by residents for homes, businesses, and museums. If you’re interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we have an opportunity as a Fire Protection Systems Supervisor.

An Overview
The Fire Protection Systems Supervisor will provide supervision and guidance to a group of plan review professionals or a sub-professional technical staff and directs and manages the day-to-day activities of the Plan Review Section or the Fire Protection Systems Unit in the Office of Building and Fire Code Administration of the Fire Department. The employee in this class utilizes professional expertise in the review of planned construction or technical expertise in fire protection systems for the conformance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and coordinates reviews with other City agencies. A Supervisory Engineer works under the general supervision of the Director or Deputy Director, Office of Building and Fire Code Administration with considerable latitude for independent action.

The Opportunity

• Supervises and assigns work to a group of plan review professionals, oversees the day-to-day activities of the Plans Review Section;
• Reviews plans for commercial and residential buildings for conformance to applicable codes, standards and references and assists the Building Official in the evaluation of structural failures or structures in jeopardy of failure;
• Prepares employee evaluations, approves leave and training requests, revises work schedules to accommodate workload changes, and ensures that preliminary and final plan reviews are conducted within established time frames;
• Develops and publishes policies, procedures, and guidelines for use by design professionals regarding plan review issues;
• Participates in the review of plans and documents for structures to be constructed under the Special Inspection Program;
• Participates in the review of structures that are unique and/or unusual to ensure code and procedural compliance;
• Discusses minimum code requirements and procedures with developers, owners and engineers as well interprets code provisions for compliance with building requirements;
• Chairs or participates in pre-construction meetings, as needed;
• Reviews and discusses plans with applicants regarding code requirements, engineering design, analysis, calculations of proposed construction and construction material, approval revisions, shop drawings, wall checks, as built,, and special inspection documents;
• Researches the Code and provides recommendations to the Building Official for Modification Requests, Special Use Permits (Sups), Developmental Special Use Permits (DSUPs), zoning issues (sub-divisions, encroachments, BZA and BAR cases) and site plans;
• Evaluates or participates in evaluation of, or causes to have evaluated, structural failures or structures in jeopardy of failure;
• Assists and advises code enforcement inspectors regarding code interpretations and construction methods that vary from approved plans and in emergency situations;
• Discusses building techniques and code requirements with architects, engineers, design professionals and homeowners to assist them in bringing their plans into compliance with building and trade codes;
• Educates staff and the general public on building safety, proper construction methods, codes standards and issued policies/procedures related to construction;
• Renders opinions on design questions that will influence and support the decision of the Building Official for construction matters;
• Coordinates the One-Stop Shop program;
• Testifies in court as an expert witness, as required;
• Supervises and oversees the day-to-day activities of the fire protection systems plans examiner, inspection staff, and engineering aide;
• Develops and provides training, assigns work and explains performance expectations to staff;
• Reviews plans, processes, and authorizes permits for commercial and residential buildings for conformance to applicable codes, standards and references and assists the Building Official in the evaluation of fire protection system design, performance, and viability;
• Determines priorities and approves work procedures for unit inspectors;
• Schedules work assignments and requests for inspections to meet contractor and property owner needs;
• Provides one on one and group interaction in a supervisory role, and provides supervisory oversight of field activities;
• Reviews and approves employees work;
• Determines priorities and approves work assignments for engineering aide;
• Develops and publishes policies, procedures, and guidelines for use by design professionals regarding submittal, scheduling, inspection and testing procedures;
• Prepares employee evaluations, approves leave and training requests, revises work schedules to accommodate workload changes, and ensures that all plan reviews are conducted within established time frames;
• Participates in the review of fire protection systems that are unique and/or unusual to ensure code and procedural compliance;
• Discusses minimum code requirements and procedures with developers, owners and engineers as well as interprets code provisions for compliance with building requirements;
• Reviews and discusses plans with applicants regarding code requirements, engineering design, analysis, calculations of proposed construction and construction material, approval revisions, and shop drawings;
• Researches the Code and provides recommendations to the Building Official for Modification Requests, Special Use Permits (SUPs), Developmental Special Use Permits (DSUPs), site plans and changes to the city fire prevention code;
• Evaluates or participates in evaluation of, or causes to have evaluated, fire protection system failures or systems in jeopardy of failure; Assists and advises fire protection system and code enforcement inspectors regarding code interpretations and construction methods that vary from approved plans and in emergency situations;
• Discusses building techniques and code requirements with architects, engineers, design professionals and homeowners to assist them in bringing their plans into compliance with building and trade codes;
• Educates staff, fire department operations group, design professionals, and the general public on fire protection system codes standards and issued policies/procedures related to fire protection system design, operation, inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements;
• Testifies in court as an expert witness, as required; Conducts performance appraisals and approves leave time;
• Attends senior staff, budget, planning, policy development, development & construction, and design plan meetings;
• Conducts investigations of complaints; Meets with community and business leaders to address concerns;
• Develops policies and procedures based on needs identified by fire companies;
• Performs related work as required;

About the Department The Alexandria Fire Department provides fire, and emergency medical services with capabilities for responding to a wide range of occurrences, including fire protection to a 15 square mile city. We employ more than 300 professionals, which include firefighters, paramedics, fire prevention staff and administrative support. A network of ten stations protects 15 square miles. Among the department's specialized teams are the Northern Virginia Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Technical Rescue, Marine Operations, Special Operations Team and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four-Year College Degree from a college/university of recognized standing with a major in engineering (civil, structural, mechanical, architectural, fire protection or related); five years of experience to include planning and laying out work for others, design and/or review for code compliance of fire protection and alarm systems, general mechanical, electrical, and building construction; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Required Certifications:

Virginia Building Code Academy (VBCA)/Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Protection Inspector, and Fire Protection Plans Examiner.

Employee must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence.

Must possess required certifications at the time of appointment or within 18 of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of and experience with fire prevention laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations; thorough knowledge of engineering principles relate to the construction design, methods, and materials, and particularly those applicable to fire protection systems, fire prevention and explosion hazards.