Fire and Emergency Services, Safety Specialist

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Fire and Emergency Services, Safety Specialist

Job Profile Title

Safety Specialist

Job Description Summary

Under the direction of the Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, the Safety Specialist works as part of a team in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive life/fire safety program, which includes coordination of the University s fire prevention programs, assisting with emergency preparedness and management, and serving as a technical oversight professional for the installation, testing, maintenance and certification of all types of life safety systems. The Safety
Specialist must be able to develop and facilitate safety training and specialized programs; investigate and document incidents and accidents occurring on or near the
University s campuses; perform safety audits of campus facilities, grounds, equipment and systems; and maintain statistics for reports to University officials and
governmental organizations.

Job Description

Duties of the Safety Specialist Position

Under the direction of the Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, the Safety Specialist works as part of a team in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive life/fire safety program, which includes coordination of the University s fire prevention programs, assisting with emergency preparedness and management, and serving as a technical oversight professional for the installation, testing, maintenance and certification of all types of life safety systems. The Safety Specialist must be able to develop and facilitate safety training and specialized programs; investigate and document incidents and accidents occurring on or near the University s campuses; perform safety audits of campus facilities, grounds, equipment and systems; and maintain statistics for reports to University officials and governmental organizations.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor Degree in Fire Safety Science, Environmental Health or Science, or a degree in a related scientific field of study as well as 3 to 5 years of work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Access and Excel and possession of an ICC or NFPA certifications as a plans examiner, building code specialist, fire inspector or fire protection specialist are preferred.

• The successful candidate will work other than a normal Monday through Friday schedule and must be able to perform emergency response activities for fire safety and hazardous materials on a rotating on-call basis.

• This position is categorized as essential personnel and serves on-call (24 hours/7 days) to respond to emergencies.

• The ability to walk throughout the 2.8 square mile campus is required.

• This position operates in a fast-paced environment, which requires