Assistant Director of EHS and Fire Life Safety

Job Summary/Basic Function:

Reporting to the Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), the Assistant Director of EHS and Fire Life Safety is responsible for assisting and supporting the development, implementation, and maintenance of campus-wide EHS programs, with the primary responsibility of planning, administration, and management of fire and life safety services for Teachers College. This is to be achieved by applying best practices to provide for the safety of all students, faculty, and staff, the protection of assets, and the College’s compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws/regulations regarding EHS and fire and life safety. This position provides strategic management and leadership in the areas of EHS, fire safety, and fire systems under the supervision of the Director of Environmental Health & Safety. In a manner that enhances the quality of campus safety and the mission of Teachers College, the Assistant Director of EHS and Fire Life Safety will work in partnership with the Office of Public Safety to coordinate resources in support of community safety. Upon hiring, the Assistant Director of EHS and Fire Life Safety shall be adequately trained in the areas of Environmental Health & Safety and Fire Life Safety, as applicable specifically to Teachers College. The selected candidate will have on-call responsibilities. Weekend and off-hours work is required.


CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

FIRE LIFE & SAFTEY:

• Plan, organize, and manage fire protection and life safety activities.
• Conduct building inspections to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local codes, as well as College policy.
• Initiate necessary actions for violation remediation.
• Develop and implement fire protection programs and procedures to ensure employee, student, and faculty safety within the Teachers College environs.
• Review building construction design for fire and life safety compliance.
• Conduct fire protection oversight and audit programs.
• Maintain property damage reports resulting from fire.
• Prepare, coordinate, and maintain all fire inspection and fire system service reports.
• Develop and implement fire prevention training activities, including but not limited to: fire prevention, use of portable fire extinguishing equipment, and evacuation.
• Act as a liaison with the NYC Fire Department, and other emergency agencies. Communicate with community and civic organizations, to promote fire safety.
• Ensure that all fire and life safety systems and equipment are in place at all TC Properties. Fire safety code typically requires fire protection systems such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, or other fire suppressant systems. Make sure these systems are properly installed, suitable for identified fire hazards, and fully functional. This may include planning, coordinating, and conducting fire drills to gauge system readiness. Ensure that records of all drills are kept accordingly for each TC building and are readily available upon request.
• Conduct periodic fire safety inspections - Two per month. These inspections cover the evaluation of fire hazards and address property safeguards. Also responsible for making sure any deficiencies identified are promptly corrected via work orders and/or communications to affected parties. Ensures all FDNY requirements and recordkeeping for TC buildings (academic and residential) are maintained and available upon request. During inspections identify all record-keeping deficiencies and communicate them to responsible parties.
• Participate as a member of the EHS team, providing all other departmental staff members with cooperation and support to further the departmental mission.
• Coordinate and accompany regulatory inspections pertaining to fire and life safety systems including FDNY building inspections. Work with local fire departments to ensure that all violations are cured in a timely manner. Maintain and track all Notice of Violations (NOV), Violation Orders (VO), Notice of Hearing (NOH), etc. Coordinate, compile, write, edit, and facilitate submission of documents for approval, such as plans, schedules, goals, etc.
• Independently write correspondence, memoranda, transmittals, reports, and other materials relating to emergency operations, facilities planning, physical security and construction/renovation projects, safety, etc.
• Assume, in conjunction with other offices, the responsibility to coordinate, schedule, facilitate, and monitor the bidding of projects related to areas of responsibility.
• Resolve, coordinate, or facilitate the resolution of routine complaints relating to areas of responsibility.
• Remain accessible and able to respond appropriately, in person or otherwise, to urgent or eme