Fire Protection Specialist 1/Trainee 1/Trainee 2 (NY HELPS)

Minimum Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).***

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.

This title includes a traineeship opportunity and applicants will be appointed to the appropriate level** based on their experience and education.

• Fire Protection Specialist 1 level requirements:
• Fire Protection Specialist Trainee 1 (equated to SG-13): Three years of full-time, paid experience as a firefighter in a fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade OR six years of experience as a volunteer firefighter or firefighter trainer. Experience must be obtained on or after January 1, 2005.
• Fire Protection Specialist Trainee 2 (equated to SG-14): Four years of full-time, paid experience as a firefighter in a fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade OR seven years of experience as a volunteer firefighter or firefighter trainer. Experience must be obtained on or after January 1, 2005.
• Fire Protection Specialist 1, SG-18: Five years of full-time, paid experience as a firefighter in a fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade OR eight years of experience as a volunteer firefighter or firefighter trainer. You must have completion of the core coursework in all of the following offered by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Fire Prevention and Control, or equivalent, qualifying for certification in: Fire Instructor 1 and Hazardous Materials Technician; AND at least two of the following: Fire Investigator 1, Structural Collapse Rescue Technician Fire Officer 1, Hazardous Materials Advanced Technician, Fire Instructor 2, or certification by the Department of State as a Code Enforcement Official.
  
  

Substitutions: an associate degree in a related field can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor’s in a related field degree can substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree in a related field can substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate in a related field can substitute for six years of experience.

Dependent upon qualifications, if appointed as a trainee, successful completion of a one-year or two-year traineeship leads to appointment as a Fire Protection Specialist 1, SG-18.

Applicants may be appointed to this position if currently reachable on the appropriate eligible list; OR are a current New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services employee with one year or more permanent, contingent-permanent or 55b/c service as a Fire Protection Specialist 1 and are interested in reassignment; OR Current New York State employee with one year or more of permanent, contingent-permanent, or 55b/c service as a Fire & Safety Representative and eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Duties Description

The incumbent will report to the Office of Fire Prevention and Control's Fire and Life Safety Branch. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develop, coordinate and provide training in an area of specific expertise throughout the
  
  

State. Subject areas may include, but not be limited to: hazardous materials, technical rescue fire investigation, fire inspection and prevention, and general firefighting practices.

• Conduct fire and life safety inspections.
• Service as liaison between State Emergency Management Office, local fire departments and regional fire administrators in the development and implementation of local emergency response plans and exercises. Also serve as State agency liaison during actual emergencies.
• Respond to emergency incidents as directed.
• Provide technical assistance to local fire officials as requested.
• Conduct fire/arson investigations.
• Serve as a liaison between the State and local fire departments in the development of local emergency response plans and exercises; review plans, make recommendations for changes or enhancements, and insure compliance with controlling laws, regulations and best practices.
• May assist in the implementation of special projects, such as training course revisions, conferences and seminar programs, and equipment maintenance programs.
• Provide technical assistance and instruction to State agencies, colleges and universities, county representatives, municipal and local fire officials, and civic groups on matters relating to fire safety and prevention.
• Review curricula, lesson plans and instructional materials for content, relevance and accuracy.
• Perform technical assistance and emergency response activities.
• Provide specialized oversight of the National Certification Program.
• Provide specialized oversight of the NYS Minimum Standards for Firefighters, including C-PAT.
• Distribute and maintain inventories of supplies, materials and equipment
• Ensure the Fire Operations Center is in a state of readiness; recommend and implement approved procedures for efficient activation, operations and scheduling.
• Assist with monthly and quarterly reports as needed.
• Assist with other duties as assigned.
• Provide Office support for standardized, consistent, and uniform Office procedures, including curriculum, purchasing, vehicle utilization, travel, and uniforms.
• May act as the official State representative to coordinate State-provided emergency services in the event of a regional or Statewide incident.
• Significant travel, approximately 60%, often overnight in an assigned geographic location is required.
  
  

Additional Comments

Candidates who are currently 55b/c eligible and meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply. If interested in this position and applying using your 55b/c status, please provide a copy of your current 55b/c eligibility letter.

• This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
  
  

Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver's License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is required.

NOTE: Support of operations during times of emergency and disaster from State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), state field offices and/or local deployments may be required, which would result in a change and/or increase in working hours, locations and/or duties.

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the Agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.