Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

As a member of the Office of the Fire Marshal's (OFM) management team, the position is involved in setting the mission, strategic direction, values and vision of the OFM and leads/directs the OFM and the Ontario fire service on best practices, educational approaches, programs and initiatives regarding the identification, implementation and evaluation of effective community fire and life safety public education programs.
The position monitors the Ontario fire service to determine compliance with the Fire Prevention and Protection Act (FPPA) and collaborates with other sections within the OFM to provide advice and assistance to municipalities to achieve compliance by providing effective fire and life safety education programs to enable the fire service to meet the mandatory requirements of the FPPA and to raise public awareness of fire and life safety programs.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manages a diverse team and performs full range of managerial responsibilities including establishing priorities, assigning work, approving merit increases, managing performance and attendance, recruiting staff, administering discipline as required, responding to grievances, etc. Manage, administer and monitor the section's budget to ensure the section stays within set allocation and budget.

2. Lead/manage a team environment by establishing effective communication practices ensuring two-way communication and providing training and education, and developmental opportunities to staff. Define accountabilities and performance measures for staff in the section and provide ongoing feedback and evaluate performance. Ensure the section has a performance appraisal system and learning plans for each employee in accordance with policy

3. Develop and recommend long-range strategic and operational plans for the section, establish environmental scanning processes to determine emerging issues and trends. Develop and/or adhere to established OFM/corporate policies and procedures to respond to issues when they are identified and develop/recommend methods of addressing critical issues in the early stages. Provide leadership to staff and ensure the mission, strategic direction, values and vision of the organization are integrated into all activities.

4. Provide advice and leadership and with other section managers and section heads to develop work plans, coordinate resources and set corporate and operational priorities.

5. Support/develop/ lead public education efforts of the OFM, recommending to Fire Marshal and staff, new direction, programs/initiatives and policies related to public education or revision of existing initiatives or policies, Ensuring that the section operates within the OFM's approved policy framework.


6. Monitor and review fire prevention and public fire safety education activities mandated by the Fire Prevention and Protection Act (FPPA), within the fire service across Ontario and provide advice and assistance to Municipalities to ensure legislated requirements of the FPPA are met.

7. Collaborate with Fire Investigation Services, Fire Protection Services and other sections to identify and address serious fire safety issues and gaps identified through Major Fire Investigations and develop, maintain, deliver and evaluate the Public Fire and Life Safety Educator's Program at the Ontario Fire College and, where approved or required, accreditation to international standards through IFSAC and PRO Board. Collaborate with the Ontario Fire College to identify and develop educational opportunities with the fire service to enhance their ability to develop and implement programs and initiatives to address public fire safety issues in their communities.

8. Provide leadership and expertise to government agencies and private organizations to ensure integration of fire and life safety programs and initiative. Identify opportunities and develop partnership with other government organizations and the private sector to create effective fire and life safety programs and initiatives and develop relevant Memoranda or Understanding with partners (i.e., Ministry of Natural Resources, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, etc.) to develop/deliver programs and initiatives to address fire prevention issues. Negotiate terms of partnership agreements, develop partnership proposals and develop strategies to ensure program and partnership success. Represent the interests of Ontarians and the Office of the Fire Marshal as the Ontario liaison to the Nationals Fire Protection Association and Canadian National Public Educators' Forum.

9. Act as a provincial expert, and provide expert testimony at court cases, special hearings, inquests and public inquires

10. Provide educational leadership and set direction for the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council to ensure programs and initiatives are in accordance with OFM philosophies, best practices and are consistent and represent the interests of the Fire Marshal and public safety. Collaborate with Council and partners to identify key programs and partnerships designed to reduce the loss of property and prevent injuries and deaths among Ontario's high risk populations.

11. Monitor fire statistics and develop strategies to counter the top fire scenarios and fire trends. Conduct research and continuously monitor other injury prevention experts, researchers and leaders to keep informed on leading edge methods, techniques and formats, messaging, programs and initiatives to promote fire and life safety initiatives.

12. Manage the development/production of marketing, communication and education products and materials to promote fire and life safety programs initiatives including media releases, public service announcements, articles, speeches, etc. to raise public and professional awareness and change human behaviours that contribute to fires

13. Develop strategies and manage the design and production of educational materials to effectively communicate, raise awareness and promote fire and life safety programs and initiatives by utilizing traditional media (radio, television and print) , videos and leveraging new and emerging social media technology (blogs, twitter, websites) and also to ensure Ontario Fire Services and the public are aware and accepting of fire and life safety programs and initiatives by changing behaviours that contribute to preventable fires. The incumbent will also conduct media interviews regarding public fire and life safety issues
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14. Organize, market, and promote Public Education Conferences and Awards programs and represent the Office of the Fire Marshal as a key presenter at conferences, and educational seminars to promote effective educational programs. Develop and deliver motivational and educational workshops for the Fire Services and OFM. Coordinate and administer the Fire Services Long Service Medals and OFM awards and the Fire Marshal Public Fires Safety Council Awards.

15. Position is required to work unconventional hours at times, including evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Knowledge :

Position requires thorough working knowledge of the OFM mandate, roles, programs, policies and procedures; of municipal fire department operations, structures and capabilities of related programs and sections of the OFM; fire behaviour and causes; fire suppression techniques, equipment and methods to assess community efficiency and effectiveness and recommend solutions.

Position requires a broad knowledge of fire prevention, protection, risk identification and public education to ensure that policies, programs, procedures and guidelines developed are based on current best practices. Must have thorough knowledge of fire prevention and public fire safety education requirements of the Fire Prevention and Protection Act to be able to monitor and assess activities of Ontario Fire Service to determine compliance.

Comprehensive knowledge of municipal government structure, management and operations to ensure that services and guidelines for municipal officials are relevant to the current political climate and enable officials to be cognizant of their legislated responsibilities for fire prevention and public education.

Expert knowledge or Fire and life safety education programs current theories and strategies, Ontario fire protection services/operations and related legislation, statistical analysis, methods and practices regarding risk assessments, risk management, fire department management, fire protection and fire prevention services. Adult education techniques, curriculum development and delivery, teaching and learning strategies of diverse groups, human behaviour in fire situations, facilitation, presentation and instruction methods.

Excellent interpersonal skills are used both within and outside the OFM to bring divergent parties together to resolve a wide range of fire safety issues; ensuring that stakeholders' opinions are heard and that solutions developed are in compliance with the FPPA, policies and guidelines. Position will ensure all factors are taken into account for putting forth recommendations for policy changes where various levels of government or clients are impacted.

Position requires thorough knowledge of current principles, theories and best practices related to adult education techniques, curriculum development, curriculum development and learning strategies to ensure effective design, development, delivery and evaluation of public fire safety education strategies, programs and initiatives

Position requires solid knowledge and understanding of leading edge communication and public relations techniques and media tools and strategies, practices and tools to promote public fire safety education programs and initiatives and to instruct fire service personnel on this topic.

Position requires knowledge of the principles, policies, directives, guidelines and practices that govern the allocation and management of financial, human and physical resources in the Ontario Public Service. Knowledge of the principles and practices of adult education is also required.

Excellent oral and written communication skills to: clearly communicate how programs and projects are to be undertaken to meet the goals and objectives of the OFM; prepare reports on fire safety issues for internal and external use; prepare and deliver presentations on fire safety issues and the strategic direction of the OFM.

Judgement :

Position works under the general direction of the Assistant Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Protection Services and exercises judgement in making decisions and resolving complex issues, in addition to maintaining a liaison and contact with the Fire Marshal, particularly on matters pertaining to the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council. Guidance is available within applicable legislation, ministry policy and directives.

Sound judgement required and exercised when monitoring municipalities for compliance with legislated requirements of the Fire Prevention and Protection Act and recommending solutions for compliance.

Sound judgement is exercised when analyzing complex information pertaining to risk identification and management, fire prevention effectiveness. Considerable initiative is required when evaluating and applying policies and procedures to deal with issues and develop alternatives that will increase public safety.

In the absence of policies, procedures and guidelines, independent judgement is utilized to develop creative solutions to resolve issues.

Working within a broad framework of government, ministry and OFM policies and procedures, judgement is exercised when setting priorities to meet deadlines and deal with confidential high profile and potentially contentious information.

Judgement is exercised when dealing fire service groups, and developing marketing, media and social media strategies and communication materials for broad distribution.

Judgement is exercised when providing advice to senior managers and stakeholders regarding communications, public education and media strategies, and responding to media inquiries.

Judgement is needed when providing input or making recommendations to policies and procedural changes affecting the OFM or impacting municipal stakeholders. Coordinating the activities of the section allocating resources and setting priorities.

Sound judgement and discretion is used in developing and delivering educational material with potential impact on stakeholders, public safety and in responding to sensitive or contentious issues which may have province-wide implications for fire and life safety programs.

A high degree of judgement is required when representing the Fire Marshal at Coroner's Inquests, public inquiries, public relations and awards functions.

Excellent judgement must be exercised as a member of internal OFM committee to assess fire risk in municipalities to determine mandatory requirements; and to develop, review and revise fire protection guidelines.

Accountability - Programs :

The position reports to the Assistant Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Protection Services and works within the broad parameters of relevant legislations, corporate and OFM policies, programs and procedures.

The position is accountable for planning the activities and resources of a multi-discipline team in the review and development of community-based programs for fire prevention, protection, risk identification and management, and public fire safety education.

Position contributes to and supports the comprehensive fire safety effectiveness model, ministry and government public fire safety goals and provides accurate advice and assistance to allow for informed decisions about fire protection as prescribed by the FPPA.

Position is accountable for providing appropriate monitoring of fire prevention and public fire safety education activities of Ontario Fire Services as required by the FPPA and ensures OFM consistency in the application of program delivery and the application of the FPPA.

Accountability – Personnel :

Position provides leadership to team to accomplish goals and mandate of section and performs full range of managerial responsibilities for section staff including recruitment, performance management, learning and development, pay administration, attendance management, grievance management, discipline, etc.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Develops and manages the section's budget, monitors and approves all purchases and expenditures within signing authority.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Failure to provide effective services and programs or effective monitoring in the province will have a negative impact on fire and life safety and property protection. All programs and service delivery must be consistent with ministry priorities and legislation in relation to fire prevention, public education and training. Errors in judgement could cause embarrassment to the government, expose the public to unacceptable higher levels of risk from fire and possible legal action.

Contact - Internal :

Has regular contact with senior management in the OFM and ministry staff to provide advice, exchange information, resolve problems, provide public relations, communications, marketing, issues management and policy/operational guidance and advice.

Contact - External :

Position has contacts with various levels of municipal/provincial/federal government or agencies to provide information regarding service delivery of public safety initiatives or ministry policy or objectives. Position communicates out to the public via media and other mechanisms.

Staffing and Licensing: Valid Ontario Drivers License, Class G (or better) as position may be required to travel and access remote locations inaccessible by public transportation