Public Fire and Life Safety Educator

DESCRIPTION

Creates public awareness of the importance of fire prevention and methods of survival and escape within the guidelines of O.C.G.A. Rules of the Safety Fire Commission of Georgia, County codes, NFPA Standards. Communicates information to the public, particularly during incidents. Assist with community training and education activities. Works with co-workers, Fire Academy, education officials, law enforcement agencies, medical, civic organizations, and the general public to provide prevention, survival and escape from fire.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides adequate knowledge and motivation for public awareness of the causes, circumstances, dangers, and possible effects of fire. Communicates information to the public and perform community outreach.
• Plans and conducts publicity and informational activities. With direction from the Fire Chief, works independently while conducting publicity and informational activities.
• On behalf of the Fire Chief, serves as the primary spokesperson for the department to media and public. Assists with the marketing, event coordination, and public relations activities in support of various events and projects. Manage website/social media websites. Writes and submits press releases.
• Develops, implements, coordinates, and conducts Fire Safety Educational and Prevention programs for the public and special interest groups. Assists with community training and education activities. Assists with training fire department personnel in fire safety education & public relations. Grant management in conjunction with Federal and state guidelines in overseeing, research grant opportunities, draft proposal and supporting documents based on the funding requirements, submit proposals to grant coordinators for approval, respond to internal and external queries on drafted and submitted proposals. Maintain positive relationships and other stakeholders. Maintain records and submit reports related to grant(s).
• Inventories existing equipment, materials, supplies, or other resources available for establishing Fire Safety Educational programs and research potential resources.
• Evaluates needs and makes recommendations for the purchase of publicity and informational materials and equipment.
• Prepares budget for expenditures of the Fire Safety Education program and public awareness programs.
• Prepares annual budget requests to the Fire Chief for publicity and informational activities.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Serves as primary spokesperson for the Fire Department to the media and public.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Associate’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or related field.
Experience: Two years of experience in public relations, public safety agency preferred. Grant experience.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations
• Considerable knowledge of fire department operations, services, communications, office administration and teaching strategies
• Familiarity with national campaigns directed toward fire safety programs, fire and burn data collection, and codes applicable to fire safety.
• Proficiency in planning, designing, organizing, and conducting an informational campaign and projecting positive public relations
• Mastery of operation of standard office equipment, firefighter equipment, data collection and retrieval, filing and writing
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• May supervise and/or train designated subordinate department personnel
• Travel required from office to other locations on a regular basis
• Skill in researching current events
• Skill in the preparation of media releases
• Skill in public speaking
• Skill in analyzing data and making decisions
• Skill in establishing priorities and organizing work
• Skill in public and interpersonal relations
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral
• Ability to work and think well under pressure

• Must obtain CPR, Public Fire and Life Safety Educator, Basic Public Information Officer, and NPQ Level I Instructor certifications within 12 months of hire date.
• Possess or have ability to meet current requirements set forth by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Act for Public Fire and Life Safety Educator.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license with good driving history. If State license is other than Georgia or South Carolina, applicant must obtain a license in Georgia or South Carolina within 30 days of employment.
• Possess a valid state operator/driver’s license for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.
• Equipment: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Math: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Physical Abilities: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (10-20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Work is performed in an office and field setting.

OTHER

This position requires staff call up in emergency situations and travel from office to other locations.

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.