Director, Fire and Life Safety

Job Title

Director, Fire and Life Safety

Agency

Texas A&M University - Victoria

Department

Emergency Management

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Victoria, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Under general direction, the Director, Fire and Life Safety serves as the senior campus official responsible for all fire and life safety, emergency management, and incident preparedness activities at Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria). This position is responsible for the development and oversight of essential campus functions such as fire prevention, inspection, plan review, code enforcement, emergency operations, and continuity planning

The Fire Marshal & Director of Emergency Management ensures a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors through proactive program development, regulatory compliance, emergency response leadership, and collaborative engagement across all campus units.

Responsibilities:

40% – Fire & Life Safety Leadership and Program Administration

· Serves as the Campus Fire Marshal, or the Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (Local AHJ) for fire and life safety and is responsible for all aspects of the fire and life safety program.

· Directs all fire prevention, inspection, and code enforcement programs, including plan review, system testing oversight, and building fire safety compliance.

· Reviews and approves construction and renovation plans for fire and life safety requirements; ensures integration of NFPA and ICC codes.

· Oversees fire protection systems, hot work procedures, event permitting, special occupancy reviews, and life safety risk assessments.

· Ensures campus compliance with current codes adopted by the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) and A&M System Regulation 34.01.02 Fire and Life Safety.

· Develops and delivers fire and life safety education, training, and outreach for the campus community.

· Facilitates or ensures appropriate completion of fire investigations, cause/origin assessments, and associated reporting.

· Serves as the primary liaison with local fire departments, building officials, and other regulatory agencies.

35% – Emergency Management Leadership

· Directs A&M-Victoria’s Emergency Management Program, ensuring compliance with System Policy 34.07 Emergency Management, and System Regulations 34.07.01 Emergency Operations Plans, and 34.07.02 Business Continuity Plans.

· Develops, maintains, and updates the A&M-Victoria Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), hazard-specific annexes, incident response guides, and continuity plans.

· Coordinates the campus Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and leads all campus preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

· Designs and conducts emergency exercises, drills, tabletops, and full-scale events; completes After-Action Reviews and manages corrective action plans.

· Oversees emergency preparedness education, outreach, and campus-wide training.

· Coordinates emergency planning and response with city, county, state, and federal partners.

· Responds to on-campus emergencies, special events, and after-hours incidents as required.

15% – Programmatic Support, Compliance & Administrative Oversight

· Develop procedures, standards, and protocols supporting comprehensive Fire and Life Safety and Emergency Management programs.

· Maintains operational documents, records, compliance reporting, and regulatory correspondence.

· Supports campus risk reduction initiatives, hazard mitigation planning, and safety culture development.

10% – Staff Supervision, Representation & Campus Engagement

· Supervises personnel supporting fire safety, emergency management, inspections, equipment maintenance, or code compliance.

· Represents A&M-Victoria on local, regional, and system-wide fire safety and emergency management committees.

· Serves as the institution’s primary interface with regulatory agency officials for fire safety and emergency management-related matters.

· Provides guidance to campus leadership on campus life safety requirements, compliance risks, and emergency readiness strategies.

Qualifications:

Required Education & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Twelve years of combined experience in fire and life safety, emergency management, environmental health and safety, or a closely related field.

Required Licenses & Certifications

· NFPA Fire Inspector I.

· Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner certifications (TCFP, ICC, or NFPA).

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

· Comprehensive knowledge of NFPA, ICC, TCEQ, and TDSHS regulations.

· Ability to interpret and apply fire and life safety codes in complex or non-standard environments.

· Strong leadership, supervisory, and communication skills.

· Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and safety-related software and equipment.

· Completion of FEMA/NIMS (IS-100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800).

Preferred Qualifications

· Five (5) years in an increasingly responsible management position in a higher education safety organization.

· Master’s degree in emergency management, public administration, safety, or related field.

· Fire Investigator, Fire & Life Safety Educator, or additional ICC/NFPA/TCFP certifications.

· Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification

· FEMA Professional or Master Continuity Practitioner

Additional Information

· This position is designated as essential personnel and will require participation in emergency response and after-hours operations.

· The position may require occasional travel to coordinate with System Offices, agencies, and external partners.

Required Attachments: Resume, Cover Letter, References

A Closer Look at A&M-Victoria

Texas A&M University-Victoria is a dynamic destination institution serving Texas and the world and is dedicated to providing every student with educational and leadership opportunities to become a successful professional and an engaged global citizen. Innovative educational activities challenge students to make meaningful connections between their learning and their lives in a complex world. A&M-Victoria promotes economic development and advances the quality of life through teaching, research, and service excellence.

At Texas A&M University-Victoria, we are driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence.

As a next-generation university, we redefine the boundaries of higher education, creating opportunities for students from all backgrounds to excel. Our unwavering focus on student success and research innovation sets us apart, positioning A&M-Victoria as a model for universities of the future.

Our History

Since our establishment in 1973, we have grown into a vibrant institution with a reputation for academic excellence and a dedication to student success. At Texas A&M University-Victoria, our history is a testament to our commitment to providing quality education and fostering academic achievement.

Texas A&M University-Victoria is the most recent addition to the Texas A&M University System – making it the 12th campus in the System. The University was founded in 1973 as part of the University of Houston System and was transferred to the Texas A&M System during the 89th Texas Legislative Session.

City Location

A regional hub 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, Victoria is a town of 65,000 located about two hours from Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Located in the Coastal Bend region of Texas, A&M-Victoria serves the educational needs, promotes economic well-being, and advances the community and region's quality of life through teaching, research, and service excellence.

Mission Statement 

Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria), a dynamic destination institution serving Texas and the world, is dedicated to providing every student with educational and leadership opportunities to become a successful professional and an engaged global citizen. Innovative educational activities challenge students to make meaningful connections between their learning and their lives in a complex world. Texas A&M University-Victoria promotes economic development and advances quality of life through teaching, research, and service excellence.

Our Goals

Continually enhance the quality of our student experience. Promote and expand access to education. Increase community engagements and increase public events for diverse audiences on our campuses. Promote a culture of institutional identification among stakeholders

Academic Excellence

Several of A&M-Victoria’s academic degree programs have drawn top rankings from organizations including College Consensus, Intelligent.com and Research.com. Our Accreditations include: SACSCOC Accredited, AACSB Accredited, ABET Accredited, CACREP Accredited, NASP Accredited, and TASP Accredited

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $7.3 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS. The System serves nearly 180,000 students and reaches millions more through service, research and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.