Working Title: Fire Safety & Emergency Management Coordinator

State Role Title: Compliance/Safety Officer IV

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Police and Public Safety

Department: 100197 - Risk Management

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $62,250 - $69,250

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 05/09/2025

About JMU:

JMU is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. JMU offers several perks to all employees including:
• A Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.
• Free Access to the University Recreation Center (UREC): Employees can enjoy facility access and program registration privileges at UREC and University Park. This includes the climbing wall, equipment centers, and group exercise studios.
• A variety of voluntary benefits such as Pet Insurance, Identity Theft and Legal Protection Plans, and several other supplemental benefits.
• Holiday Breaks: The university is granted 12 holidays a year.
• Talent Development Trainings: The Talent Development department offers a wide variety of personal and professional trainings, eligible for all employees to join.

Visit our Benefits site to learn more about the benefits that James Madison University offers to part-time employees!

General Information:

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Fire Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator to join our team. This position plays a critical role in supporting institutional fire and life safety compliance by conducting inspections, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and codes, and promoting safety awareness through training and outreach. The ideal candidate will also assist in the implementation and coordination of emergency management plans and procedures. With a focus on the fire and emergency management components, this position is essential in promoting a safe campus environment through prevention, education, and planning.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Initiate and perform inspections on all University controlled buildings and properties at least semi-annually.
• Consult with City and County Fire Departments and State Fire Marshal’s Office on fire code concerns and issues.
• Act as an internal subject matter expert for the University on the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
• Assist in semi-annual fire safety inspection of all campus facilities with the State Fire Marshal's Office.
• Assist with code interpretation. Tracks pending fire safety-oriented state and federal legislation, code, and standards.
• Consult with investigations involving fire and/or smoke. Provide recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents through training, procedure revision, or equipment.
• Review of special event paperwork, including but not limited to open-burn permits, Firewatch requests and logs, and crowd management/occupancy requirements.
• Provides fire safety instruction and awareness information and training to the University community
• Serve as liaison with Clery Office for the Annual Fire Safety Report
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of emergency management and continuity plans.
• Support the development and delivery of training and exercises to test emergency plans, enhance staff preparedness, and assist in post-exercise assessments.
• Support coordination with local, state, and federal agencies for emergency planning, operations, and recovery.
• Assist in supporting emergencies and planned events with Incident/Event Action Planning, ensuring appropriate coordination and execution of response actions and operational continuity.
• Assist with large scale events on campus.
• Supervise the fire safety inspection and emergency management staff.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:
• Expertise in fire safety, emergency management, compliance, public administration or another similar field.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and reporting results.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Skill in establishing effective partnerships and fostering productive working relationships with internal stakeholders, external response agencies, and governmental representatives.
• Familiarity with NIMS, ICS, CPG 101, and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
• Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated experience serving productively as both a team leader and member.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating, coordinating and developing training on policy or procedural subject matter, with the ability to deliver training to various constituents and diverse audiences.

Additional Considerations:

• Proven ability to communicate complex safety-related legal and regulatory responsibilities to senior officials in a timely and effective manner to ensure institutional compliance.
• Skilled in interpreting and communicating findings and recommendations from risk management reviews to administration in an actionable format.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, conduct, and coordinate emergency drills and educational programs tailored to diverse campus audiences including faculty, staff, and students.
• Experience supporting the development and maintenance of comprehensive safety plans and meeting deadlines associated with accreditation and compliance activities.
• Proven capacity to lead legislative awareness efforts by monitoring safety-related laws and regulations, forecasting their institutional impact, and advising campus leadership accordingly.
• Knowledge of and experience in higher education relating to compliance, fire safety, and/or emergency management.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.