Fire and Safety Representative (NY HELPS)
Job Description
Agency: People With Developmental Disabilities, Office for
Title: Fire and Safety Representative (NY HELPS) EOA#: 24-559
Occupational Category: Other Professional Careers
Salary Grade:18
Bargaining Unit: PS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary Range: From $65001 to $82656 Annually
Employment Type:Full-Time
Appointment Type: Permanent
Jurisdictional Class: Competitive Class
Travel Percentage: 30%
Additional Comments
Please note:
• Please indicate your preferred location on all correspondence.
• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.
• The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the NYS OPWDD Workforce and Talent Management Central Office at (518) 473-4785 or Email at accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.NYS offers Incredible Benefits!
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and theCollege Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.Paid Holidays and Leave
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
• Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.
• Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.Health Care CoverageEmployees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.Retirement ProgramParticipate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.Professional Development and Education and TrainingNYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://goer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas, and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
Responsibilities
Duties Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Fire and Safety Representatives provide fire safety field services to adult and child care facilities as part of a team that includes other program representatives and would ensure that these facilities are in compliance with applicable safety codes, regulations, and other state and local requirements. Fire and Safety Representatives could conduct safety inspections, compile reports detailing findings, and review evacuation plans to determine the ability of facilities to respond to fire and other emergencies.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities provides high-quality, person-centered services, supports and advocacy to approximately 120,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in New York State. We are guided in our interactions with the people we serve and each other by compassion, dignity, diversity, excellence and honesty. Our motto is “Putting People First,” and it applies not only to the individuals we serve, but to our employees as well.
Operating within the Office of Property Supports & Emergency Services, the Fire and Safety Representative will promote fire safety improvements across the OPWDD enterprise. Duties will include, but are not limited to:
• Facilitating fire safety training and awareness of regulatory and code requirements to staff responsible for the day-to-day management of safe programs. The Representative will work with DDSOO Staff Development and Training departments as well as voluntary providers to ensure consistent adherence to fire safety curricula.
• Assisting in the development and monitoring of evacuation plans to ensure facilities and community homes areprepared to respond to fire and other emergencies.
• Working in concert with the respective DDSOOs, providers and other stakeholders, and ensure that all applicable processes are followed and improvements are implemented as needed.
• Assisting the DDSOO Safety Officers in their reviews of state-operated homes and also working collaboratively with the Division of Quality Improvement to identify and promote resolution of fire safety concerns.
• Compiling reports detailing findings and recommendations.
• Establishing working relationships with local fire and police departments.
The position will require some travel throughout New York State. In addition, occasional work in the New York State Emergency Operation Center in Albany may be required during a natural disaster. This may include modified working hours as needed.
Job Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
For permanent appointment: Must be reachable for appointment on current New York State Civil Service eligible list for Fire and Safety Representative OR eligible to transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law as a Fire and Safety Representative, Grade 18.
Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title.
Open to the Public: 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, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications for the full SG 18 level are:
Either 1. Five years of full-time active service in a professional fire department or industrial fire brigade (including members of the military who spent their service time performing firefighting and fire protection activities) WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs; OR
2. Eight years of active service in a volunteer fire department WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs, AND the successful completion of six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Five of these courses must include: Firefighter 1 or Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter or equivalent; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part 1; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part II; and Inspection Procedures for Existing Structures; OR
3. An associates degree or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; AND three years full-time active service in a professional fire department or industrial fire brigade WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs; OR
4. An associates degree or higher level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; AND six years of active service in a volunteer fire department WHICH INCLUDES two years of experience as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs, AND the successful completion of six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Five of these courses must include: Firefighter 1 or Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter or equivalent; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part 1; Introduction to Code Enforcement Practices Part II; and Inspection Procedures for Existing Structures.
This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.
