Fire Plans Examiner

The Bozeman Fire Department is now accepting applications for a Fire Plans Examiner to help protect lives and property by ensuring fire and life safety systems meet critical code requirements. The Fire Plans Examiner reviews complex commercial fire protection plans—including fire alarms, sprinklers, and hood systems—for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

• Reviews commercial fire alarm, commercial fire sprinkler, commercial hood systems and complex commercial fire protection plans submitted for building permits, checks and approves plans for compliance with Federal, State, and local codes and regulations.
• Identifies deficiencies and provides written correction notices or plan review comments to applicants, engineers, architects, and contractors.
• Provides technical guidance and interprets to architects, engineers, businesses, inspectors, planners, and the general public on issues relating to code interpretation and compliance.
• Prepares revisions to codes, ordinances, and local regulations.
• Maintains accurate records of plan reviews, approvals, corrections, and permits in the department’s permitting or records management system.
• Performs field inspections on building construction and remodels to determine compliance with adopted codes, as assigned.
• Evaluates and recommends improvements to codes and ordinances, including performing related research and maintaining records of customer service issues.
• Addresses complaints or problems from trades inspectors, departmental personnel, and other parties, and takes appropriate corrective measures to ensure an expedient resolution and customer satisfaction.
• Responds in person or by telephone to questions related to permit applications.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner.
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities.
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

• Associate’s degree in Fire Science, Architectural Design, Structural Engineering, or closely related field; and
• Considerable (5 years) experience in fire protection, plans examining, or building / fire inspection; or,
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

• Considerable knowledge of State and local codes and ordinances applicable to building, fire, and/or mechanical building standards.
• Considerable knowledge of methods and techniques of construction.
• Considerable knowledge of fire alarms, fire sprinklers, mechanical, or other related fire safety feature work.
• Considerable knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, the function of services within the public sector, particularly within a municipal government.
• Substantial knowledge of computer system applications, including code enforcement, building permits, and licensing.
• Substantial knowledge of fire protection practices.
• Ability to deal with a wide range of people including situations in which individuals may be upset over some issue involved with City activities and policies.
• Ability to understand, read, and interpret complicated commercial construction plans, site plans, construction codes, ordinances and blueprints.
• Ability to analyze maps, codes, and legal descriptions, and make appropriate judgments on compliance or non-compliance issues.
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions.

• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.
• Demonstrates integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness and the use of the appropriate levels of discretion in the performance of assigned tasks.
• Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City’s Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service, and Teamwork.

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and obtain a Montana Class D Driver’s License within 60 days of employment;
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment, the ICC Fire Inspector I & II certification;
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within 12 months of employment, the following certifications:
  1. ICC Commercial Building Inspector
  2. ICC Fire Plans Examiner
  3. ICC Commercial Fire Alarm Plans Examiner I
  4. ICC Commercial Fire Sprinkler Plans Examiner
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to post conditional offer process.