Fire & Safety Representative

*Salaries have been updated to reflect the most updated negotiated contract.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before October 21, 2023, you must have:

Either 1. Five years of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade. At least two of the five years must have been as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*.

Or 2. Eight years of experience in a volunteer fire department. At least two of the eight years must have been as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*. IN ADDITION, you must have successful completion of six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Five of the six 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 associate's or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; AND three years of full-time, paid experience in a professional fire department, military fire department, or industrial fire brigade. At least two of the three years must have been as the person primarily responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*;

Or 4. An associate's or higher-level degree in fire science, fire safety, or a fire protection field; AND six years of experience in a volunteer fire department. At least two of the six years must have been as the person primarily assigned and responsible for fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs*. IN ADDITION, you must have successful completion of six fire safety courses offered by the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control** or a verifiable equivalent. Five of the six 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.

Important: If you qualify under option 2 or option 4 you MUST submit a listing of the qualifying courses you have completed on your application. You will be asked to produce proof of satisfactory completion of coursework at the time of interview.

*For the purposes of this examination, "fire prevention, fire inspection, or fire training programs" are those programs which are general fire service training areas for firefighters, which include hazardous materials, arson investigation, fire equipment maintenance, and other firefighter training.

**A catalog of fire training programs available through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services can be found at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/dhses-training.

• If you expect to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2024, you can take the multiple-choice test. You MUST submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the appointing authority at the time of the employment interview or you will not be considered for appointment. Failure to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2024, may result in your removal from the eligible list.
• Your required educational credentials must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States (U.S.) Department of Education/Secretary of Education. If awarded by an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide these services (fees must be paid to the company you choose) can be found at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm.
• If verifiable, we will accept and prorate appropriate part-time and volunteer experience.
• New York State residency is not required.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Background Investigation: Due to the nature of these positions, there may be an investigative screening which could include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merit, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

2. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees will

   • be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL), maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
   • be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). You must report all convictions. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal law;

   And may

   • be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

   You are responsible for payment of all required fees.

3. Medicaid and Medicare: To be eligible for appointment and maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). You may be barred from appointment or your employment may be terminated at any time if you are listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program).

The Positions: These positions exist statewide in the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and there is one position in Rochester in the Department of Health.

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Duties

As a Fire and Safety Representative, you would provide fire safety services to adult and childcare facilities as part of a team that includes other program representatives, and you would ensure that these facilities are in compliance with applicable safety codes, regulations, and other state and local requirements. You would conduct safety inspections, compile reports detailing your findings and recommendations, and review evacuation plans to determine the ability of facilities to respond to fire and other emergencies. You would establish working relationships with local safety authorities in inspection of facilities, investigation of fires, and other areas involving dual jurisdiction. You would also be required to conduct training in safety awareness and regulatory requirements and may provide testimony at administrative hearings.

Note:

• Travel Requirements: Appointment to certain positions requires extensive travel within an area of assignment. Appointees may need to operate a motor vehicle or have other means to meet the transportation needs of the job. If the position requires that you operate a motor vehicle, you must continuously have a valid New York State driver's license to continue employment. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule. Overnight travel may be required.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
2. Educating and interacting with the public - These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individual citizens and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.
3. Understanding and interpreting fire codes - These questions test for the ability to comprehend written material related to fire prevention and inspection. You will be provided with a brief reading passage. You must then select the most appropriate statement relating to the passage on the basis of whether it: a. accurately paraphrases portions of the passage; or b. adequately summarizes the passage; or c. presents an inference that can reasonably be drawn from the passage. The reading passages are drawn from existing New York State and national codes, regulations, and standards. Knowledge of the subject matter contained in the reading passages is generally not related to answering the questions successfully because all of the information needed can be found in the passages.
4. Fire prevention, fire inspections, and fire hazards - These questions test for a knowledge of the methods, principles, practices, and equipment of fire prevention, conducting fire inspections, and dealing with fire hazards. The questions cover such areas as the following: fire prevention campaigns; automatic and other extinguishment systems; alarms; dealing with building owners and managers; characteristics of combustible materials; recognizing proper and improper practices related to fire prevention; and codes and regulations related to fire prevention.

Admission to the test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most multiple-choice tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the multiple-choice test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your multiple-choice test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S1/TC1 JFG-dah
Issued: 8/4/23
*Amended: 8/21/23

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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