Executive Fire Prevention Officer

BACKGROUND Dublin Fire Brigade provides the fully integrated Fire-EMS (Fire-Emergency Management System) and Emergency Rescue Service for the four Dublin Local Authorities: Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils. Dublin Fire Brigade protects the communities, businesses, infrastructure and industry of the four local authority areas covering an area of 356 square miles with a population of 1.3 million and 493,504 households. To facilitate the provision of this service Dublin Fire Brigade employs personnel working in six districts with twelve full-time stations, two retained (part-time) stations, Training Centre, East Region Communications Centre, Fire Prevention, Administration and Workshops with a fleet of vehicles. Dublin Fire Brigade also responds to incidents involving water rescue, high line rescue, road traffic collisions, flooding, chemical incidents and marine emergency response. In addition to the operational running of the Brigade, Dublin Fire Brigade ensures adequate fire safety in buildings and other structures by enforcing relevant fire safety legislation. The Brigade is also committed to promoting and providing community fire safety by working closely with the local communities, schools and other agencies to make certain the public are aware of vital safety information to help keep them and their families safe.

THE JOB The Fire Prevention Section within Dublin Fire Brigade, ensures adequate fire safety in buildings and other structures and is governed primarily by the Fire Services Act, 1981 and the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014. The Fire Services Act, 1981 places a duty of care on every person having control over certain premises, to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on the premises, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons on the premises in the event of fire. The Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 provide a statutory basis for the Building Regulations. The Fire Prevention Section is responsible for administration and enforcement of the fire safety provisions of the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 Part B for most buildings except houses. Reporting to a Senior Executive Fire Prevention Officer, or such designated persons as may be assigned from time to time, the Executive Fire Prevention Officer will work as part of a team within the Fire Prevention Section. They will also be required at times to work independently on their own initiative as circumstances demand. The Executive Fire Prevention Officer will also be responsible for supervising and mentoring a team of Assistant Fire Prevention Officers.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHALL  have an ability to work on their own initiative and within a multi-disciplinary team and have the ability to motivate and encourage others to achieve maximum performance;  have strong interpersonal and communication skills;  have a good working knowledge or demonstrate an ability to acquire a good working knowledge of the legal, regulatory and governance framework within which the City Council operates and adhere to corporate policies, protocols and procedures;  possess strong IT skills;  have good knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace;  have an understanding of the role and duties of managers in safety management in the workplace;  have the ability to manage financial resources within a budgetary control framework;  on the date of appointment possess a current unendorsed full driving licence (Category A1, A and/or

B) as they may be required to drive in the course of their duties.

QUALIFICATIONS CHARACTER: Each candidate shall be of good character.

HEALTH: Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.: Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications: - (a) hold a recognised degree (level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in engineering or architecture or a recognised degree (level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in the final examination for which they obtained at least a pass in chemistry or physics taken at honours level, or a qualification equivalent to one of these, (b) have at least five years satisfactory experience, including adequate relevant experience involving one or more of the following: -

• fire-fighting techniques,
• fire resistance of buildings or structures,
• hydraulics and water supplies,
• design and construction of buildings,
• technological or industrial processes, and (c) have a high standard of technical training. (d) have an awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations and their application in the workplace.

DUTIES The duties of the post include, but are not limited to, the following: - i) Administration and implementation of the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, Building Regulations 2023, Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003 and other legislation with regard to validation, assessment, inspections and prosecutions under the legislation, including the following: - ii) Assessment of Fire Safety Certificate applications under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014; iii) Carrying out of inspections to ensure adequate fire safety in buildings and other structures; iv) Undertaking during performance inspections of licensed premises e.g. Public Houses, Night Clubs and Restaurants etc; v) Processing licensing applications under the Fire Services Act 1981-2003; vi) Advising and inspecting at major indoor and outdoor events including organised fireworks displays etc;

Other duties include:

• liaising with other departments in Dublin City Council and other local authorities in the greater Dublin area with regard to Fire Prevention and undertaking inspections for same;
• liaising with operational staff in Dublin Fire Brigade in relation to inspections and other matters;
• inspections and investigations in relation to fire safety notifications received and other matters;
• attendance at court to give evidence in relation to any proceedings in relation to the above duties;
• development and management of staff, including disciplinary matters and absenteeism management;
• assisting in the development and review of strategy, policies and functions;
• attending training courses as required;
• development and promotion of Community Fire Safety;
• carrying out such other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the City Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to (a) The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and (b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Posts of Executive Fire Prevention Officer will be filled from this publicly advertised competition. Selection shall be by means of a competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council.
• Candidates should note that the information provided by them in their application form and assessment question will form the basis on which eligibility and short listing is conducted.
• Dublin City Council reserves the right to undertake eligibility and / or shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate.
• A panel may be formed on the basis of interviews. A candidate whose name is on a panel and who satisfies the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, subject to the appropriate Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sanction, be appointed as an appropriate vacancy arises.
• The life of the panel shall be for a period of one year from the date of its formation.
• Dublin City Council shall require any person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up appointment within such period, or such longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, the Council shall not appoint them.
• Successful candidates may be required to undergo a pre-employment medical and reference checks prior to final offer & appointment.

INTERVIEW The interview will be competency based and marks will be awarded under the following competencies. - Management & Change - Delivering Results - Performance through People - Personal Effectiveness - Knowledge, Skills & Experience Please see pages 8 & 9 of the Candidate Information Booklet for more details.

SALARY The salary scale for the position of Executive Fire Prevention Officer is: €59,067; €61,217; €63,366; €65,520; €67,672; €69,823; €71,976; €74,116; €76,280; €78,425; (Maximum); €80,897 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the Maximum); €82,108 (2nd LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the 1st LSI) (Subject to 2025 Pay Increases) Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving public service employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point. PARTICULARS OF POSITION (a) The post is permanent, whole time and pensionable. (b) Dublin City Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any Department now or in the future. (c) A period of one year’s probation applies where a person is permanently appointed to Dublin City Council. This can be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

CITIZENSHIP Candidates must, by the date of application be; a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, or b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK), or c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons, or d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa, or e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa, or f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa. Dublin City Council welcomes all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds to join its diverse workforce and we hereby reserve the sole discretion to vary the above requirements from time to time subject to the business needs and staffing requirements.