Division Chief of Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal) at City of St. Louis Park – St. Louis Park, Minnesota

The Division Chief of Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal) provides division-level leadership and strategic oversight to ensure compliance with fire and life safety codes and applicable city ordinances. The role encompasses administrative, supervisory, and regulatory responsibilities that support public safety, risk reduction, and organizational effectiveness.

This position includes managing and directing the Fire Prevention division and engaging in complex interdepartmental and community-based problem-solving efforts. The role maintains oversight of interior and exterior preplans, inspections, and related compliance activities for buildings and occupancies to ensure adherence to fire prevention and life safety requirements.

The Division Chief of Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal) develops, leads, and manages a comprehensive community risk reduction strategy. This includes oversight and coordination of enforcement, fire prevention, preplanning, fire investigation, public education, and other related programs and services, consistent with the vision and direction of the Fire Chief.

Leads and coordinates staff to deliver consistent, high quality customer service in the application of fire and life safety codes and related ordinances. This role collaborates closely with other city departments to solve problems and support citizens, contractors, developers, and staff, while facilitating safe, compliant, and timely development and continued investment within the city.

This position is an exempt, administrative role and is subject to call back for emergency incidents, investigations, or other department needs.
Administrative and Supervisory Functions

• Demonstrate a consistently high standard of conduct, performance, integrity, ethics, and service consistent with a divisional leadership role.
• Serve as a member of the fire department’s leadership team; lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Fire Prevention division strategic plan and support objectives aligned with department’s mission and the city’s strategic priorities.

• Coordinate with the department’s command staff to ensure consistent internal communication, effective cross-division coordination, and successful implementation of department priorities; proactively identify issues, recommend solutions, and track progress.
• Lead, supervise, and provide oversight for personnel assigned to the Fire Prevention division.
• Meet with architects, engineers, contractors, public stakeholders, and partner agencies to advise on fire and life safety issues affecting development and construction; provide division-level technical guidance grounded in risk analysis.
• Supervises personnel through the chain of command; provide coaching, performance management, and professional development; allocate resources; support selection and promotion processes; and administer or recommend discipline in accordance with city and department policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• Ensure consistent internal communication, complete annual performance reviews, and support ongoing professional development for assigned personnel.
• Generate, receive, review, and analyze reports and documents to support compliance, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee and manage fire prevention, life safety preplanning, and inspection programs for all necessary occupancies to ensure consistent service delivery and code compliance.
• Prepare and present staff reports, briefings, and recommendations to the Fire Chief and city leadership as required.
• Represent the Fire Prevention division and the department at meetings, committees, task forces, and interagency groups; prepare and deliver presentations, briefings, and written summaries as required.
• Stay current on emerging trends and innovations in code enforcement, investigations, community risk reduction, and related services, and integrate improvements when appropriate.
• Coordinate inspection and enforcement activities with internal and external partners; collaborate with law enforcement and prosecuting agencies to address non-compliance in a manner consistent with policy and legal requirements.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to develop and evaluate Community Risk Reduction strategies, performance measures, and program improvements.
• Manage and direct the issuance of permits and licenses as required, ensuring consistent standards, documentation, and customer service.

Fire Investigations

• Establish, oversee, and continuously evaluate processes for reporting and investigating fire incidents to ensure consistency, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure investigations into origin and cause are conducted and documented for fire incidents; oversee interviews and follow-up investigations as necessary to meet legal and professional standards.
• Ensure coordination, documentation, and assistance are provided to law enforcement, prosecutors, private investigators, and insurance representatives, as necessary.
• Ensure complete investigation reports are prepared for applicable incidents and retained in accordance with city and department record retention policies.
• Analyze incident data to identify trends, inform prevention strategies, and implement risk-reduction measures.

Enforces Fire Code and Ordinances

• Prepare and serve formal notices and written orders related to inspection findings and code requirements, ensuring appropriate documentation and due process.
• File complaints and testify in court proceedings as necessary to seek compliance and support code interpretation consistent with legal requirements.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained for inspections, pre-plans, permits, and enforcement actions in accordance with city and department records retention policies.
• Ensure preplans for applicable occupancies are accurate, accessible, and routinely updated.
• Oversee and/or attend public assemblies as required to ensure fire and life safety requirements are met.
• Oversee and/or conduct inspections of buildings and structures, existing and under construction, to verify fire and life safety compliance.

Public Education

• Develop and oversee fire prevention and community risk reduction education programs for school-aged populations, underserved communities, and senior citizens.
• Coordinate with CERT, the school district, REI, and community health partners to develop and deliver education content.

• Coordinate with city communications staff to develop public-facing messaging for social media, website, newsletter, print material, and presentations.

Training

• Maintain continuing education related to fire prevention investigations, code enforcement, city and department policy, and best practices.
• Develop and deliver, or ensure delivery of, a comprehensive training curriculum for department personnel related to inspections, investigations, preplanning, and community education; coordinate with the Division Chief of Training and EMS to ensure consistency and integration with department training systems.
• Oversee external stakeholders and community training related to community risk reduction and code compliance.

Partnership and Outreach

• Establish and maintain partnerships with local businesses, industries, and organizations to strengthen fire prevention, compliance, and risk reduction efforts.
• Oversee plan review, preplanning, and inspection activities; collaborate with the inspections department and other partners to ensure consistent service continuity with property managers, developers, and stakeholders.
• Support and/or deliver public relations and outreach activities related to fire prevention and community risk reduction.
• Ensure inspection follow-up and correction notice documentation is completed, tracked, and retained.
• Perform other duties and assume responsibilities as apparent or as assigned.

Budget

• Develop and prepare the Fire Prevention division budget, including forecasting needs, identifying priorities, and presenting budget recommendations to the Fire Chief for incorporation into the department’s annual budget proposal.
• Oversee purchasing and invoice processing related to Fire Prevention programs in accordance with city and department policies.
• Monitor and control expenditures to ensure fiscal accountability and compliance with approved budgets.
• Provide oversight of contracts and services related to inspections, code enforcement, investigations, and community risk reduction programs.

Authority of the Job
The Division Chief of Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal) exercises authority over assigned programs and personnel, including work assignments, discipline for just cause, performance management, and grievance adjustment, in accordance with city policy and collective bargaining agreements.

• Able to meet all aspects and perform all functions found in the firefighter job description.
• Valid Minnesota driver’s license.
• Current MBFTE license in the State of MN as a Firefighter.
• Current NREMT/EMSRB EMT or paramedic certification.
• Associate and/or bachelor's degree in Fire Department Administration, Fire Protection Engineering, Building Trades, Fire Science Technology, Fire Investigations, or in a closely related field. A combination of non-related degree work along with education and training which provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities within NFPA standards 1031, 1033, and 1035 may be considered.
• IFASC/ProBoard, or industry equivalent, Certifications:
  • Fire Investigator
  • Fire & Life Safety Educator 2 or Fire Instructor 2
  • Youth Fire Prevention Intervention Specialist, or ability to obtain.
  • Fire Inspector 2 or Plans Examiner
• Demonstrated continuing education/lifelong learning in fire prevention, investigations, code enforcement, and community risk reduction.
• Skills in mediation, complaint resolution, and problem solving.
• Training in advanced fire investigations and an understanding of the investigation process to include interviewing and/or interrogation procedures.
• Ability to make effective presentations and maintain a positive and effective working relationship with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from all cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and comfort with supporting the city’s strategic priorities for racial equity.
• Computer proficiency utilizing a multitude of different platforms.
• Considerable experience in building construction or protective inspection work.
• Ability to physically move about all areas of construction properties to perform duties.

• Fire Inspector 3
• IAAI Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) certification
• Demonstrated cultural competency and comfort with supporting the city’s strategic objectives for racial equity.
• Previous supervisory experience and/or related higher education.
• Experience in plan review and related inspections.

• ICC Certified Commercial Fire Sprinkler Inspector.
• International Code Council (ICC) Certified Fire Inspector I and II.
• National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) certification.
• Current Blue Card IC certification.
• Previous experience working with and serving in a diverse community.