Fire Life Safety Systems Officer (Safety Officer 1)

Department Overview

This position will work in Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) with duties that encompass all missions of OHSU. EHS oversees/manages programs and policies aimed at minimizing safety, health, environmental, and regulatory risks to the OHSU community. EHS encompasses chemical, biosafety, fire/life safety, radiation safety, as well as general safety oversight across the university.  Projects and/or responsibilities in other EHS specialties or OHSU strategic initiatives may also be assigned. 

Function/Duties of Position

Fire and Life Safety Systems Program Management

• Build and strengthen partnerships across EHS, Facilities, Design & Construction, and external stakeholders to support a comprehensive and sustainable fire and life safety systems program.
• Utilize deep technical expertise and operational experience to evaluate current system performance, identify gaps, and develop strategic approaches that enhance compliance, reliability, and integration across the institution.
• Serve as a primary technical resource for fire and life safety systems, providing guidance on design intent, code application, and operational functionality, with particular emphasis on front-end planning, programming, and design review of capital projects.
• Act as a key liaison with local, state, and federal Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), supporting plan review, permitting, inspections, and regulatory coordination while fostering collaborative and solutions-oriented relationships.
• Provide leadership and subject matter expertise to internal teams, ensuring consistent interpretation of codes and standards, supporting resolution of complex operational questions, and advancing institutional approaches to system design, implementation, and lifecycle management.
• Contribute to the development and standardization of fire and life safety system programs, policies, and technical guidelines, and support assessment and continuous improvement efforts across all mission areas.

Incident and issue response and management  

• Use accurate knowledge of federal, state, local, and institutional regulations, guidance, and policies and procedures to:
  • Track and trend data.
  • Respond to emerging issues and concerns.
  • Coordinate regulatory required inspections.
  • Participate in emergency response, as applicable.
  • Perform root cause analysis on events and provide recommendations for improvement to appropriate groups.
  • Provide guidance in area of expertise to OHSU community with a focus on fire loss prevention and education.

Training, communication, and advisory services

• This position will work with leadership and safety personnel to identify, develop, improve, and implement training and communication outreach activities for OHSU workforce members regarding fire and life safety.  

Policies and procedures

• Ensure that local, state and federal regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines related to fire and life safety are correctly applied and appropriately described in OHSU policies and procedures. 
• Participate in development of policies and procedures with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Identify policy and procedure deficiencies and advise on how to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements in an efficient manner and cooperative. 
• Conduct ongoing review of policies and procedures, working to ensure correction and re-education as necessary. 

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree; coursework or equivalent education focused on fire protection engineering or related topics.
• 5 years of related experience.
• Knowledge and experience in:
  • Fire protection engineering principles and application.
  • Design, construction and maintenance of buildings and systems as they relate to fire safety and building codes.
• Expert knowledge in interpretation and application of current federal, state, and local laws, regulations, guidelines and standards related to fire and life safety (e.g. NFPA, ASHRAE, CMS, DNV).
• Ability to accurately and independently understand, digest and communicate complex regulations and requirements to individuals and groups at all levels of the University.
• Ability to interact in a positive, productive manner with internal and external stakeholders, providing superior customer service and guidance, direction, and alternatives while maintaining compliance.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills with an ability to effectively prioritize complex tasks/projects and work calmly under pressure, both independently and in a team environment and drive projects to completion.
• Advanced proficiency with electronic systems and software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree focused on fire protection engineering or equivalent.
• Fire and life safety experience at an academic medical center.
• Demonstrated leadership and formal/informal influence skills.
• Expert knowledge in federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance relating to safety and related areas.
• Experience in construction plan review for building construction, fire protection systems, and hazardous materials.
• A resourceful professional who stays current with information, technology, trends and developments in the field and recommends applicable and reasonable process changes.
• Current applicable/related certification, such as Certified Oregon Fire Protection Engineer, Certified Building Inspector, Certified Safety Professional.

Additional Details

This position requires approximately 60% of work at a computer and 40% work in the field.  Occasional travel is required to off-site OHSU locations. Telecommuting will be available on a regular basis. This position is primarily Monday – Friday, business hours, but some schedule flex may be required due to regulatory and operational needs and coverage may be expected in emergency response capacities.  

Chemical, physical and biological hazards may be encountered, and the employee must be able to evaluate the exposure potential to ensure health and safety.  

Benefits 

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Paid time off - 208 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• Extended illness bank - 64 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses.

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]