Fire Marshal

About the role

The City of Encinitas Fire Department is seeking an innovative Fire Marshal to lead the Fire Prevention Division. This key leadership role is responsible for overseeing comprehensive fire prevention, investigations, and life-safety programs; supervising staff; conducting complex inspections and plan reviews; coordinating with City departments and partner agencies; and representing the Department in public forums.

Responsibilities

• Supervises employees to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Oversees and conducts specialized and complex plan checks for compliance with State and Local fire and life safety codes.
• Oversees and conducts specialized and complex field inspections of new and existing buildings for compliance with State and Local fire and life safety codes; conducts field inspections of open spaces and fuel modification zones.
• Functions as a peace officer to enforce Local, State, and Federal laws; issues written warnings, notices of violations, letters of intent to cite, and citations; exercises the power of arrest when conditions are warranted; works with police agencies and other code enforcement personnel in enforcing laws, codes, and regulations.
• Captures fire hazards and related prevention and abatement methods; recognizes incompatible materials and explosive combinations; performs research and analysis; assesses hazard levels; reads blueprints and architectural drawings; coordinates fire prevention programs; analyzes hydraulic calculations; interprets renderings for application of codes; reads tables and performance graphs; inspects hazardous storage and handling facilities; represents the Department at City planning commission meetings, Council meetings, and City workshops.
• Represents the Department at City planning commission meetings, Council meetings, and City workshops.
• Provides complex administrative assistance to the Fire Chief.
• Assists in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Fire Prevention Bureau; identifies resource needs; develops and implements policies and procedures for reviewing plans, conducting inspections, code enforcement, and fire investigations.
• Participates in the development and administration of the Bureau budget; recommends needs for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approves expenditures; recommends budget adjustments.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: High School Diploma, or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.), and six (6) years of progressively responsible experience with a minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory capacity in the fire service, including fire prevention, inspection and investigation duties, or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. An Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, Fire Technology, Fire Administration or related field is highly desirable.
• Licenses & Certifications: Valid Class C California Driver’s License. Penal Code 832 Certification. State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector II or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Knowledge: supervisory principles; methods of operation, services, and activities of a comprehensive fire prevention program; modern theory, principles, and practices of fire prevention, suppression, and investigation; principles and techniques related to fire science; principles and techniques used in the development and implementation of safety education programs; principles and techniques of public relations; fire hazards and related prevention and abatement methods; mechanical, chemical, and related characteristics of hazardous materials; principles of budget preparation and control; applicable Federal, State, and Local fire and life safety codes; occupational hazards and standard safety practices in the areas of fire prevention, inspection, and investigation; building construction and fire protection systems and equipment; principles of record keeping.
• Skills: monitoring and evaluating employees; prioritizing and assigning work; training employees in work methods; coordinating departmental activities; using a computer and related software applications; performing life safety and prevention inspections; drafting and drawing functional graphics and diagrams; interpreting and applying applicable codes, amendments, laws, regulations, and ordinances; performing research and analysis; assessing hazard levels; reading blue prints and architectural drawings; coordinating fire prevention programs; analyzing hydraulic calculations; interpreting renderings for application of codes; reading tables and performance graphs; inspecting hazardous storage and handling facilities; recognizing incompatible materials and explosive combinations; writing reports; establishing and maintaining records; developing and administering budgets; communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Benefits

• Unrepresented Safety Management Employees Cafeteria Health Plan: The employer’s “Flexible Benefit Plan” contribution will make available for each employee a monthly amount equal to the high median of the monthly premiums of all CalPERS health plans available in San Diego County. Under the City’s Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan qualified benefits include: health, dental, vision, dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and healthcare FSA. The remaining balance is available as additional taxable income capped at one-half of the monthly cafeteria contribution.
• Retirement: The City contracts with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS): Retirement Tier Retirement Formula Tier 2 - Classic: 3.0% @ 55 Tier 3 - New Member: 2.7% @ 57 457 And 401a Deferred Compensation: The City offers a 457 and/or 401(a) deferred compensation. These accounts are voluntary and employee funded.
• Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance: The City provides Basic Group Term Life Insurance equal to 1x your basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $150,000. AD&D is up to the amount of your Group Term Life Insurance. Employees may choose to purchase additional life insurance through the City’s Voluntary Optional Life Insurance program.
• Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD): STD benefits are 70% of your weekly earnings up to a maximum of $3,500 per week. Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD): LTD benefits are 66% of monthly earnings up to a maximum of $8,000 per month. San Dieguito Water District employees pay for their LTD premium.
• Sick Leave: Unrepresented full-time employees accrue nine (9) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of paid status (4.153 hours per pay period). New employees are granted a beginning balance of (9) hours. Less than full time employees accrue sick leave in an amount prorated by FTE status. Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.
• Paid Leave for Family Member Illness: Each new full time employee is granted a beginning balance of fourteen (14) hours of paid time off to attend to family member(s) in need of the employee’s assistance in times of illness or parental leave to bond with a new child; 1.85 hours of additional paid leave is accrued each pay period. The maximum accrual is eighty-three (83) hours.
• Parental Leave (Baby Bonding): Employees who qualify for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) baby bonding will be eligible for twelve (12) weeks of employer paid leave. Available leave is prorated based on FTE status.
• Vacation Leave: Employees earn vacation hours based on the following years of service: Years of Service Annual Accrual Hire - 5 Years 104 hours 6 - 10 Years 128 hours 11 - 15 Years 152 hours 16+ Years 184 hours Credit is given to new employees for related continuous prior public service employment at the rate of one year for every two years worked.
• General Election Leave: Employees shall be provided a half day of paid leave to vote at the employee’s polling location or a full day of paid leave to volunteer for the County Registrar of Voters for a General Election.
• Holiday Closure: Each year, City Hall is closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day. Holidays: Employees receive thirteen (13) fixed holidays and five (5) floating holidays (45 hours) per fiscal year.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential services are available to employees and household members to assist with personal and professional issues. Five sessions per issue are available each calendar year.
• Tuition Assistance: Eligible employees may receive up to $1,200 in reimbursement per fiscal year for approved coursework tuition, required text.

Pay

Pending Final City Council approval, this position will be designated as eligible for Safety retirement benefits through CalPERS. Effective July 1, 2026, employees in this classification will receive a 2% COLA increase.

Schedule

Effective July 1, 2026, employees in this classification will receive a 2% COLA increase.