Senior Deputy Fire Marshal

Summary Of Work

The North Dakota State Fire Marshal's Office is committed to protecting lives, property, and communities through fire prevention, fire investigation, code enforcement, public education, and partnerships with local fire departments and public safety agencies across the state.

The North Dakota State Fire Marshal's Office is committed to protecting lives, property, and communities through fire prevention, fire investigation, code enforcement, public education, and partnerships with local fire departments and public safety agencies across the state.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Deputy Fire Marshal to provide leadership for Deputy Fire Marshals serving western and south-central North Dakota while overseeing several statewide fire prevention programs. This position combines supervisory responsibilities, advanced fire investigation, fire code enforcement, and statewide program management to support the mission of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

As our Senior Deputy Fire Marshal, you will serve as a trusted leader and technical expert, ensuring consistency in fire prevention activities, mentoring Deputy Fire Marshals, coordinating complex investigations, and managing programs that improve fire and life safety throughout North Dakota.

As our Senior Deputy Fire Marshal, your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Provide direct supervision, leadership, and mentorship to Deputy Fire Marshals assigned to the northern districts.
• Assign work, establish priorities, and ensure timely completion of inspections, investigations, and other assigned responsibilities.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching, and support employee development.
• Review reports for quality, consistency, and compliance with agency standards.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of new Deputy Fire Marshals.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

• Lead and assist with complex fire and explosion origin and cause investigations.
• Coordinate investigations with local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, insurance investigators, prosecutors, and federal partners.
• Conduct scene examinations, interviews, evidence collection, photography, and documentation.
• Review investigative reports and provide technical guidance to Deputy Fire Marshals.
• Serve as an expert witness in criminal and civil court proceedings.
• Participate in statewide on-call rotation for fire investigations.

• Conduct fire prevention inspections as required by North Dakota Century Code and at the request of local jurisdictions.
• Inspect commercial, industrial, institutional, and special occupancy buildings for compliance with adopted fire codes.
• Interpret and enforce applicable fire codes and standards.
• Assist with complex inspections involving hazardous materials, energy systems, construction sites, fireworks, explosives, and other specialized occupancies.
• Provide technical code guidance to local governments, businesses, and fire departments.

Provide leadership and oversight for statewide fire prevention programs, including but not limited to:

• Community Risk Reduction (CRR)
• Certificate of Existence Program
• Fire Safe Cigarette (Fire Safer Tobacco) Program
• Fireworks Wholesale Licensing
• Additional prevention initiatives assigned by the State Fire Marshal

• Assist with development of office policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Monitor statewide trends involving fire prevention and investigations.
• Provide recommendations to agency leadership regarding operational improvements and emerging fire safety issues.
• Assist with implementation of legislative changes and special projects.

Applicants must meet one of the following:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Fire Science, Fire Administration, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration or a closely related field, and experience related to fire prevention, fire investigation, or code enforcement;

OR

Associate Degree In a Related Field And

Four years of fire service experience; or

Four years of experience in fire prevention, fire investigation, code enforcement, or a closely related field.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

In addition, applicants should possess demonstrated leadership experience through supervision, project leadership, officer responsibilities within the fire service, or comparable experience.

• Certified Fire Investigator (Pro Board, IFSAC,IAAI-CFI or NAFI-CFEI)
• NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator
• NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector II or III (Proboard/IFSAC)
• ICC Fire Inspector certification
• Community Risk Reduction (CRR) experience
• Previous supervisory experience
• Experience managing statewide programs or regulatory initiatives
• Experience working with local, state, and federal…