Hazardous Materials​/Technical Rescue Program Coordinator

Position Overview

The Hazardous Materials / Technical Rescue Coordinator reports to the Manager of Special Operations and provides coordination, instructional support, and program oversight for designated hazardous materials and technical rescue training programs at the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute (KFRTI). This position is responsible for coordinating course requests, scheduling training deliveries, supporting instructors, updating curriculum, and assisting with course development and revision to ensure high-quality hazardous materials and technical rescue education is delivered across the state of Kansas.

This position has primary responsibility for coordination and oversight of testing for the Hazardous Materials Technician program, ensuring program content, delivery, and testing processes remain current and compliant with accreditation requirements.

This position serves as a key point of contact for Kansas fire departments, instructors, and stakeholders seeking hazardous materials and technical rescue training and support. The coordinator works closely with KFRTI managers, coordinators, instructors, and logistics personnel to ensure efficient course delivery, sound resource use, proper equipment readiness, and adherence to Institute standards. In addition to hazardous materials technician responsibilities, this position assists the Manager of Special Operations in other specialized rescue program areas through course instruction, course evaluations, course logistics, scheduling, and equipment maintenance.

This position operates in a hybrid capacity, combining remote work assignments, travel to course delivery locations, and work from the KFRTI office on the Lawrence, Kansas campus more frequently, or as needed, to support testing coordination, equipment readiness, logistics, and program oversight.

The Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute is a unit of KU Jayhawk Global, housed on the Lawrence campus. The Institute was created by the Kansas legislature to train Kansas firefighters in 1949. The Institute serves fire departments and firefighters through a "traveling instruction service" that provides 500 training events per year potentially reaching every community and every county in Kansas.

The mission of Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute is to provide accessible, comprehensive training and credentialing for fire and emergency response personnel to promote health and safety in Kansas communities.

KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options, and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors.

• Accept and coordinate training requests from Kansas fire departments and private sector clients related to hazardous materials and technical rescue training programs.
• Coordinate training dates, locations, and delivery details with host departments, fire service personnel, and other clients.
• Coordinate the use of contract instructors for course deliveries with Manager and Assistant Director approval.
• Select the most appropriate use of personnel, equipment, and other resources while managing costs effectively.
• Identify, select, train, coordinate, and authorize pay and travel reimbursement for part-time instructors within assigned training programs.
• Coordinate props, equipment delivery, maintenance needs, and logistics support with the Logistics Program Manager and the Manager of Special Operations.
• Coordinate and oversee testing for the Hazardous Materials Technician program, including scheduling, test administration support, documentation, quality control, and compliance with accreditation requirements.
• Assist in maintaining program documentation, course materials, skill sheets, testing records, and related processes to support accreditation and certification requirements.
• Review and update hazardous materials technician program content, testing processes, and instructional materials to ensure alignment with current standards, accreditation requirements, and industry best practices.
• Identify courses requiring direct instructional support from KFRTI full-time staff.
• Serve as lead instructor for selected hazardous materials and technical rescue training events and provide direct oversight of part-time instructors when appropriate.
• Manage all aspects of assigned course deliveries, including costs, supervision, classroom presentations, skills training, safety practices, and proper use of equipment.
• Assist the Manager of Special Operations in all other specialized rescue program areas, including course instruction, course evaluations, course logistics, scheduling, and equipment maintenance.
• Cross-train and instruct in multiple programmatic areas as assigned, including Hazardous Materials Technician and designated technical rescue…