Health Emergency Management

Health Emergency Management (HEM) Specialist, Fire Safety

Fire Safety

Vancouver, BC

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority, patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Director or Manager, Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), the Specialist provides fire safety advice and guidance to health authority leadership, management and staff. The Specialist works closely with health authority leadership, providing subject matter expertise and decision support, and leading after-action reviews following fire safety incidents. The Specialist consults with a range of internal and external partners, including health authority leadership, fire departments, WorkSafeBC, and BC Office of the Fire Commissioner, to ensure fire safety plans and procedures are consistent with international standards and best practices. The Specialist advises on fire safety compliance for Lower Mainland health authorities, and provides guidance for capital projects including redesign and development of health care facilities. The Specialist develops provincial fire safety education and leads fire drills and training.

What you’ll do

• Works with health authority leadership on the delivery of fire safety services including determining service delivery based on the negotiated approaches agreed to and the unique needs of a particular health authority portfolio such as diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pediatrics or laundry. Provides advice and guidance to health authority leadership, ensuring that fire and life safety principles are central to decision-making and that best practices are implemented at health authority facilities.
• Leads responses to health authority fire safety incidents, providing subject matter expertise and decision support to health authority senior leadership and staff, as well as internally to HEMBC teams. Manages and advises teams to standardize health care fire incident/alarm response, enhance fire safety education, and promote fire prevention initiatives within health authority facilities. Leads debriefing and after-action review processes following fire safety incidents to aid continuous improvement.
• Leads health authority interactions with fire departments, WorkSafeBC, and Office of the Fire Commissioner, following inspections or compliance issues. Works with fire departments and fire safety regulatory bodes on the approaches taken to the delivery of fire safety and the management of identified fire safety issues.
• Leads the development of fire safety plans for health authorities that are consistent with FPOABC guidelines and relevant, applicable and useable for the healthcare facility, and include comprehensive building and fire safety information. As part of this service, the Specialist advises and consults with projects and planning leadership to ensure timely updates and changes are made to plans following construction and renovation.
• Leads multi-stakeholder/cross-sector projects specific to the development, implementation, maintenance and evaluation of fire safety plans based on accreditation and international standards and best practices; identifies and recommends activities and resources to support continuous improvement in fire and life safety.
• Ensures fire safety compliance for health authority redesign and development projects in various complex health care settings and is responsible for consulting on fire alarm plans, fire systems integrations, and developing fire safety plans. This includes working with contractors and senior leadership on code
• consultation, safety system design advice, sharing of best practices, and ensuring appropriate fire response procedures during the build/renovation phase are in place. Project priorities are determined through negotiating goals, objectives, deliverables and timelines with health authority leadership.
• Manages the provincial Code Red online course and leads the development of fire and safety education for all health authority employees. Facilitates in-person training and drills and delivers in-person orientations for new staff and facilities.
• Leads fire safety standards for accreditation and implements a range of comprehensive reporting tools to ensure that health authorities can demonstrate compliance with fire code requirements.
• Represents HEMBC and health authorities on committees with a wide variety of health sector and external partners at the executive, regional, and local levels.
• Leads or facilitates fire safety communication linkages across/between sites, programs and health authorities, and with external (non-health) partners. Acts as a resource and provides health care context for fire department senior leadership.
• Provides guidance, advice and support for fire safety equipment, which may include guidelines, training, and testing, including guidance and support on how to design and maintain specialized equipment.
• Assists with developing and managing the fire safety team budget to ensure expenditures fall within budgetary guidelines. Leads the development of project proposals and manages invoices for services provided.
• Provides guidance and expertise to security and integrated protection services leaders regarding issues relating to security, staff and patient safety. Ensures that fire extinguishers receive monthly checks to ensure compliance and coordinates the annual inspection and testing of extinguishers in accordance with Fire Code, as requested/funded by health authorities.
• Provides coaching and mentoring to staff on fire safety protocols and supports growth through feedback, instruction and encouragement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What you bring

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, the social sciences, geography, business administration and/or a related field and five (5) years’ recent related experience in a large institutional or campus environment working with fire and life safety education.
• Fire Prevention Officer Certificate and/or Certified to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards such as:

o    1031, Fire Inspector

o    1033, Fire Investigator

o    1035, Fire & Life Safety Educator Is preferred

• Demonstrated knowledge of fire & life safety in a healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of BC Fire Code & Building Codes; NFPA 101 Life Safety Code; NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities; NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Demonstrated knowledge of the standards, systems and response agencies related to fire and life safety and emergency management.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiations skills including the ability to present to a wide range of individuals, groups and stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Ability to develop and deliver training, education programs and/or workshops.
• Ability to work independently, exercise judgment to resolve problems/issues, contribute as a member of a team.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, and adapt to changing program and health authority needs.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexibility in adapting to and working with a variety of situations, individuals and groups and respond to changing organizational priorities.
• Demonstrates a commitment to learning and self-development; partaking in professional development opportunities and acquiring new knowledge and skills.

Skills & Knowledge

• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time

Salary Range: $88,990 - $127,923 /year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 555 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3X7
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 0830-1630 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition # 167357E

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

What we do

The Provincial Health Services Authority ( PHSA ) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently marginalized groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at .

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at   

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of June 21, 2024. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

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