JOB TITLE: FIRE SERVICES EDUCATION SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR

JOB CODE: 76102

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Fire Services Education job series describes work in developing, coordinating, and evaluating fire and emergency service education and training programs.

DEFINITION: This is supervisory and administrative work in developing, coordinating, and evaluating fire and emergency response education and training programs at the PA State Fire Academy.

An employee in this job supervises, plans, develops, promotes, implements, and evaluates fire and emergency service education and training and professional certification programs. Work involves determining program goals and objectives; interpreting, implementing, evaluating, and monitoring program regulations, policies, and procedures; and analyzing and developing quality assurance methods. Work includes researching fire and emergency services trends and needs, public safety and community risk reduction strategies and practices, and educational and training methods and curriculum standards for emergency services programs. Work also includes administering the Act 13 grant by creating grant distribution and compliance related policies and procedures; and participating in the forecasting, recommendation, preparation, and submission of budget estimates. Work may include planning, researching, developing, implementing, and evaluating new or existing curricula for online, hybrid, and traditional trainings. Supervision is exercised over Fire Service Education Specialists. Work is reviewed by an administrative supervisor through reports, conferences, and evaluation of the effectiveness of program outcomes.

   DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

     • Work is differentiated from the lower-level job by the responsibility for supervising Fire Service Education Specialists.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Supervises the development and delivery of education and training for fire and emergency service education; public safety and community risk reduction education programs; professional certification programs for fire and emergency service personnel, law enforcement, and other public and private sector public safety entities; and Local Level, Resident, Academy-on-the-Road, Alternative Energy Emergency Response, community-based public safety, Fire Service Voluntary Certification, and other related programs.

• Directs the activities of fire academy staff and adjunct instructors in the planning, development, coordination, implementation, and assessment and evaluation of first responder educational and training programs, curriculum development and revisions, or professional certification program activities.

• Supervises research involving educational and training curricula to ensure courses are accurate and current.

• Supervises the development and implementation of online or hybrid training and educational courses utilizing appropriate software.

• Manages and utilizes instructional system design processes in developing or revising educational and training programs and providing guidance to staff in applying the design processes for online, hybrid, and traditional-based course delivery.

• Develops and adjusts program performance measures, assessments, and evaluation processes to support quality assurance and determine program effectiveness.

• Establishes and maintains working relationships with fire and emergency services subject matter experts and members from the public safety community to ensure consistency, relevancy, and accuracy of educational, training, and certification programs and curricula.

• Establishes strategic goals for the development, expansion, and revision of first responder educational and training programs, curricula, and testing methodologies.

• Interprets program related rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; conveys them to staff, first responders, and local and county government officials.

• Develops policies and procedures for, and manages the awarding of, federal, state, or other grants as authorized by law.

• Makes recommendations relative to program needs, expenditures, and the availability of funding for first responder educational, training, and professional certification programs; and assists in the preparation and submission of budget estimates to support these programs.

• Utilizes and maintains databases and spreadsheets to record and analyze data to support continuity of operations and succession planning needs.

• Employees in this job may participate in subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of fire and emergency service and professional certification programs.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques used to plan, design, develop, implement, and evaluate educational and training programs and curriculum in online, hybrid, and traditional settings.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and performance measurement instruments used in professional certification assessments.

• Knowledge of the regulations, policies, and procedures related to workplace safety and fire and emergency services.

• Ability to research methods and techniques used in educational, training, and certification assessment settings.

• Ability to read and interpret legislation, regulations, and standards.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Two years as a Fire Services Education Specialist (commonwealth title);

or

• Three years of professional experience in developing and delivering fire and emergency service training programs, and a bachelor’s degree in fire science, public safety, adult education, or a related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All positions require Fire Service Instructor 2 certification issued by a professional certification agency accredited in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, or other professional certification agency accredited in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association.