Community Risk Reduction Specialist (Education & Outreach Specialist)

Class Summary

The City of Spokane Fire Department (SFD) is looking for a Community Risk Reduction Specialist to join our team. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing education, awareness, and injury prevention programs for diverse groups in the City of Spokane. Work is performed with considerable independence, involves regular public speaking, and offers a flexible schedule to support program delivery.

Examples Of Job Functions

This description was prepared to indicate the kinds of activities and levels of work difficulty required of positions in this class. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities.

• Assists in community outreach and educational programs in fire prevention and risk assessment or reduction. Conducts educational activities intended to educate and inform the public.
• Coordinates the interview/referral process for children subsequent to fire play or firesetting. Works with Fire Department management, personnel, social workers, counselors, and juvenile justice agents as needed.
• Provides public engagement in non-traditional settings. Offers assistance, direction, and solutions to individuals with needs outside the typical scope of department services.
• Conducts special projects and programs as assigned.
• Maintains current knowledge of trends and developments in their field for application to functional areas of responsibility; maintains all certificates required for specific program duties and responsibilities.
• Builds and maintains relationships with community partners and groups with a focus on health, life, and safety risk reduction. Partners and coordinates with public and private sector contacts in implementing education programs with the goal of increasing public engagement, awareness, and behavior change.
• Prepares and delivers topical presentations to various audiences, such as local groups, businesses, and schools, including classrooms ranging from pre-K through higher education.
• Performs related work as required.
• Embraces and integrates trends and methods for community risk reduction programs and messages.
• Operates computers and may use audiovisual equipment. Documents activities and prepares reports. Assists in analysis of program performance.
• Operates a vehicle to move between various work locations.
• Delivers prepared lectures on the operation of departmental programs and answers questions about programs and opportunities. Staffs departmental appearances or attends community events, public presentations, and other pertinent activities.
• Interacts with the City’s communications team as well as local media to facilitate education to the public. May assist with information during urgent incidents or emergencies.

Minimum Qualifications

Combinations of education and experience that are equivalent to the following minimum qualifications are acceptable.

Open Entry Requirements:

• Experience: One year of experience supporting risk assessment or fire prevention programs, or two years of experience supporting public education and outreach programs.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Sociology, Social Work, Education, Communications, or a closely related field.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Must possess Fire and Life Safety Educator: Level 1 certification or obtain within two years of employment.
• A valid driver’s license is required, to be maintained throughout employment, or otherwise demonstrate ability to get to and from multiple work locations as required.
• Must possess Youth Fire Setting Prevention and Intervention: Level 1 certification or obtain within two years of employment.

EXAMINATION DETAILS

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit a City of Spokane employment application online by 4:00 p.m. on the filing cut-off date.
Upon request, at time of application, the City will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory, or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.
The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), with scoring weight assigned as follows:

• T&E 100%

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION DETAILS

• "See Resume" or "See above," etc., and copy/paste from a previous answer are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
• You will complete the T&E Supplemental Questionnaire online as a part of the application process.
• Copies of your college or university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted) may be a required part of this application and will be used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications, as posted on the job announcement.
• Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
• TIP: It may be more efficient to develop your responses in a word processing document and then paste them into the online questionnaire to be submitted.
• Failure to complete all the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
• Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
• You may preview the instructions and questions online in the tab marked "QUESTIONS" near the top of the job announcement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status or disability status. As a Fair Chance employer, City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.