Fire Prevention Officer

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph's vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Resumes are being accepted for the position of Fire Prevention Officer within the Guelph Fire Department. Reporting to the Chief Fire Prevention Officer, the successful candidate is responsible for inspecting and conducting fire safety inspections, conducting fire investigations, and coordinating, creating, planning and delivering of public fire life safety education, focusing upon quality customer service and continuous improvement processes. Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Corporate Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.  

Key duties and responsibilities

• Conduct fire code inspections on all types of new and existing buildings.
• Conduct fire origin and cause investigations as assigned or as part of the on-call system.
• Create detailed personal notes for all inspections and investigations.
• Inputting and recording of all pertinent inspection and investigation data to appropriate system files.
• Investigate and enforce compliance with By-laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Collect evidence, obtain statements from witnesses, prepare all required court documentation, affidavits, subpoenas, and summons, and provide service of the same.
• Testify as a witness for the City at court, hearings or appeals.
• Safe and efficient co-ordination, creation, planning, and support of fire life safety education.
• Prepare and present public information sessions to promote fire safety.
• Gather information from public inquiries and direct citizens on proper course of action.
• Participate in fire prevention and public fire and life safety educational programs/courses.
• Follow-up on investigations within the established standards, issue tickets, summons, and lay charges in accordance with the Provincial Offences Act.
• Be responsible for working in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and established industry guidelines.
• Participate and work in a team environment.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships.
• Commit to lifelong learning, community and personal wellness and continuous improvement.
• Work in a safe manner in accordance with the Ontario Health and Safety Act.
• Follow the directions of a senior officer.
• Other duties as assigned

Mandatory Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Fire Inspection and Fire Safety Education, Fire Protection Technology, Building Science, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Criminology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required
• Successful completion/certification in the following certifications:

NFPA 1031 – Fire Inspector IOFC Div. B Parts 2 & 6 – Fire Safety and Fire Protection EquipmentOFC Div. B Part 9 – RetrofitLegislationNFPA 472 or 1072 – Hazardous Materials AwarenessCourtroom ProceduresNFPA 1035 – Public Educator INFPA 1033 – Fire Investigator

• Must possess a valid class "G" Ontario Driver's License with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver's abstract prior to their start date to confirm their license is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.

Additional Qualifications

• Considerable experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through two (2) years' full-time experience in Fire Prevention within a Municipal Fire Department. Equivalent combination of experience with the duties outlined above and education may be considered.
• NFPA 1031 – Fire Inspector II
• NFPA 1035 – Public Educator II
• NFPA 921 – Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation. Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
• OFC Div. B Parts 3 & 5 – Outdoor and Indoor Storage & Hazardous Materials
• OFC Div. B Part 4 – Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• Ability to participate and work in a team environment
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships.
• Must be able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a demanding environment.
• Ability to handle matters of confidential or politically sensitive nature, and to maintain confidentiality.
• Knowledge of Personal Health Information Protection Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Fire Protection and Prevention Act, and relevant legislation and regulations that apply to this work.
• Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to speak clearly, calmly and in an easily understandable manner in person and on the phone.
• Problem solving and decision-making ability.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Interpersonal and customer service skills when dealing with the public, staff, and internal departments, external agencies.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work and positively interact within a diverse work environment.
• Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• The successful candidate must provide and maintain a Criminal Reference Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening check.

Hours of workRegular hours of work will comprise a forty (40) hour week, based on four (4) ten (10) hour days, in accordance with the Collective Agreement (Article Employees shall work Monday to Thursday, or Tuesday to Friday as scheduled by the Employer. The normal hours of work will be 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Must participate in an on-call system on an equal rotational basis of all Fire Prevention members.

Pay/SalaryGuelph Professional Firefighters Association: $107, $125,774.40 per year (2025 rates), 110, $129,202.56 per year (2026 rates)

How to applyQualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by Friday, November 3, 2025. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter to be considered.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.