Community Risk Specialist / External Standards Manager

City of Hutchinson Fire Department

Make a direct impact on community safety

The City of Hutchinson Fire Department is seeking a Community Risk Specialist / External Standards Manager to help advance public safety through education, risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and organizational excellence. This position supports the department's mission by leading community-facing prevention and preparedness efforts while also helping maintain compliance with external standards, including accreditation and ISO-related processes.

This role is primarily focused on community risk reduction, with standards management responsibilities increasing as needed during accreditation and review cycles.

What you'll do

In this role, you will:

• Design and deliver community education and risk reduction programs focused on fire safety, injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and wildfire protection.
• Provide presentations and outreach to schools, businesses, neighborhood groups, and other community organizations, adjusting materials for diverse audiences.
• Develop and maintain educational materials, handouts, presentations, and related outreach resources.
• Respond to requests from the public and community partners for safety information and educational support.
• Coordinate and maintain educational props, materials, and equipment for events and training.
• Conduct training sessions for City representatives, first responders, and community members.
• Perform fire safety inspections in wildland-urban interface areas to support compliance with safety standards and regulations.
• Track program performance, manage records, attend meetings, and prepare reports to support risk reduction initiatives.
• Help ensure departmental policies, procedures, and operations align with national or state accreditation standards.
• Manage and maintain documentation systems used to demonstrate compliance, including regular audits.
• Write, review, and update internal agency policies in coordination with department leadership.
• Serve as a primary contact for external accrediting bodies and assist with on-site assessments.
• Train staff on accreditation requirements and prepare progress reports and compliance records for leadership review.

What we're looking for

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three years of relevant experience.
• Valid Kansas driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Preferred qualifications

• Associate's degree and two years of experience in program coordination, community outreach, or training.
• Certifications in public education, digital media, communication, or public relations.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicate clearly and professionally with the public, community groups, and employees.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities with strong organization and attention to detail.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Analyze information, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions.
• Maintain accurate records, manage inventory, and coordinate materials for events and training.
• Use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Work environment

This position includes both office and field work. The role is performed continuously indoors and frequently outdoors, with regular computer, phone, radio, and office equipment use. It also involves occasional driving/travel and physical activity associated with events, inspections, setup, and outreach.

Why join the City of Hutchinson Fire Department?

This is an opportunity to support a mission-driven department and help protect the community through prevention, preparedness, and continuous improvement. You will play a visible role in public education while also helping strengthen the department's accountability and compliance systems.