Fire and Safety Specialist

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — which stands for Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

The Fire and Life Safety Specialist position in the Environmental Health, Safety, and Laboratory Operations department will oversee daily fire and life safety operations (administrative and technical work) and ensure compliance with safety regulations within the campus setting. This role is the first responder to the fire alarms on campus, coordinates fire safety inspections, manages fire protection and detection systems, performs workplace hazard evaluations, and implements safety protocols to maintain a safe and secure work environment.

The ideal candidate for the Safety Specialist position will be a reliable, adaptable, self‑motivated, and detail‑oriented professional with a strong background in fire, life safety, and emergency response within a campus or institutional setting.

Must be able and willing to wear personal protective equipment, including respirators, and respond to health and safety emergencies.

Must be willing to work with fire protection systems and hazardous materials.

Must be able to lift 40 lbs. and climb stairs.

This position is exclusively on‑site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person on the Rice University campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This is a full-time, benefits‑eligible position, and the proposed salary range is $65,000 to $75,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.
* Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis.

2 years in a related field (e.g., experience as a firefighter, first responder, or environmental health and safety professional).

In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis.

• Excellent communication, training, and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Proficiency in fire detection and suppression systems
• Experience in safety requirements and compliance related to fire and life safety
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to walk long distances and lift items up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to wear half‑face and full‑face respiratory protection

• Safety certifications such as CFPS, ASP, or CSP
• Experience conducting hazard identification and risk assessments
• Experience working in a fire and life safety‑focused position within an Environmental Health and Safety Department

• Coordinate routine fire safety inspections, ensuring the proper functioning of fire protection systems
• Maintain accurate records of fire safety equipment, inspections, and maintenance
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal…