Fire Safety & Life Systems Compliance Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

The CRVA works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region’s economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles Entertainment Complex, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Film Commission, Visit Charlotte and Visitor Info Centers.

Job Summary

The Fire Safety & Life Systems Compliance Manager at the Charlotte Convention Center is responsible for ensuring all events comply with local, state, and national fire and safety regulations. This role acts as the primary liaison between the Convention Center and local regulatory authorities, including the Fire Department, County Code Enforcement, and City DOT, facilitating seamless communication to uphold safety standards. The FSDC Manager will guide Event Managers through permitting processes, manage the floor plan approval workflow, and monitor compliance throughout event setup and execution. By collaborating with event & show management, and contractors, this position ensures a safe environment, preemptively addresses compliance challenges, and contributes to the Convention Center’s commitment to maintaining a high standard of safety and operational excellence.

The Fire Safety & Life Systems Compliance Manager will also oversee all inspections of life systems for the Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame and serve as liaison between all internal departments to ensure compliance with fire code. In addition, they will work with show management to ensure that decorator groups are compliant with building guidelines during move in, event, and move out.

Job Responsibilities

A. Essential Job Duties

1. Act as Liaison for Fire and Code Compliance
   • Serve as the primary liaison between the Charlotte Convention Center and the Fire Department, Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, and City DOT to ensure all events meet applicable code compliance requirements.
   • Build and maintain positive relationships with local authorities and agencies, facilitating smooth communication and effective problem-solving.

1. Client Support through Permitting Process
   • Guide and assist Event Management through the required permitting processes with the Fire Department, County Code Enforcement, and City DOT, ensuring timely submissions and approvals for event operations.
   • Educate Event Managers on compliance expectations and provide ongoing support throughout the planning process.
2. Oversee Floor Plan Submittal and Approval
   • Manage the floor plan submittal and approval process, ensuring all layouts meet fire and safety codes.
   • Collaborate with Event Managers, show management, and contractors to make necessary adjustments to floor plans, guaranteeing full compliance with regulations.
3. Ensure Compliance in Specific Areas
   • Work directly with show management and contractors to achieve compliance in specific areas, including:
     • Covered exhibit booths and multiple-level booths
     • Signage requirements
     • Vehicles on display regulations
     • On-premises cooking and food preparation regulations
     • Use of propane or flammable gases
     • Hot work requirements
     • Decorative materials compliance
     • Stages and grandstands setup
     • Power usage and distribution standards
4. Monitor Move-in and Set-Up Compliance
   • Oversee the move-in process of contractors and exhibitors to ensure adherence to all fire and safety regulations.
   • Identify and resolve potential compliance challenges proactively, coordinating with relevant parties as needed.
5. Participate in Fire Marshal Walkthroughs
   • Participate in Fire Marshal walkthroughs prior to show openings, collaborating with show management and Event Managers to make any requested adjustments for compliance.
   • Communicate any required modifications or recommendations to event stakeholders in a timely manner.
6. Life Systems Oversight
   • Becomes subject matter expert on fire panel system for the facilities
   • Responds to any triggers of fire panel system
   • Collaborates with Allied Security, JCI (Tyco Simplex) to ensure proper monitoring, event scheduling of taking system offline, and alarm response are taking place.
     • Communicates any system changes to CFD immediately
   • Communicates any capital improvement needs to building leadership for timely planning
7. POC for annual inspections for NASCAR Hall of Fame & Convention Center
   • Schedules and executes timely inspections of sprinkler, dry system, fire pump, alarm/strobe, fire extinguishers, and general fire code and reports deficiencies to pertinent departments for appropriate compliance measures.
   • Maintains all inspection related documentation and reports back to Charlotte Fire Department.
   • Conducts weekly internal fire safety walks ahead of CFD inspections to ensure regular compliance
8. Systems Compliance
   • Becomes familiar with building decorator guidelines and works with show management to ensure compliance with these expectations
     • Floor Marking & Tape
     • Creating & Maintaining Exhibit Hall Freight Aisles during load in/out (when applicable)
     • Loading Dock Utilization
     • Power Connections
     • Storage of equipment, forklifts, propane cages, crates, etc.
       1. Ensures egress routes remain clear from booth placements, equipment

These duties contribute to a safe and compliant environment, ensuring all events at the Charlotte Convention Center meet local, state, and national fire and safety regulations.

B. Consistently deliver the best in customer service. Demonstrate a passion for inspiring and be a driving force behind an amazing team to foster strong cross-functional relationships internally and externally by applying the Service Philosophy, to deliver memorable customer experiences.

C. Champion CRVA’s mission, vision and core values and comply with organizations policies and procedures.

Scope of Responsibility

• This job has no budgetary responsibilities.
• This job will have periodic access to confidential data including company records and/or minutes, customer quotes, product costs, and company plans, designs, and/or programs.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

Knowledge:

• Fire Code and Safety Regulations : Strong understanding of local, state, and national fire codes (NFPA, ICC regulations, local municipal codes), that are event/tradeshow-specific regulations.
• Permitting and Code Enforcement : Familiarity with permitting processes for fire safety, code enforcement, and city transportation, with a focus on navigating the regulatory landscape with the Fire Department, County Code Enforcement, and City DOT.
• Event Safety Standards : Proficiency in event safety practices for trade shows and large-scale events, including specific compliance requirements for multi-level and covered booths, hazardous materials (propane, flammable gases), on-premises cooking, and vehicle displays.
• Emergency Preparedness : Knowledge of crowd management and emergency response protocols, including planning for fire and life safety considerations during high-capacity events.
• Convention Center Operations : General understanding of convention center operations, including familiarity with event setup processes, contractor coordination, and client communications.

Skill Requirements:

• Regulatory Liaison : Strong communication skills to serve as the liaison between the Convention Center and local agencies; ability to interpret and explain regulatory requirements to clients and staff.
• Process Management : Skills in managing permit processes, including organizing necessary documentation and ensuring timely submission and approvals.
• Floor Plan Review : Ability to review and assess floor plans for compliance with fire and safety regulations, and work with clients and contractors to address necessary adjustments.
• Detail Orientation : Meticulous attention to detail when monitoring event setups, conducting safety walkthroughs, and verifying compliance during move-in periods to mitigate potential risks.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making : Effective problem-solving skills to quickly address compliance issues, with the ability to work collaboratively with event management, show contractors, and safety authorities to maintain safety standards.
• Customer Service : Strong interpersonal skills to work with clients in a supportive and educational capacity, ensuring they understand and meet compliance requirements without disrupting event flow.
• Collaboration : Proficiency in working cross-departmentally, especially with event managers and facilities staff, to implement and oversee crowd management and emergency response measures.
• Documentation and Reporting : Skilled in accurate documentation of compliance records, incident reports, and procedural updates, as well as familiarity with software tools used for maintaining records.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) or equivalent from four-year college or university in related field on safety regulations, emergency services or code enforcement. Or An associate’s degree in related field, combined with industry experience.
• CMP, CEM or CVP certifications preferred.
• OSHA Safety Certification or Crowd Management training (optional but beneficial).
• Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. Experience with Event Management Software (Momentus) preferred. Two-way radio.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the role.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Will require flexible hours to accommodate event move-in days; weekends and evenings will be required depending on event.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; fumes or airborne particles; extreme cold; extreme heat and vibration.

What We Offer

• Education Reimbursement
• 457 Plan
• CRVA University
• Employee 1st Culture
• CORE Values

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Our “employee first” culture requires engagement, and engagement can’t happen without the voices of many talented individuals charting our direction.