Fire Safety Project Manager

The Fire & Life Safety Project Manager at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center plays a critical role within the Fire Safety and Construction Department by ensuring a consistently code-compliant environment across all facilities. The Fire & Life Safety Project Manager provides professional expertise to construction teams, internal stakeholders, and external contractors to support the design, installation, maintenance, and repair of fire and life safety systems that protect patients, employees, and visitors.

UT MD Anderson is a leading institution focused on cancer care, research, education, and prevention. The Fire & Life Safety Project Manager supports this mission by serving as a subject matter expert and Authority Having Jurisdiction representative, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and contributing to a safe and resilient healthcare environment. The Fire & Life Safety Project Manager works closely with multidisciplinary teams on complex, high-impact projects where safety, compliance, and operational continuity are essential.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience with fire and life safety systems, including healthcare environments, and demonstrates strong independent judgment, technical expertise, and collaborative skills. This individual is comfortable interpreting complex codes, reviewing construction documents, and managing projects from deficiency identification through resolution, while supporting training, compliance, and regulatory readiness.

Salary - Minimum $92,500.00 - Midpoint $115,500.00 - Maximum $138,500.00
The typical work schedule is days, starting between 6:30am and 8:00am.
Work Location: Onsite, Houston, TX, with a flexible remote policy; the position is onsite 80%+ of the time.

Why Us?
This role offers the opportunity to work on challenging and varied projects that directly impact patient and staff safety at UT MD Anderson. The Fire & Life Safety Project Manager serves as an Authority Having Jurisdiction, providing meaningful influence over life safety outcomes while collaborating with experienced professionals in a dynamic healthcare environment that values continuous learning and practical problem-solving.
• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management and Deficiency Resolution
• Identify deficiencies during required regulatory inspections and equipment malfunctions or performance issues.
• Develop scopes of work for repairs and deficiency resolution based on applicable NFPA code requirements.
• Obtain contractor quotes and assess availability to support timely resolution.
• Schedule and monitor contracted work to ensure completion and compliance.
Outage Planning and Construction Coordination
• Create and submit outage requests aligned with contractor availability while minimizing business interruption.
• Coordinate fire alarm and fire sprinkler technicians to be onsite during contractor work.
• Assist with and prepare Pre-Construction Risk Assessments and Interim Life Safety Measure action items.
• Coordinate outages and construction activities with internal departments and external agencies.
Inspection, Verification, and Documentation
• Confirm completion of work with technicians and contractors.
• Re-inspect completed work and review documentation to close deficiencies.
• Perform follow-up inspections to verify correct code application and resolution accuracy.
• Compile and manage documentation for regulatory review by the State Fire Marshal and Joint Commission.
Training and Program Support
• Assist in developing technical specifications, schematic designs, and construction documents related to fire and life safety systems.
• Support and deliver training programs including ILSMs, fire warden training, regulatory fire drills, and Code Red response.
• Prepare training schedules, handouts, and slide materials and support hands-on equipment training.
• Coordinate training activities, building tours, and pre-planning with the Houston Fire Department.
Compliance and Regulatory Oversight
• Review inspection and testing schedules to ensure completion within regulatory timeframes.
• Perform QA/QC reviews of inspection reports for regulatory completeness and accuracy.
• Oversee compliance programs including hot work permitting, policy and procedure review, and fire investigations.
• Manage regulatory inspection and testing compliance for fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, and auxiliary systems.

EDUCATION

• Required: Bachelor's Degree Engineering, Fire Safety, Architectural Engineering or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Required: 3 years Project management/construction management experience. May substitute Bachelor's degree with additional years of equivalent experience on a one to one basis.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Required: TDL - Texas Drivers License Class A, B or C valid Texas driver's license depending on the type and weight of vehicle to be operated and number of passengers to be carried and good driving record as verified with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Upon Hire
• Preferred: CFPS - Certified Fire Protection Spec National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Upon Hire
• Preferred: CFI - Certified Fire Inspector National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Upon Hire
• Preferred: CFPE - Certified Fire Plan Examiner National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Upon Hire
• Preferred: ARCH - Architect Licensed Architect by Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE). Upon Hire
• Preferred: PE - Professional Engineer Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE). Upon Hire
• Preferred: NICET-2 - Ntl Inst for Cert Eng Tech -2 Level II in Fire Protection Engineering Technology, Fire Alarm Systems by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. Upon Hire
• Preferred: APS - Fire Alarm Planning Superindnt Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. Upon Hire
• Preferred: FAL - Fire Alarm Technicia Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. Upon Hire
• Preferred: RME-I - Sprinkler System Gen Inspector Licensed by the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. Upon Hire

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, paid time off , retirement , tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 180139
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Day/Evening
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 92,500
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 115,500
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 138,500
• FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Hard
• Work Location: Hybrid Onsite/Remote
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: No
• Relocation Assistance Available?: No

#LI-Hybrid