Director, Fire and Life Safety
Job Description
Los Angeles, CA, US, 90038
Facilities
Los Angeles
Full-Time
On-Site
#WeAreParamount on a mission to unleash the power of content… you in?
We’ve got the brands, we’ve got the stars, we’ve got the power to achieve our mission to entertain the planet – now all we’re missing is… YOU! Becoming a part of Paramount means joining a team of passionate people who not only recognize the power of content but also enjoy a touch of fun and uniqueness. Together, we co-create moments that matter – both for our audiences and our employees – and aim to leave a positive mark on culture.
The Director, Fire & Life Safety is responsible for leading Paramount Pictures Studio’s fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and life safety operations across its 65-acre lot. This role ensures compliance with local, state, and national fire codes and regulations, oversees fire safety for productions, facilities, and special events, and maintains strong partnerships with regulatory agencies including the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and California State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
Responsibilities
Overview & Responsibilities
- Leadership & Oversight: Lead the Fire and Life Safety Department and manage a team of 5 certified Fire Safety Officers (FSOs). Develop and implement fire safety strategies aligned with Paramount’s mission of emergency prevention and preparedness. Serve as the primary liaison with LAFD, OSFM, and other regulatory bodies.
- Production & Set Safety: Collaborate with Paramount Production Services, set designers, and construction coordinators to ensure fire safety compliance during set construction and filming. Vet and approve Special Effects Operators and Drone Filming Operations. Oversee fire safety planning for audience shows and ensure compliance with exiting and seating requirements.
- Facilities & Infrastructure: Partner with Facilities Operations on capital improvement projects involving fire protection systems, including: fire alarm panel replacements, fire sprinkler upgrades, fire hydrant and main replacements, special extinguishing systems (Halon, FM 300, Sapphire) and elevator installations and upgrades.
- Compliance & Inspection Programs: Administer the Chief’s Regulation 4 Inspection Program for fire life safety systems. Conduct daily, weekly, monthly, and annual inspections of hazard sites, sound stages, and office buildings. Manage the Hot Work Permit Program (600+ permits annually) and ensure standby FSOs are present during operations.
- Emergency Preparedness: Lead tabletop exercises and emergency response planning. Stay current on NFPA, building, and fire codes related to the motion picture industry. Hire, train, and certify new FSOs.
- Special Events & Crowd Safety: Provide fire safety oversight for large-scale events (e.g., LA Times Food Bowl, Cinegear, Grammy New Artist). Ensure safe cooking operations, crowd control, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Job Requirements
Basic Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of fire service and/or fire safety experience.
- Proven leadership leading fire safety for large-scale facilities and/or productions.
- Strong knowledge of NFPA codes and building codes.
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
- Able to work weekends as needed.
Additional Qualifications
- Fire Safety Officer Certification highly preferred.
- Entertainment experience and knowledge of entertainment regulations a big plus!
- Familiarity with emergency management a plus.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills with internal teams and external agencies.
- Experience in project management and infrastructure planning.
