Hazardous Materials/ Technical Rescue Program Coordinator

Position Overview

The Hazardous Materials / Technical Rescue Coordinator reports to the Manager of Special Operations and provides coordination, instructional support, and program oversight for designated hazardous materials and technical rescue training programs at the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute (KFRTI). This position is responsible for coordinating course requests, scheduling training deliveries, supporting instructors, updating curriculum, and assisting with course development and revision to ensure high-quality hazardous materials and technical rescue education is delivered across the state of Kansas. This position has primary responsibility for coordination and oversight of testing for the Hazardous Materials Technician program, ensuring program content, delivery, and testing processes remain current and compliant with accreditation requirements.

This position serves as a key point of contact for Kansas fire departments, instructors, and stakeholders seeking hazardous materials and technical rescue training and support. The coordinator works closely with KFRTI managers, coordinators, instructors, and logistics personnel to ensure efficient course delivery, sound resource use, proper equipment readiness, and adherence to Institute standards. In addition to hazardous materials technician responsibilities, this position assists the Manager of Special Operations in other specialized rescue program areas through course instruction, course evaluations, course logistics, scheduling, and equipment maintenance.

This position operates in a hybrid capacity, combining remote work assignments, travel to course delivery locations, and work from the KFRTI office on the Lawrence, Kansas campus more frequently, or as needed, to support testing coordination, equipment readiness, logistics, and program oversight.

The Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute is a unit of KU Jayhawk Global, housed on the Lawrence campus. The Institute was created by the Kansas legislature to train Kansas firefighters in 1949. The Institute serves fire departments and firefighters through a "traveling instruction service" that provides 500 training events per year potentially reaching every community and every county in Kansas.

The mission of Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute is to provide accessible, comprehensive training and credentialing for fire and emergency response personnel to promote health and safety in Kansas communities. KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options, and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors.

Job Description

60% Program-Specific Duties (Hazardous Materials / Technical Rescue Coordinator)

• Accept and coordinate training requests from Kansas fire departments and private sector clients related to hazardous materials and technical rescue training programs.
• Coordinate training dates, locations, and delivery details with host departments, fire service personnel, and other clients.
• Coordinate the use of contract instructors for course deliveries with Manager and Assistant Director approval.
• Select the most appropriate use of personnel, equipment, and other resources while managing costs effectively.
• Identify, select, train, coordinate, and authorize pay and travel reimbursement for part-time instructors within assigned training programs.
• Coordinate props, equipment delivery, maintenance needs, and logistics support with the Logistics Program Manager and the Manager of Special Operations.
• Coordinate and oversee testing for the Hazardous Materials Technician program, including scheduling, test administration support, documentation, quality control, and compliance with accreditation requirements.
• Assist in maintaining program documentation, course materials, skill sheets, testing records, and related processes to support accreditation and certification requirements.
• Review and update hazardous materials technician program content, testing processes, and instructional materials to ensure alignment with current standards, accreditation requirements, and industry best practices.
• Identify courses requiring direct instructional support from KFRTI full-time staff.
• Serve as lead instructor for selected hazardous materials and technical rescue training events and provide direct oversight of part-time instructors when appropriate.
• Manage all aspects of assigned course deliveries, including costs, supervision, classroom presentations, skills training, safety practices, and proper use of equipment.
• Assist the Manager of Special Operations in all other specialized rescue program areas, including course instruction, course evaluations, course logistics, scheduling, and equipment maintenance.
• Cross-train and instruct in multiple programmatic areas as assigned, including Hazardous Materials Technician and designated technical rescue disciplines.
• Identify fire service organizations and partners willing to collaborate with KFRTI in advancing hazardous materials and technical rescue training.
• Recruit and help develop a cadre of qualified part-time instructors for assigned program areas.
• Revise existing courses and assist with development of new courses within assigned program areas when assigned.
• Write objectives and develop instructional support materials for assigned courses when assigned.
• Design online and hybrid courses within assigned program areas to meet the needs of the Kansas fire service when assigned.
• Teach train-the-trainer courses to part-time instructors and other clients as needed.
• Ensure instructors adhere to Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute professional and instructional standards.
• Train instructors on the proper use of course materials, specialized rescue equipment, hazardous materials training aids, and training props.
• Consult with the Manager of Special Operations and/or Assistant Director on collaborative opportunities, program needs, course improvements, accreditation matters, and equipment requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of KFRTI's mission.

30% General Duties

• Coordinate and schedule assigned hazardous materials and technical rescue training programs and related course deliveries.
• Serve as a point of contact for Kansas fire departments and other clients requesting hazardous materials and technical rescue training.
• Coordinate instructor assignments, training locations, course logistics, equipment needs, and resource requirements for assigned programs.
• Assist in the revision, development, and improvement of assigned courses, including online and hybrid delivery formats when assigned.
• Provide classroom and field instruction for selected programs and support course delivery as needed.
• Recruit, develop, and support part-time instructors within assigned program areas
• Collaborate with KFRTI leadership, staff, and external partners to advance hazardous materials and technical rescue training statewide.
• Maintain professional relationships with Kansas fire service organizations, instructors, and stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of KFRTI's mission.

10% Time Management & Role Expectations

• Expected to manage multiple concurrent course deliveries, testing responsibilities, instructor assignments, equipment needs, and program support responsibilities with strong organizational discipline.
• Provide instruction within the assigned area of responsibility when required.
• Maintain increased office presence on the Lawrence campus, as needed, to support program coordination, testing oversight, equipment maintenance, logistics, and administrative requirements.
• Maintain appropriate communication and coordination with the Manager of Special Operations, Assistant Director, instructors, logistics staff, and partner agencies to support statewide training delivery.
• Support the growth and development of part-time instructors to expand KFRTI delivery capacity and maintain quality instruction across assigned programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Special Operations, Assistant Director, or Director to support the overall mission of KFRTI.

Position Requirements

1. This position is a combination of remote work assignments with travel to course delivery locations. The person in this position will also work from the Lawrence, Kansas campus more frequently, or as needed, to support testing coordination, equipment maintenance, program logistics, and administrative duties.
2. This position shall be based in and work from a county within the State of Kansas. Persons in this position are required to live in Kansas.
3. Considerable in-state and limited out-of-state travel is required in this position. Travel related to this position may be required from one to five days per week.
4. This position is routinely required to work a non-traditional schedule, including evenings and weekends.
5. Persons in this position will be required to conduct classroom lectures, hands-on hazardous materials and technical rescue skills instruction, and other field-based training activities as assigned.
6. Successful candidates must be physically capable of performing firefighting-related functions associated with training delivery, including participation in technical rescue and hazardous materials training exercises, climbing, crawling, lifting, carrying, bending, working in confined spaces, and operating in outdoor or physically demanding environments.
7. Successful candidates must be capable of meeting requirements related to the use of and fit testing into Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in accordance with Kansas Department of Labor regulations.
8. Lifting of heavy materials and training props up to 100 pounds is required in this position. Successful candidates must be capable of lifting and moving teaching kits, specialized rescue equipment, hazardous materials equipment, firefighting equipment, and setting up training props.
9. Critical thinking skills and the ability to quickly adapt new concepts and technical fire service information into new and existing courses are required.
10. Employees in this position are expected to serve as facilitators, leaders, and instructors and must demonstrate empathy for the challenges of the modern fire service.
11. As a State Fire Training organization, KFRTI is expected to help lead change in the fire service through training and education. Employees must demonstrate a customer-friendly attitude, flexibility, strong teamwork, and a strong commitment to keeping the Kansas fire service well trained, educated, and highly skilled.
12. Must have a valid driver's license by the time of hire and throughout the term of employment.

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma and five years of progressive experience conducting or providing fire service, hazardous materials, or technical rescue training, or a bachelor's degree and three years of experience conducting or providing fire service, hazardous materials, or technical rescue training.
2. IFSAC and/or Pro Board NFPA Firefighter I & II National Certification, as evidenced by application materials.
3. IFSAC and/or Pro Board Hazardous Materials Technician National Certification, as evidenced by application materials.
4. IFSAC and/or Pro Board Fire Instructor I National Certification, as evidenced by application materials.
5. Minimum of three years of experience as a full-time firefighter, or five years of experience as an active volunteer firefighter.
6. Certificates of Completion for FEMA/NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800, as evidenced by application materials.
7. Experience in hazardous materials training, testing, or program delivery, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

1. IFSAC and/or Pro Board Fire Instructor II National Certification, as evidenced by application materials.
2. IFSAC and/or Pro Board Incident Safety Officer National Certification, as evidenced by application materials.
3. IFSAC and/or Pro Board Technical Rescue certifications in one or more disciplines such as Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue, or Surface Water Rescue, as evidenced by application materials.
4. Experience coordinating certification testing, skill sheet validation, or accreditation-related program documentation, as evidenced by application materials.
5. Demonstrated understanding of national certification systems, accreditation requirements, and the relationship between national certification and training, as evidenced by application materials.
6. Experience as a part-time or full-time instructor in specialized rescue or hazardous materials programs, as evidenced by application materials.

Contact Information to Applicants

Jennifer Johnson
jennjohnson@ku.edu
785-864-9194

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Resume
• List of three (3) professional references

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins May 6th, 2026, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Advertised Salary Range
Starting at $62,000

Application Review Begins
09-May-2026

Anticipated Start Date
24-May-2026

Primary Campus
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

FTE
1.0

Reg/Temp
Regular

FLSA Status
Nonexempt

Employee Class
U-Unclassified Professional Staff

Work Location Assignment
Hybrid