Fire Chief

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fort William Henry Harrison (MT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Fort Harrison, Montana seeks a Fire Chief to lead the Fire and Emergency Services division. The role encompasses management, supervision, operations, fire prevention, training, and health and safety for the campus and surrounding jurisdictions.

Qualified applicants must meet Time-In-Grade requirements and possess relevant firefighting experience at or above GS-09 level. A valid driver’s license and fitness standards apply; SF-50 documentation is required.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower GS-09 grade.
• Time-In-Grade requirements apply for current Federal employees.
• Valid State motor vehicle operator's license may be required and driving record may be reviewed.
• Ability to operate and manage firefighting pumping equipment and related hydraulic tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide management, supervision, and administrative leadership for the Fire & Emergency Services division.
• Oversee operations, fire prevention, training, and health and safety responsibilities for the Fort Harrison VA Campus.
• Coordinate with mutual aid jurisdictions and ensure readiness for all hazards.
• Maintain compliance with federal qualification standards and documentation.

Skills

Firefighting operations

Rescue operations

Hazardous materials management

Fire prevention training

Fire communications equipment

Tools

Pumping equipment

Job description

As the Fire Chief the incumbent's duties include: management and supervision, administrative, operations, fire prevention, training, and health and safety responsibilities for the entire Fire and Emergency services division. The FTM Fire Departmenr is an all hazards fire and emergency services response to the Fort Harrison Montana VA Campus including 41 residential low-income veteran housing units and complex surrounding mutual aid jurisdictions.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/17/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience:

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade
• Rescue operations
• Detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards
• Operation of fire communications equipment
• Controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Requirements For Motor Vehicle Operation:

For those positions requiring employees to drive motorized firefighting equipment, candidates must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test and provide information on their driving record. See 5 CFR 930 and the 'General Policies and Instructions' section of this Manual for additional requirements for motor vehicle operators.

Mechanical Equipment Operator Qualifications:

For those positions requiring the operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment, mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools, applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate the specific equipment to which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.

Medical Requirements:

Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the medical standards described below. Since individual positions may not include all such duties, a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled.

Eyes: Corrected distant vision must be at least 20/30 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye. Uncorrected distant vision is required only if it is likely that corrective lenses may be lost or broken. If so, uncorrected distant vision must be at least 20/100 binocular. Ability to distinguish basic colors is required. Applicants must be free from acute or chronic eye disease.

Ears: Using an audiometer for measurement, there should be no loss of 30 or more decibels in the unaided worst ear at the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz levels.

Nose, Mouth, and Throat: Applicants must be free from conditions that interfere with distinct speech, free breathing, or with the use of breathing apparatuses or protective equipment.

Lungs: Applicants must be free from any pulmonary or chest wall disease or condition that results in not being able to perform the duties of the position.

Heart and Blood Vessels: The following conditions may be cause for rejection: organic heart disease, valvular or vascular diseases, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, recurrent syncope, or history of myocardial infarctio