Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Hazardous Material Operations)

Veterans Health Administration; Alexandria (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a Firefighter/EMT/HazMat Operations professional to provide fire prevention and protection services for a VA Medical Center comprised of 27 buildings over 157 acres with two remote community-based outpatient clinics.

The hazard level ranges from low to high across varied building types and occupancies, requiring versatility and readiness for diverse incidents.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience candidates typically include: controlling or extinguishing fires as part of a fire department or brigade; rescue operations; detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; operation of fire communications equipment; controlling hazardous materials incidents; developing or providing training in fire protection and prevention.

Job description

This position serves as Firefighter/EMT/Hazardous Materials Operations to provide fire prevention and protection services for a VA Medical Center that is comprised of 27 buildings spanning 157 acres of land and two remote community-based outpatient clinics. The degree of hazard ranges from low to high and includes a variety of building and occupant types.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/25/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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.

Specialized Experience

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-06, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• . (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade;
• (2) rescue operations;
• (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards;
• (4) operation of fire communications equipment;
• (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or
• (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.

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. Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous physical exertion may be subject to periodic (e.g., annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position. (See 5 CFR 339.) Any serious deviation from sound medical condition may be grounds for rejection of an applicant regardless of whether the condition is named below. Remediable defects or curable diseases will not exclude a person from consideration, but proof that such defects have been remedied or the disease cured must be received during the life of the eligible register before persons otherwise qualified may be considered for appointment under civil service rules.

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 pulmo