Firefighter (BLS/Haz Mat Tech)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Coatesville (Chester County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Haz Mat Tech) at the Coatesville VA Medical Center, PA, performs fire control, rescue operations, and hazard reduction on a 56-hour weekly rotating schedule. Proficiency in English is required for direct patient care positions.

Selected candidates must hold Firefighter I/II, Driver/Operator Pumper, Hazardous Materials Technician, and EMT certifications, with a valid state driver’s license. Extension period and entry age rules apply.

Qualifications

• Certification in Firefighter I and II per NFPA 1001.
• Driver/Operator Pumper certification (National Pro-Board or IFSAC).
• Hazardous Materials Technician certification per NFPA 472.
• PA DOH or National Registry EMT certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Control and extinguish fires; rescue individuals in danger.
• Reduce or eliminate fire hazards during a 56-hour weekly rotating shift.
• Operate fire communications equipment and participate in fire protection activities.

Education

Firefighter I National Pro-Board Certification

Firefighter II National Pro-Board Certification

Driver/Operator Pumper National Pro-Board Certification or IFSAC

Hazardous Materials Technician National Pro-Board Certification

Current State of PA DOH or National Registry EMT Certification

Job description

The closing date of this announcement has been extended.

Applicant(s) who previously applied, do not need to re-apply.

The Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Haz Mat Tech) serves as Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician at the Coatesville VA Medical Center, in Coatesville, PA. This position performs work to control and extinguish fires, rescue persons endangered by fire, and reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards during a work shift of 56 hours per week on a rotating basis.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

The Selective Placement Factors for this position are: (Copies of certifications must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.)

1. Firefighter I National Pro-Board Certification, in accordance with NFPA 1001


2. Firefighter II National Pro-Board Certification, in accordance with NFPA 1001


3. Driver/Operator Pumper National Pro-Board Certification or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) in accordance with NFPA 1002


4. Hazardous Materials Technician National Pro-Board Certification, in accordance with NFPA 472


5. Current State of Pennsylvania Department of Health or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Certification

PLEASE NOTE:

Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment.

Driver's License:

Applicants must possess and maintain a current and valid state-issued driver's license. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license.

MAXIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT:

This position requires a maximum entry age for an initial appointment; applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the date of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit, but who have previously served as a federal employee in a covered position, may be eligible to re-enter the fire service provided that they: (1) meet all applicable qualifications for the position and (2) will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal fire service by the time the firefighter reaches the age of 57.

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level:

You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter - Basic Life Support. Experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (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.

At this level, assignments would have been performed independently, with little or no supervision, only consulting with the supervisor when unusual problems are encountered.

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/.