Firefighter/Medic (Firefighter/Paramedic)

Fairfax County; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

One of the most Dynamic Counties in the Nation

$10,000 Sign-on BONUS*

Fairfax County is a diverse urban county with over 1.1 million residents which boasts a nationally recognized school system, safe neighborhoods, extensive parklands, and bustling town centers. This urban county has a history of stable political leadership, effective citizen engagement, and outstanding service delivery.

About the Department

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) received a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) in 2014 and was accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) in 2018. The FCFRD is a premier all-hazards fire and rescue department providing basic and advanced life support (BLS and ALS) emergency medical services (EMS), fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue, life safety education, fire prevention, and arson investigation services. Approximately 1,400 highly trained uniformed personnel work in 39 strategically placed fire and rescue stations. FCFRD field personnel work one of three 24-hour rotating shifts.

Additionally, the FCFRD is home to VATF-1/USA-1, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response system, and one of two internationally deployable Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams in the United States.

Duties include:

• Conducts patient assessment (e.g., evaluates the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems).
• Provides basic and advanced emergency medical care to stabilize the condition of the critically ill or injured prior to transport to a medical facility.
• Confers with the supervising physician or hospital via radio or telephone, providing the patient's medical history and condition.
• Administers medication via intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraosseous, or sublingual routes.
• Administers advanced emergency medical procedures (e.g., inserting airways, interpreting, and treating cardiac arrhythmias, performing defibrillation, electronic pacing).
• Participates in multi-disciplinary cutting-edge training to prepare for tasks such as tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) and Field-Available Component Transfusion Response (FACT*R).
• Responds to emergency calls to protect life and property.
• Combats, extinguishes, and prevents fires.
• Participates in rescue extrication operations and provides emergency medical care to the sick and injured.
• Drives emergency apparatus, including, but not limited to transport units, engines, trucks, rescue squads, and tankers.
• Performs related work as required under direct supervision.
• Participates in Community Risk Reduction and Community Outreach activities.
• Works as part of a team and embodies the department's Core Values.

Note: Following the successful completion of the recruit school, incumbents will serve a 12-month probationary period. During their probationary period, they shall complete an ALS internship to become FCFRD-authorized ALS providers. The FCFRD also provides continuing education to personnel with paramedic certification during and following the probationary period. Following successful completion of ALS internship, paramedics are eligible for ALS incentive pay ($5,971) and additional ALS riding pay of $2-3/hour depending on apparatus assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

• High school graduation or possession of a GED issued by a state department of education.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED:

• Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license at the time of application, and at all times during employment in the uniformed service.
• Certified as a Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services EMT-P and/or a National Registry Paramedic at the time of application.

Following successful completion of Fire and Rescue recruit training:

• Certification in Hazardous Materials Operations-Mission specific in accordance with Fairfax County training standards;
• Certification in the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) in accordance with Fairfax County training standards;
• Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Basic Life Support Provider;
• Certification as a full Advanced Life Support provider in Fairfax County and in full accordance with all current County training standards;
• Successful Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 100;
• Successful Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 700.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All uniformed fire and rescue personnel that are medically qualified for field duties as a firefighter must maintain a level of fitness sufficient to enable them to participate in fire suppression and rescue activities when the need arises, as demonstrated by successful completion of the Fitness Measurement and Assessment Program (unless granted light duty due to illness or injury);
• Must successfully complete a criminal background investigation, a polygraph examination, and a physical ability test prior to appointment;
• Must be 18 years old at the time of application;
• Must be tobacco-free and nicotine-free at the time of appointment, and be willing to sign a Conditions of Employment Agreement to not use tobacco or tobacco products on- or off-duty;
• Personnel must maintain a Class "A" medical rating in the assigned medical group prior to starting work;
• For Class "B" and "C" medical ratings, an accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
• A Class "D" medical rating will not be considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The employee must be able to:

• Reach above shoulder;
• Work with body, bend over at the waist, kneel, crawl, climb stairs & ladders;
• Work with arms extended, work with arms above shoulder level, stand, sit, push, and stoop;
• All duties are performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Successfully pass the following evaluation steps:

• Application review
• Personal History Statement
• Written exam
• FCFRD Physical Abilities Test (PAT) Preparation
• PAT exam
• Polygraph evaluation
• Medical examination
• Psychological profile evaluation
• Must complete fingerprints or background check with VA OEMS for eligibility to hold an EMS certification.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.