Firefighter Trainee

City-of-Haywar; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Alternative Work Schedule

Vacation 80 hours

15.5 Paid Holidays

Health, Dental & Vision coverage

CalPERS Retirement

Life and Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Health and Wellness Reimbursement

Professional Development Reimbursement

457 Deferred Compensation

Job summary

City of Hayward is recruiting for the Firefighter Trainee position. Trainees are hired into a civilian role for the duration of the Fire Academy and transition to Firefighter after successful completion.

They may perform emergency response duties, basic life support, patient transport, and related medical tasks under Alameda County protocols. The role includes training, certification requirements, and a path to sworn Firefighter.

Qualifications

• Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• License: Possession of a Class "C" California Driver's License.
• Ability to obtain by appointment and maintain California Paramedic License.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid certification from Alameda County as a paramedic by the completion date of the firefighter academy.
• The ability to obtain by appointment and maintain a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a valid Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) or International Trauma Life Support (ITLS).
• The ability to obtain and maintain Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certificate within 2 years of receipt of Alameda County Paramedic Certification or Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Professional (PEPP)

Responsibilities

• Attends a basic recruit academy designed to provide an overview of the Hayward Fire Department including knowledge of laws, firefighting procedures and physical fitness.
• Receives training to develop an awareness of the overall Fire Department functions, responsibilities of Firefighters and how they relate to field operations.

Skills

Basic Life Support

Patient transport

Reading technical material

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Monday, August 31, 2026 by 5:00pm

The City of Hayward is excited to announce its recruitment for the position of Firefighter Trainee. The Firefighter trainee is hired into a civilian position for the period of time they are assigned to the Fire Academy. Upon successful completion of the Training Academy, the Firefighter Trainee position transitions into the position of Firefighter and Trainees will be sworn in and appointed to the classification of Firefighter. Firefighter Trainee benefits are limited to those of a civilian employee.

The position of Firefighter responds to emergency alarms, lays lines, and directs streams of water and other extinguishers; carries and sets up ladders, ventilates buildings, and rescues persons and animals. The Firefighter attends to victims in emergency situations using prescribed paramedic techniques; provides medical aid; administers drugs; gives injections; starts intravenous solutions; takes and monitors vital signs; takes appropriate action to preserve life as prescribed by Alameda County protocols, the Base Hospital, via direct radio or telephone contact or physician on scene. In addition, a Firefighter may be required to drive department ambulance and transport patients to emergency receiving facilities.

The Department

The Mission of the Hayward Fire Department is to protect lives and property by providing superior fire suppression and emergency medical services (EMS), supported by prevention through responsible regulatory and educational programs.

What you will do

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Attends a basic recruit academy designed to provide an overview of the Hayward Fire Department including knowledge of laws, firefighting procedures and physical fitness.
• Receives training to develop an awareness of the overall Fire Department functions, responsibilities of Firefighters and how they relate to field operations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of:

• Basic mathematics and mechanical principles that demonstrate the ability to learn technical concepts, procedures, and equipment operation.
• Basic Life Support Emergency Care.
• Patient transport procedures.

Ability to:

• Think and act quickly in emergencies.
• Understand and interpret laws and regulations.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Display the use and manipulation of tools, medical equipment and instruments, and apparatus.
• Perform the work in the expedient manner required.
• Have good agility for performing tasks involving balance and coordination.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and other fire service officials.
• Observe and evaluate patient status and conditions and determine appropriate basic and advanced life support procedures.
• Make sound independent paramedical decisions.
• Learn and apply Alameda County Radio Format in order to transmit medical information.
• Learn fire radio communications format, language, and dispatching techniques.
• Prepare accurate technical reports and records.
• Understand how and why mechanical things work.
• Read and understand technical material, reports, laws, codes and departmental regulations.

JOB RELATED AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

You have:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

None.

Education:

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.

License:

• Possession of a Class "C" California Driver's License.
• The ability to obtain by appointment and maintain California Paramedic License.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a valid certification from Alameda County as a paramedic by the completion date of the firefighter academy.
• The ability to obtain by appointment and maintain a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a valid Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) or International Trauma Life Support (ITLS).
• The ability to obtain and maintain Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certificate within 2 years of receipt of Alameda County Paramedic Certification or Pediatric Education for Pre-Hospital Professional (PEPP)

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Age: Must be at least 18 years old at the time of the initial oral interview.
• Guidelines for Vision Screening: Vision must be at least 20/70 uncorrected, testing each eye separately; and must be correctable to at least 20/30, testing both eyes simultaneously.

BENEFITS AND REWARDS

Depending on employee group, some of these benefits may include:

• Alternative Work Schedule and/or Telecommuting
• Vacation - 80 hours minimum
• 15.5 Paid Holidays
• Generous employer contribution for Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• CalPERS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.5% at 55 for Classic CalPERS members | 2.0% at 62 for New CalPERS members | 3.0% at 50 for Classic Safety members | 2.7% at 57 for New Safety Members) - No Social Security participation.
• Life and Disability Insurance and Paid Leave
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health and Wellness Reimbursement
• Professional Development Reimbursement
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (employee paid)

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Application Review

• Minimum qualifications

Job Related Testing

• Written Exam: The FCTC written exam will be used and the candidate must be on the current Firefighter Candidate Testing Center's Statewide Eligibility List.
• Physical Performance Test (Pass/Fail): All components of the event must be passed in order to continue to the next phase of the process.
  • Confirmation of licenses including certificates, and other credentials as part of the appointment process.
• Oral Interview: Candidates will be interviewed by a qualifications appraisal panel to determine ranking on the Firefighter Eligibility List. Candidates must achieve a score of 70% or better to be placed on the list.
  • The examination process will result in a ranked eligible register of candidates for hiring consideration by the department. Actual hire depends on success in the departmental selection process.
• Selection Interview: Candidates will be interviewed by a qualifications appraisal panel comprised of Chief Officers. Candidates will be required to successfully climb an aerial ladder as part of this process.
• Comprehensive Background Investigation: Includes personal history, prior job performance, and activities that may negatively affect job performance.
• Medical Examination.

PLEASE NOTE, DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE CITY'S DISCRETION.

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City should expect to undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history verification, medical evaluation, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, and other credentials as part of the appointment process. Some positions, depending on the nature of the work, also require a credit check and a review of Summary Criminal History obtained from the State Department of Justice through Live Scan Fingerprinting.

Applicants will be notified electronically via Government Jobs as to their status in the selection process. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they can receive email notice from Neogov/Government Jobs and the City of Hayward.

The City of Hayward reserves the right to modify theselection processas necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity.

The City of Hayward is an Equal Opportunity Employer

A Certified Age Friendly Employer

Learn more about the mission of the Age Friendly Institute