Firefighter

Summary This position is in the Fire Department section of the Facilities Management Service. The purpose of the position is to provide twenty-four (24) hour fire suppression, protection, and fire inspector services at the VA Black Hills Health Care System. Duties ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The Firefighter shall participate in all aspects of structural and wild land firefighting operations and rescue. The Firefighter participates in a proactive fire inspection and prevention program. Certified and performs as a driver of all Fire Department Apparatus. The Firefighter participates in Confined Space Rescue and is a Hazardous Materials First Responder. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-07. At the GS-05 and GS-06 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-07. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Major duties and responsibilities include: Drives and operates firefighting apparatus of significant complexity, e.g. pumpers, aerial ladder trucks and wild land firefighting truck; Provides fire protection at the hospital engaged in using various types of gases, oxygen, nitrogen, gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas; Performs fire/rescue and firefighting duties at large hospital complex/ campus; Fights fires in an installation environment, with multi-story buildings consisting of more than three stories presenting complex and hazardous firefighting situations; Performs as a hazardous material first responder; Conducts fire prevention inspections; Responds to non-fire related incidents such as grounds search for missing patients, confined space rescue, motor vehicles accidents, etc.; Perform related duties as required. Work Schedule: 72 hour work week (48 hours on - 48/72 hours off) on a rotating basis to include weekends and holidays. Employees are regularly required to work scheduled and no notice periods of overtime. Additional Weekend Premium Pay: Weekend premium (25% of hourly rate) paid for service performed on an established tour of duty, any part of which is between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Selected applicants must possess and maintain a valid, state issued driver's license Selected applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment physical examination VA Firefighters are 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.) Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment. Training, education, and professional development programs in accordance with applicable NFPA standards will be provided as needed to support the minimum qualifications and certifications expected of VA fire department personnel. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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. This position includes Selective Placement Factors (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factors are listed below for each grade-level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-05: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-05 level. 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. ~OR~ Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study. Transcript required. ~OR~ An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year or associates degree) and specialized experience, as described above. The education portion must include courses in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study in an accredited college or university. (Transcript required). Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-06: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-06 level. 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. Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472 - Certification as driver/operator pumper in accordance with NFPA 1002. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-07: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-07 level. Such duties may include: 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. Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472. - Certification as driver/operator pumper in accordance with NFPA 1002. - Certification as National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Fire Management First Response Hazardous Materials Patient Care Selective Placement Factor Technical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: Prior to employment and annually thereafter, all firefighters must be certified by a qualified physician as meeting: (a) Medical and physical requirements for performing their assigned duties; (b) Requirements of NFPA 1582; (c) Requirements of NFPA 1583; and, (d) Requirements of NFPA 1500, Chapter 10. Employee works in a variety of environments to include high intensity situations, such as; extreme heat and smoke environments. Employee is required to wear protective ensemble to include self-contained breathing apparatus. The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, running, lifting heavy objects over 50 pounds, crouching or crawling in restrictive areas during fire and rescue activities. Fire protection equipment must be worn or carried; the wearing of this equipment significantly amplifies the physical strain experienced by the employee during physical exertion or during periods of hot weather. Employees are regularly required to work scheduled and no notice periods of overtime. 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/0000/fire-protection-and-prevention-series-0081/standards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.