Firefighter

Description:

This position is assigned to Facility Management/Fire Department provision of fire protection and suppression services at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in Canandaigua, NY. The Fire Department operates three primary pieces of apparatus including two 1250 GPM Pumpers and a Rescue/Special Operations Unit.

Requirements:

ALL FIREFIGHTER AND EMT CERTIFICATIONS MUST BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE TO QUALIFY.

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. -AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following:
Experience : You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter. 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 the GS-5 level, these assignments would have been performed of a more limited scope and with less independence, working with supervision for routine tasks or as a member of a team for more complicated or involved tasks, consulting the supervisor for guidance on problems and duties are monitored for accuracy. ~OR~
Education : 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 is qualifying for GS-5. ~OR~
Combination : Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the first 2 years or associate's degree) and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the GS-5. The education portion must include courses in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study in an accredited college or university.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter. 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. These assignments would have been performed of a more limited scope and with less independence than the full performance level, and be performed under supervision, consulting with the supervisor when problems are encountered; however, the degree of supervisory controls would be less than at the GS-5 grade level.

You must also meet all of the following requirements to qualify for this position:

Maximum Age Requirement (Screen Out): 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 firefighter service by the time the firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicant's age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age. ~AND~

Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operation - Driver's License (Screen Out): Applicants must possess and maintain a current and valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test in the Class A Triple Combination Pumper and be capable of operating all firefighting equipment including that on board the fire truck. Applicant also may be required to provide information on their driving record. Applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate specific equipment to which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment. 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. ~AND~

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 for this position are the required Certifications listed below. Copies of your current and valid certifications must be submitted with your application to receive credit .

• Certification as Firefighter I , in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 (All Grade Levels)
• Hazardous Materials Certification at the Operations Leve l, either standalone or as part of the Firefighter I certification, in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies, in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 472 (All Grade Levels)
• State or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Certification (All Grade Levels)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Decisiveness
• Emergency Care
• Hazardous Materials

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.

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/ .