Firefighter (Paramedic)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-8. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (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 Factor for this position is: Current, valid, state or national registry Paramedic certification. (Documentation is required) AND Drivers License: Must possess a valid states driver’s license. (Please do NOT upload a photo of your Drivers License, please complete Drivers License information in the announcement questionnaire). AND (a)To be eligible for employment as a VA firefighter, each potential employee must have received Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001, and must have received Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, in NFPA 472. (b) Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment. (c) To be eligible for employment as, or promotion to, a VA driver/operator, each employee must have received certification as driver/operator in accordance with NFPA 1002. Selective Placement Factor Required Certifications (SCREEN-OUT): The following certifications awarded by the State of Michigan, National Registry of EMT Paramedic, IFSAC or ProBoard are required: State or National Paramedic IFSAC or ProBoard Firefighter I & II IFSAC or ProBoard Driver/Operator Pumper Selective Placement Factor Preferred Certifications: IFSAC or ProBoard Fire Inspector II within 24 months of employment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-08 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (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 duties would have been performed exercising independent judgment AGE REQUIREMENT: Maximum Entry Age: For initial appointments, applicant cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit noted, but who have previously served 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 Federal 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. REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: For those positions requiring employees to drive motorized firefighting equipment, applicants must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator’s license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test and provide information on their driving record. See 5 CFR 930 and the “General Policies and Instructions” section of this Manual for additional requirements for motor vehicle operators. Please do not submit a copy of your driver’s license. If you are called for an interview, you WILL be REQUIRED to provide a copy of your license at that time. Physical Requirements: Work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for a long period of time, in an emergency situation. Activities involve prolonged periods of time standing, walking, bending, crouching, and carrying heavy firefighting tools and related equipment associated with the performance of such duties as maintenance, testing, inspections, drills, suppression, and transport of persons. The Firefighter must be able to lift more than 50 pounds and have the physical ability to perform firefighting duties while wearing personal protective equipment that weighs between 40-50 pounds. Work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for a long period of time, in an emergency. Activities involve Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over; Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over; Straight pulling 1 hour (hand over hand); Pulling hand over hand; Pushing; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 8 hours; Standing 8 hours; Crawling 4 hours; Repeated bending; Climbing use of legs and arms, Both legs required; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13″ to 16″ to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Both eyes required ; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing without aid; Mental and Emotional Stability. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Emergency Care 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. 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/.
This incumbent serves as a Firefighter (Paramedic) in the Fire Section, Public Safety Service at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The incumbent provides support within the Battle Creek VA Medical Center Fire Section, Public Safety Service.