The incumbents in these positions will serve as Firefighters/EMT/Hazardous Materials Operations and will provide fire prevention and protection services for Alexandria VA Medical Center, in Pineville, Louisiana that is comprised of 27 buildings spanning 157 acres of land and two remote community-based outpatient clinics.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major Duties: The Firefighter receives immediate supervision from the Lead Firefighter. Completes all assigned duties, whether under normal or emergency conditions. This includes the duties of Driver/Operators who also function as Hazardous Materials Operations and EMTs. As a crew member, he/she is assigned to various positions on either the pumper or rescue/hazmat truck. As assigned, the incumbent shall complete the daily vehicle and equipment check of all VA fire service emergency response vehicles. The Firefighter attends and conducts training for personnel as directed by the Fire Chief in all phases of firefighting and protection within the structural series. Takes charge of all firefighting activities at the scene of a fire in the absence of the senior fire officer. During emergency situations, must be able to execute all firefighting and/or rescue operations without hesitation. The Firefighter responds to all Medical Center emergencies, performs such firefighting duties as determining the nature and extent of the fire, the appropriate action required, laying, and disconnecting hoses, directing fire streams, operating firefighting equipment, ventilation of burning buildings, performing evacuations and rescues, administering appropriate emergency treatments, etc. Incumbent performs noninvasive medical procedures. In performing these Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures, the incumbent will: 1. Perform initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination. 2. Determine priority of patient care based on assessment findings. 3. Take, record, and monitor patient's baseline vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. 4. Manage respiratory and cardiac emergencies, to include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bag-valve-mask resuscitation, and automatic external defibrillation (AED). 5. Control external bleeding with direct pressure and treat shock with pneumatic anti-shock garments. 6. Splint and immobilize fractures and dislocations for transport. 7. Attempt to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems and obtain a comprehensive drug history from the patient that includes the names, strength, and dosage of drugs taken by the patient. 8. Assist patients in taking emergency medications for certain complaints, e.g., Nitroglycerin tablets for chest pain, Epinephrine auto-injections for allergic reactions, or Albuterol inhalers for asthma patients, under the direction of standing orders or of a physician. 9. Establish communication with the receiving facility and provide all patient information, including estimated time of arrival. 10. Employ a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods, and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport, as soon as possible, to the receiving facility. Performs all duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Rotating Shift Work: 72 Hours per week. NOTE: Salary provided is for a 40 hour work week. Applicants need to be aware that these positions are 72 hour work week and the salary will be adjusted accordingly. Fire Department operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in which employees are assigned to alternating shifts of 24 hours. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

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 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 Factors for this position are below: For this position, You MUST provide a copy of these certifications below or you will be rated ineligible. Possess a current and valid Firefighter II - IFSAC, Pro-Board or a State Certification. Possess a current and valid Driver/Operator - IFSAC, Pro-Board or a State Certification. Possess a current and valid Hazardous Materials Operations - IFSAC, Pro- Board or a State Certification. Possess a current and valid State of Louisiana or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification. Possess a current and valid, state driver's license to operate a vehicle. Do NOT include a photocopy of your driver license in your application package. If an interview is requested, you will then be required to provide a copy of your current and valid driver's licenses. EXPERIENCE: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-7 grade 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. NOTE: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed. 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. Medical Requirements: Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the medical standards described below. Since individual positions may not include all such duties, a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled. Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous physical exertion may be 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.) Any serious deviation from sound medical condition may be grounds for rejection, regardless of whether the condition is named below. Remediable defects or curable diseases will not exclude a person from consideration, but proof that such defects have been remedied or the disease cured must be received during the life of the eligible register before persons otherwise qualified may be considered for appointment under civil service rules. Eyes: Corrected distant vision must be at least 20/30 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye. Uncorrected distant vision is required only if it is likely that corrective lenses may be lost or broken. If so, uncorrected distant vision must be at least 20/100 binocular. Ability to distinguish basic colors is required. Applicants must be free from acute or chronic eye disease. Ears: Using an audiometer for measurement, there should be no loss of 30 or more decibels in the unaided worst ear at the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz levels. Nose, Mouth, and Throat: Must be free from conditions that interfere with distinct speech, free breathing, or with the use of breathing apparatuses or protective equipment. Lungs: Must be free from any pulmonary or chest wall disease or condition that results in not being able to perform the duties of the position. Heart and Blood Vessels: The following conditions may be cause for rejection: organic heart disease, valvular or vascular diseases, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, recurrent syncope, or history of myocardial infarction. Abdomen: Acute or chronic disease or inflammation of the abdominal viscera, hernia, or significant enlargement of the liver or spleen that interferes with the performance of the duties of the position will be cause for rejection. Spine, Pelvic, Sacroiliac and Lumbo-Sacral Joints: Applicants must have free movement of spine and pelvic joints. Neurological System: Degenerative neurological disease or disorder that results in documented evidence of neurological impairment that renders the applicant unable to perform the duties of the position will be cause for rejection. A history of serious mental disease may be disqualifying. Extremities: Individuals cannot have anomalies in the number, form, proportion, and movement of the extremities that interfere with function. This includes non-united fractures; nonreducible dislocations; united fractures and reduced dislocations with incomplete restoration of function; amputation of arm, hand, leg, or foot; loss of any skeletal portion of the thumb of either hand; loss of more than the two distal phalanges of the ring or little fingers of either hand; any lose joints; pes cavus, weak foot, or clubfoot; flatfoot with symptoms unresponsive to orthotics; loss or deformity of great toe or any two toes on the same foot; torn cartilage or loose foreign bodies within the knee joint; instability of the knee joint; or inadequately healed surgical procedure. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analytical ThinkingEmergency CareFire ManagementTechnical 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. 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/.

Education

Copies of your Certifications, as stated above, MUST be submitted with your application to receive consideration.

Physical Requirements: In an emergency, work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for an extended period of time. The most common encountered applications of strength and endurance are lifting and carrying objects (up to 80 lbs.), pulling objects (up to 135 lbs.), and working with objects in front of the body (up to 125 lbs.). 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.

Contacts

• Address Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]