This position is located within the Fire Department, Facilities Management Service at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, ME. The position provides emergency medical transport and fire prevention services.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Drives and operates the two fire engines and other Togus VA Fire Department vehicles to the scene of the emergency; Determines the nature and extent of a fire; Lays and disconnects hose lines and directs fire streams; Operates fire pumps, foam generators, nozzles, and other similar firefighting equipment; Performs checks, tests, and maintenance on Togus VA Fire Department vehicles and equipment; Responds to all structural fire alarms and medical emergencies; Provides non-invasive and invasive medical procedures; Performs routine maintenance and/or inspection of fire extinguishers; Conducts fire and life safety inspections; Conducts and documents fire and safety training for Veterans, Staff, Volunteers, and Visitors during New Employee Orientation; Responds to hazardous materials incidents and cleans hazardous materials response equipment and supplies including protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus, wet and dry agents; Provides confided space rescue operations; Provides basic and advanced life support treatment to patients; Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Rotating shift work, 72 hours per week. The Fire Department operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8) in the Federal Service that has given you the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter (Paramedic) at the GS-9 level. Such duties 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 duties would have been performed exercising independent judgment and under general supervision. In addition to the above requirement, you must also meet the following: 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. 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: Applicants will be given a physical examination including a treadmill and agility test. Failure to pass these tests may be justification for disqualification. Periodic medical examinations following appointment may be required to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the 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* for this position are: Do you possess a National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II? Do you possess a National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certification as an Operations Level Responder? Do you possess a National Pro Board or International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certificate for Hazardous Materials Awareness? Do you possess a National Pro Board or International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certificate as a Driver/Operator for Fire Apparatus with Pump in accordance with NFPA 1002? Do you possess a current certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians or a current Maine Emergency Medical Technician certification? **NOTE: You MUST upload copies of all above certifications to be considered for this position.** *Selective Factors are skills, 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 them are ineligible for further consideration. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationsCritical ThinkingEducation and TrainingTechnical 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: Work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for a long period of time, in an emergency. Activities involve prolonged period 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 patient transport. The Firefighter must be able to lift in excess of 50 pounds and have the physical ability to perform firefighting duties while wearing personal protective equipment that weight between 50-70 pounds. The work environment is varied. Work is performed indoors and outdoors, in areas where it is dirty, dusty, noisy, or greasy, outside hot and cold, inclement/bad weather, and occasionally in areas where there is danger of exposure to asbestos dust from insulation. Work involves exposure to fires, noxious gases from burning materials, handling of frightened persons, and other non-intrinsically safe environments. Firefighting hazards are recurring and require the use of specialized firefighting safety equipment, clothing, and procedures. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]