The Firefighter (Paramedic) serves at the Fire Department, Safety & Emergency Management Service, Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, in Montgomery, AL. The Firefighter Department operates seven (7) primary pieces of Apparatus including two (KME) 1250 GPM Pumper, Rescue/Special Operations Unit and three Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulances and one stretcher van.

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 duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Firefighter: Responds to all emergency alarms to including toxic chemical munitions), gasoline, electrical, hazardous material, brush and structural type. Assess fire ground conditions for safety and assist other crew members in performing rescue of personnel as necessary and in extinguishing the flames by employing standard firefighting procedures and techniques. Determines pressure required and adjusts valves, as necessary, to regulate flow of extinguishing agents. Operates pumping apparatus to maintain required pressure in combating fires and to provide safety for crewmembers. Uses breathing and other protective equipment. Inspects and tests breathing equipment before and after each use and refills air cylinders. Rescues people in danger and removes people from buildings and other structures for first-aid treatment. MEDICAL: Determines scene safety, makes a preliminary assessment of the patient's condition and selects from a variety of prescribed Advanced Life Support Protocols, which is appropriate under the given circumstances. Determine with regard to the patient's condition, if and how they can be moved or removed from the present danger. Prioritizes treatment for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of established emergency medicine techniques, methods, and equipment to intervene on the patient's behalf. Provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including advanced life support techniques, such as IV insertion, intubations, administration of emergency drugs and varying the approach for small children/infants. Assists in childbirth. Responds to pre-delivery complications, e.g., convulsions, heart/lung, bleeding, etc., as well as normal deliveries, newborn resuscitation, breech delivery, prolapsed cord, miscarriage, and premature infant birth. FIREFIGHTER/HAZMAT TECHNICIAN: Maintains awareness of diseases caused by pathogens and organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria. Utilizes knowledge of infection control, the need for infection control and preventing infection. Maintains interior of ambulance in a neat and orderly manner; cleaning and decontaminating as required. Checks all the equipment on the ambulance daily in order to assure proper operations of each piece of equipment. Serves as driver/operator of major motorized firefighting equipment, exercising a thorough knowledge of equipment capabilities and installation physical characteristics. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Rotating shift work: Seventy-two (72) hours per week. The Fire Department operates twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week utilizing a seven (7) platoon system in which firefighters alternate shifts. **Preferred: Firefighter I and II Fire Inspector I and II, Fire Instructor I and II, Hazardous Material Technician, Hazardous Material Incident Command, NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800. If you are missing any, you may have on year to obtain the certifications.** 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. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

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/valid certifications must be submitted with your application to receive credit. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Advanced Life Support (ALS) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter I National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter II NOTE: The following certifications must be obtained within 24 months of employment: Fire Inspector I and II Hazardous Materials To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must 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 perform the duties of this position. and SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower graded level in Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. 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. In addition to the above requirement, you must also meet all of the following requirements to qualify for this position: MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: Maximum entry age for firefighters is established as provided for in section 3307(d) of title 5, United States Code. The specific Agency authority is: VA Handbook 5005/57, Part II, Chapter 2, Section A, Paragraph 5i(2). A. For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. B. 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. and REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT-Motor Vehicle Operator/Driver :MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION: For those positions requiring employees to drive motorized firefighting equipment, candidates must have 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. and 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. The performance of fire and safety inspections throughout the Campus routinely requires considerable walking, stooping, bending and climbing on a daily basis. May be required to lift and carry objects heavy objects, including equipment over fifty (50lbs) pounds and victims of fires or other emergencies. Working conditions may include heavy physical exertion, extreme heat, smoke and dust in enclosed smoke-filled places, in all types of weather. The Firefighter/Paramedic must pass a fitness for duty physical. This physical will include examinations for both firefighter and hazardous materials response. The medical examination will include but not limited to a history relating to the handling and exposure to hazardous materials and the Firefighters ability to wear any required personal protective equipment including respirators, under conditions including temperature extremes that may be expected at the work site. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Emergency CareFire ManagementHazardous MaterialsInterpersonal SkillsSelective Placement Factor 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery 215 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]