Firefighter

Summary This position is in the Fire Department section of the Facilities Management Service. The purpose of the position is to provide twenty-four (24) hour fire suppression, protection, and fire inspector services at the VA Black Hills Health Care System, in Hot Springs, SD. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION The Firefighter shall participate in all aspects of structural and wild land firefighting operations and rescue. The Firefighter participates in a proactive fire inspection and prevention program. Certified and performs as a driver of all Fire Department Apparatus. The Firefighter participates in Confined Space Rescue and is a Hazardous Materials First Responder. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-07. At the GS-05 and GS-06 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-07. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Major duties and responsibilities include: Drives and operates firefighting apparatus of significant complexity, e.g. pumpers, aerial ladder trucks and wild land firefighting truck; Provides fire protection at the hospital engaged in using various types of gases, oxygen, nitrogen, gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas; Performs fire/rescue and firefighting duties at large hospital complex/ campus; Fights fires in an installation environment, with multi-story buildings consisting of more than three stories presenting complex and hazardous firefighting situations; Performs as a hazardous material first responder; Conducts fire prevention inspections; Responds to non-fire related incidents such as grounds search for missing patients, confined space rescue, motor vehicles accidents, etc.; Perform related duties as required. DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITON: 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 results is received. Work Schedule: 72 hour work week (48 hours on - 48/72 hours off) on a rotating basis to include weekends and holidays. Employees are regularly required to work scheduled and no notice periods of overtime. Additional Weekend Premium Pay: Weekend premium (25% of hourly rate) paid for service performed on an established tour of duty, any part of which is between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 Selective Placement Factors/SPF (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 are listed below for each grade-level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-05: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-05 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. OR EDUCATION: Possess 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. (Transcript required.) OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Possess an equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year or associates degree) and specialized experience, as described above. The education portion must include courses in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study in an accredited college or university. (Transcript required). Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-06: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-06 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. Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472 - Certification as driver/operator pumper in accordance with NFPA 1002. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-07: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service that provided the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter at the GS-07 level. Such duties may include: 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. Selective Placement Factors: - Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001. - Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472. - Certification as driver/operator pumper in accordance with NFPA 1002. - Certification as National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) MAXIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: 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. Physical Requirements: Prior to employment and annually thereafter, all firefighters must be certified by a qualified physician as meeting: (a) Medical and physical requirements for performing their assigned duties; (b) Requirements of NFPA 1582; (c) Requirements of NFPA 1583; and (d) Requirements of NFPA 1500, Chapter 10. Employees work in a variety of environments to include high intensity situations, such as; extreme heat and smoke environments. Employees are required to wear protective ensembles to include self-contained breathing apparatus. Work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, running, lifting heavy objects over 50 pounds, crouching or crawling in restrictive areas during fire and rescue activities. Fire protection equipment must be worn or carried; the wearing of this equipment significantly amplifies the physical strain experienced by the employee during physical exertion or during periods of hot weather. Employees are regularly required to work scheduled and no notice periods of overtime. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education on the GS 5 grade level. There is no educational substitution at the GS 6 and the GS 7 grade levels. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration