Firefighter (Basic Life Support)
Company: Federal government of the United States
Location: Fort Meade, SD
Salary: $49960 - 64952 per year
Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Description
Job Title: Firefighter (Basic Life Support)
Company: Federal government of the United States
Job Description
SummaryPLEASE DON’T FORGET TO UPLOAD YOUR REQUIRED FIREFIGHTER CERTIFICATIONS. You will not be considered for this position without them.Employee will serve as a Firefighter (Basic Life Support) within Facilities Management for the Veterans Black Hills Health Care System located in Ft. Mead, SD and/or Hot Springs, SD. Employee will provide firefighting, driver operating, fire inspection, and basic life support services.OverviewOpen & closing dates04/09/2025 to 04/15/2025Salary$49,960 – $64,952 per yearAnnual Pay ($76,839 – $99,894) based on overtime and 72 hour shift.Pay scale & gradeGS 7Locations1 vacancy in the following locations:Fort Meade, SDHot Springs, SDRemote jobNoTelework eligibleNoTravel RequiredNot requiredRelocation expenses reimbursedNoAppointment typePermanentWork scheduleFull-timeServiceCompetitivePromotion potential7Job family (Series)Supervisory statusNoSecurity clearanceDrug testYesPosition sensitivity and riskTrust determination processFinancial disclosureBargaining unit statusAnnouncement numberCARZ-12721896-25-MJMControl number834916200This job is open toVideosDuties***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 may not be limited to the following:
- Participate in all aspects of structural and wild land firefighting operations and rescue.
- Participate in vehicle extraction, elevator and confined space rescues.
- Serve as a hazardous materials first responder.
- Serve as a driver of a wild land unit and structural driver operator.
- Perform first inspections and fire alarm maintenance.
- Perform patient triage, conduct patient assessments, assess severity of illness/injury, and identify life-threatening problems.
- Drive and operate firefighting apparatus of significant complexity (i.e., pumpers, aerial ladder trucks and wild land firefighting truck).
- Perform other related duties as assigned
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.Work Schedule: Incumbent works a 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 approvedRequirementsConditions of Employment
- Certification as Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031. Directive 7718 (b) Newly employed VA Firefighters will have 24 months to obtain Fire Inspector II.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- 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 dentification 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)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details.
QualificationsENGLISH 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.SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT) – Several Selective Placement Factors (SPF) have been identified for Firefighter positions in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.The SPFs for this position are: Required Certifications (Copy of Valid/Current Certifications Required at the time of application), as follows: * Accredited Firefighter II Certification in accordance with NFPA 1001.
- Accredited Fire Apparatus Driver Operator Pumper Certification with NFPA 1002.
- Certification as Hazardous Materials Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of NFPA 472.
- National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
- A Valid State Driver’s License. Please DO NOT provide copy as we are unable to accept/forward pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview.
GS-7 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one years of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) 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; (7) performing advanced EMT emergent patient care; and (8) inspecting structures and equipment in accordance with MFPA safety laws and regulation. There is no substitution of education for the specialized experience at the GS-7 grade level. NOTE: Please be as detailed as possible we may not make any assumptions based on the title of your current position.You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
- Fire Management
- First Response
- Hazardous Materials
- Patient Care
- Technical 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: Annual physical required. Considerable strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, running, lifting heavy objects, crouching/crawling in restrictive areas. Fire protection equipment must be worn or carried, amplifying physical strain. Extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients. Recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients under adverse conditions or in confined areas. Spends prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents.For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at .EducationThere is no educational substitution at this grade level.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 informationThis job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.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 at .
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .