Clarification from the agency

This Position is Open to Status Candidates.

The work involves accident prevention, inspecting fire and safety conditions and equipment, investigating and compiling data on fire incidents, and providing information on fire and safety standards and techniques based on compliance with VA directives and policies, as well as all federal, state, and local standards and guidelines.

Major Duties Include:

Fire and Safety Compliance

• Performs fire prevention inspections of the medical center including buildings, structures, storage areas, equipment, and other facilities to eliminate fire hazards and to institute fire prevention measures.
• Inspects for proper storage of supplies and equipment, as well as adequacy and condition of fire protection equipment, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, fire escape and exits, and other fire control mechanisms.
• Assures the proper handling and storage of such items as gasoline, solvents, acids, paints, oil, lubricants, chemicals, etc. Renders technical advice and guidance to all elements of the fire and safety program and initiates on-the-spot corrective action to eliminate existing or potential fire hazards and conditions.
• Performs required scheduled testing of all fire prevention and alarm equipment and sprinkler system equipment in accordance with NFPA code and frequency of testing.
• Conducts continuing fire and safety surveys and investigations. Analyzes contractor's safety plans to ensure that adequate provisions are made for all safety requirements.
• Recommend changes and/or additions to ensure compliance with fire protection and prevention requirements.
• Evaluates the technical safety aspects of construction operations and ensures compliance with the life safety codes, procedures, regulations, and approved safety plans.
• Projects range from construction of non-complex structures to projects of unusual difficulty and complexity such as multi-story buildings, hospitals, and related structures.

Fire and Safety Prevention

• Works with other staff in setting up proper controls to eliminate or minimize accidents or potential unhealthy conditions. Develops and recommends changes in, or inclusion of, certain safety measures and processes, adaptation of various safety provisions, and alternate work methods, techniques, and equipment necessary to correct, control, or minimize hazards.
• Provides technical information, training, and materials; develops and disseminates safety promotion material, literature, and films; and provides assistance in implementing safety rules and regulations of local and higher authority.
• Prepares technical reports on fire and safety surveys and makes follow-up investigations necessary to determine if corrective action has been taken.
• Make field inspections of offices and operational facilities, insuring compliance with all safety regulations. Monitors all safety checklists and reports for compliance and ensures compliance during field visits.
• The incumbent acts as liaison for statistical information requested by various offices.
• Reviews contractor and government employee mishap reports covering disabling injuries, fatalities, motor vehicle accidents, and property damages; and identifies causes and possible safety violations.
• Performs other directly related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Fire & Safety Technician/PD015330
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/14/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that involves: (1) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of recognized standards covering fire protection and prevention techniques and procedures and building safety; agency and installation manuals, rules, regulations; and federal, state, and local fire protection/prevention ordinances and building codes
• Knowledge and ability to perform inspection and testing of fire protection and prevention equipment in all areas and facilities at the Medical Center for compliance with VA directives and national, state, and local standards and guidelines
• Knowledge of health and environmental safety requirements as outlined in applicable standards, regulations, and/or technical orders.
• Knowledge and ability to investigate all fires and accidents and determine causes.
• Knowledge and ability to schedule and conduct fire and emergency drills throughout the medical center and its satellite clinics.
• Ability to prepare reports and recommend corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
• Knowledge of the layout, design, construction, and contents of buildings; locations of fire protection systems.
• Ability to recognize new or unusual types of combustibles or other hazardous material, determine their fire expectancy and severity, and adapt fire protection/prevention techniques to correct conditions or hazardous situations.
• Ability to maintain good working relations and to use tact and firmness when dealing with operating officials; and to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to document findings and develop reports and maintain records of all findings in a professional, organized, and useful manner for future reporting and reference.

OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have ne full year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Fire Management
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Planning and Evaluating
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities while performing inspections or demonstrations during training sessions.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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