Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent employees of the Butler VAMC. Documentation required to verify eligibility.

Work Schedule: Rotating 24 hour shifts, any day of the week, including holidays
Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (BLS/Hazmat Tech)/PD0344A

Major Duties Include but not limited to:

Firefighting:

• Establishes water supply connections to hydrants, sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire apparatus.
• Operates fire attack lines and applies fire streams for fire control and extinguishment.
• Places and climbs ground ladders with equipment for fire control, ventilation, rescue, or other fireground work.
• Makes forcible entry into locked and concealed areas, i.e. prying open doors, removing windows, etc.
• Ventilates structures by opening doors, windows, floors, and walls using specialized tools and equipment.
• Enters hazardous environments for rescue and fire extinguishing purposes.
• Conducts salvage and overhaul work to protect undamaged property and preserve the scene for fire investigation.
• Uses protective firefighting equipment that includes self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Uses communication equipment (i.e. portable radios).
• Provides Basic Life Support CPR at medical emergencies that involve patients, employees, or members of the public on medical center grounds.
• Safely drives and operates emergency vehicles to include fire engines of 1000 gallons per minute or greater pump capacity and ambulances.
• Operates fire pumps and determines pump pressures for hose lines and sprinkler standpipe systems.
• Operates fire alarm panels.

Emergency Medical Services:

• Independently assists the injured by applying knowledge and training for such purposes to use direct pressure and tourniquets to stop bleeding, check the airway for obstructions, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or immobilize for safe transport.
• Drives an ambulance under non-emergency and emergency conditions.
• Assists basic/intermediate life support or paramedic staff.
• Performs initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination.
• Determines priority of patient care based on assessment findings.
• Takes, records, and monitors patient's baseline vital signs.
• Manages respiratory and cardiac emergencies to include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bag-valve-mask ventilations, and using an automatic external defibrillation (AED).
• Controls external bleeding with direct pressure and treats shock by approved methods.
• Splints and immobilizes fractures and dislocation for transport.
• Attempts to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems and to obtain a comprehensive drug history from the patient that includes the names, strength, and dosage of drugs taken by the patient.
• Assists patients in taking emergency medications for certain complaints, e.g., Nitroglycerin tablets for chest pain, Epinephrine auto-injections for allergic reactions, or Albuterol inhalers for asthma patients, under the direction of standing orders or of a Physician.
• Establishes communication with the receiving facility, providing all patient information including estimated time of arrival.
• Employs a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods, and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport as soon as possible to the receiving facility.

Hazardous Materials:

• Hazardous Material Technicians respond to the presence or potential release of hazardous materials for the purpose of stopping or controlling the release using specialized protective equipment.
• Response to the incident is more aggressive in that the technician will approach the point of release to cool, plug, patch, dilute, neutralize, or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance. The technician will utilize dams, dikes, or channel diversions to control the release of a hazardous substances.
• Employs hazard and risk assessment techniques to complete incident analysis.
• Assists in the development of strategy for the Incident Action Plan to mitigate the hazardous release.
• Develops an appropriate strategy for approaching the release site and containing the release.
• Implements the response by performing advanced mitigation, control, and confinement operations within the capabilities of the available resources and personal protective equipment available to control leaks or releases using a variety of methods to include offensive and defensive measures.
• Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the situational response and recommends potential alternative or supplementary actions.
• Maintains and decontaminates hazardous material response equipment and supplies.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Nor 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
• 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 (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, 11/19/2025.

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:** Copies of certifications must be submitted at the time of application.

• Firefighter II Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 4,5,6,7)
• AHA Basic Life Support Provider - CPR (required at grades 4,5,6,7
• Hazardous Materials Operations Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 5,6,7)
• State or national registry Emergency Medical Technician certification (required at grades 5,6,7)
• Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator-Pumper Certification from the from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 6,7)
• Hazardous Materials Technician Certification from the National Pro Board or International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). (required at grades 7)
• Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification (required at grades 4,5,6,7)
• Must possess and maintain current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification (required at grades 4,5,6,7)

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

To qualify at the GS-4 you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-3) in the federal service that has given me the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter. 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: Successfully completed a 2-year course of study in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, or other related fields of study. NOTE: Transcript(s) Required have. OR,
• Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above to meet the total requirements for this position. The education portion must include courses in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study in an accredited college or university.

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter - Basic Life Support/Hazardous Materials Operations. 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: 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 is qualifying for GS-5. NOTE: Transcript(s) Required-OR-
• Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the first 2 years or associate's degree) and specialized experience, as described above, may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the GS-5. The education portion must include courses in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study in an accredited college or university.

To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter - Basic Life Support/Hazardous Materials Operations. 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. These assignments would have been performed of a more limited scope and with less independence than the full performance level, and be performed under supervision, consulting with the supervisor when problems are encountered; however, the degree of supervisory controls would be less than at the GS-5 grade level.

To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Firefighter - Basic Life Support/Hazardous Materials Technician. 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. At this level, assignments would have been performed independently, with little or no supervision, only consulting with the supervisor when unusual problems are encountered.

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

• Emergency Care
• Fire Management
• Hazardous Materials

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.

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:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• 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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