To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/10/2025.
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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.
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.
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the following
Minimum qualification:
- Specialized Experience Requirements: 1 year equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS 7 and 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.
- A Valid State motor vehicle operator's license is required. Applicant may be required to provide their license at the time of interview.
In addition to the minimum requirements, this position requires the the
following certifications:
- Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (EMT-P) certification in the state of Maryland or the national registry certification.
- Pro-Board Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, in NFPA 472.
**To be eligible for employment as a VA firefighter, each potential employee must have received Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001, and must have received Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, in NFPA 472.
- Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment. **
If you do not have all of the above certifications you will be rated ineligible. Certifications MUST be submitted with required documents. Please note failure to submit any required certifications will result in the non-referral of the applicant.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Compliance Inspection
- Fire Management
- First Response
- Oral Communication
- Vehicle Operation
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: Moderate to heavy physical effort is required when reaching, bending, climbing, turning or moving hands, arms
and feet in the performance of firefighting duties. Incumbent is required to participate in a physical fitness
program.
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/.