Lead Firefighter Job in Elizabeth City, NC

Vacancy No. 20250307-180907-NE-KA-IMP Department U.S. Coast Guard
Salary $56,151.00 to $73,001.00 Grade 8 to 8
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/27/2025 Close Date 6/6/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Elizabeth City, NC


Summary

This position is located with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Fire & Emergency Services Division, Facilities Engineering Department, BASE Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Internal Employees/Agency Employees Only. Applicants must be current United States Coast Guard permanent Federal civilian employees serving on career or career-conditional appointments in the local commuting area.

Duties

This position is that of Lead Firefighter (Captain) (Emergency Medical Technician/Hazardous Materials Technician). The primary purpose of this position is to provide a variety of emergency response and rescue services to include aircraft rescue fire fighting (ARFF), structural fire fighting, emergency medical service (EMS), hazardous material (HAZMAT) technician-level leak-spill-fire control, confined space entry and rescue and response services for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Base Elizabeth City.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

  • Leading, prioritizing, assigning, directing, guiding, monitoring and reviewing the daily work and operations of the fire department.
  • Ensuring work assignments and tasking in equitably distributed and consistent with the qualifications an capabilities of the members of his/her shift (crew) in order to optimize their skills and abilities.
  • Monitoring and inspecting minor maintenance & repairs of infrastructure such as cleaning, painting, adjustment and inspections to systems and spaces such as pump houses, sprinkler rooms, fire alarm boxes, fire hydrants, and fire protection, and detection system components.
  • Establishing on-the-job training requirements and lesson plans, conducting on-the job training, and maintaining records of training completed by subordinates, and explains progress or lack of progress to subordinates and Assistant Fire Chief.
  • Responding to alarms and/or other calls for response and assistance with assigned crew/apparatus to control and extinguish fires; rescue persons endangered by fire or other hazards; reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards; prevent, stop, or control the actual or potential release of hazardous materials/hazardous waste; provide emergency medical services; and provide general emergency support when needed.


KEY POSITION: This position is designated as a key position. In the event of a crisis situation, war, or mobilization, the incumbent must continue to perform the duties to support mission requirements. A member of the Ready Reserve may not fill the position on a permanent basis. If filled by a member of the Ready Reserve, appropriate action must be undertaken to change the incumbent's reserve status to a status other than that of Ready Reserve

This position is identified as Essential Personnel to support the operation of BASE Elizabeth City, NC.

MAXIMUM AGE RESTRICTION: This position meets the definition for "primary/rigorous position" contained in 5 CFR 842.802 and is subject to a maximum entry age of 37. The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age for initial appointment. This does not apply to preference eligible veterans or to applicants who previously served in a covered position. You must complete a pre-employment physical prior to employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Working conditions include such factors as extreme heat; thick and potentially toxic smoke, heights, enclosed and/or smoke filled spaces, wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus while carrying heavy loads, which may exceed 100 pounds

Applicants are required to meet the physical requirements of the position in accordance with NFPA 1582 and must participate in a daily physical fitness program to effectively perform the rigorous tasks required of the position.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes Time-In-Grade requirements for current status employees applying through merit promotion procedures. Status applicants applying for a promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade.

The applicant is required to meet the medical requirements of the position and participate in a mandatory physical fitness/wellness program.

Must meet the entrance and retention requirements of NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments.

Expected to actively participate in a department approved physical fitness exercise and wellness program designed to maximize job performance on guidance from NFPA 1500, Fire department Occupational Safety and Health Program, NFPA 1582, and NFPA 1583, Health Related Fitness for Firefighters. Fitness program will include fitness assessments as outlined in NFPA 1582 and NFPA 1583.

Required to wear all PPE issued or made available in the workcenter.

KEY POSITION: This position is designated as a key position. In the event of a crisis situation, war, or mobilization, the incumbent must continue to perform the duties to support mission requirements. A member of the Ready Reserve may not fill the position on a permanent basis. If filled by a member of the Ready Reserve, appropriate action must be undertaken to change the incumbent's reserve status to a status other than that of Ready Reserve

This position is identified as Essential Personnel to support the operation of BASE Elizabeth City, NC.

Key Requirements:

  1. U.S. Citizenship is required.
  2. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  3. You will be required to undergo pre-employment and random drug testing.
  4. The position requires a valid state driver's license.
  5. Applicant is required to meet the physical requirements of the position.
  6. Max 37 years of age entry restriction (see questions for more information).
  7. Subject to recall and off-duty status as emergency operations necessitate
  8. Essential Personnel to support the operation of BASE Elizabeth City, NC

Qualifications

At the GS-08 grade level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Some examples of specialized experience 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.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

In addition to the requirements above, applicants must possess and maintain (i.e. re-certification) (IAW DODM-6055.06 as required by CIM 5100.47D, Chapt. 18):

  • Apparatus Driver-Operator for: Pumpers ARFF Aerials
  • Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC)
  • Firefighter I & II
  • Fire Officer II
  • Fire Instructor II
  • Fire Inspector I
  • Airport Firefighter
  • Confined Space Rescue (when resources allow)
  • HAZMAT Technician (when resources allow)
  • HAZMAT Incident Commander or Incident Safety Officer.
  • EMT -Basic Life Support

EMT certification shall be in accordance with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians requirements or the State of North Carolina.

All certifications listed in the "Lead Firefighter GS-0081-08 Position Description" for Base Elizabeth City Fire Department must be achieved by the incumbent within 1 year of the position start date.

IMPORTANT: If you have received a Student ID# for the DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification Program website (https://go.usa.gov/xdsTR) please provide a copy of your most recent certification transcript. Note: If you do not know your Student ID, you may contact the AFCEC Reachback center at: afcec.rbc@us.af.mil

If you do not have a Student ID and/or cannot access the Certificate Program site, you must upload a copy of your individual certifications or transcript at the time of your application or you will be removed from consideration. If submitting multiple certifications, please combine into a single file for upload.

Please upload certificate file or certificate transcript under the "Transcripts/Certifications" under Required Document attachments.

EMT License/Certification number must be provided in your resume as well as uploaded with your certifications under the "Transcripts/Certifications" under Required Document attachments.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Transcripts--If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

Additional information

Any Offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Due Weight
Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

E-Verify
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Fair Chance Act
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to Kimberley.L.Alston@uscg.mil.

Suitability Statement
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Shared Certificates Statement
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Special Employment Consideration
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact Kimberley.L.Alston@uscg.mil. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using the on-line self assessment questions that are based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

  1. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures, tactics and techniques common to the firefighting of structural and aircraft, fire prevention and emergency response occupations.

  2. Knowledge of the policies and procedures used in testing, servicing, and otherwise caring for all types of fire department equipment to ensure that such equipment is maintained in high state of operational readiness.

  3. Ability to lead and direct personnel working under difficult conditions, in high stress environments, and potentially dangerous working conditions in order to minimize risk and safely control response operations

Your resume and responses to the self-assessment questions are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. Therefore, you must support your responses to the self-assessment questions by providing examples of past and present experience in your resume.

Required Documents

Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/date/year to month/date/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. What to include in my resume

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

  • You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50(s) that verify your eligibility for consideration as a current or former federal applicant; and
  • Your SF-50 must verify your highest competitive grade, time-in-grade, your current promotion potential or full performance level and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 or pay adjustment SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility.
  • For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. Recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50.

Veterans' preference documentation (Member Copy 4 of DD-214, Revised October 2013 SF-15 https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and VA letter, if applicable. NOTE: The revised October 2013 SF-15 is the latest copy and all others are not usable. Please see Feds Hire Vets for detail.

  • Veterans claiming 5 point veterans' preference must submit legible Member 4 Copy DD214(s) indicating Character of Service.
  • 30% Disabled Veterans must submit their Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service, and VA Disability Letter with percentage of disability OR documentation of disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.
  • Other 10 point Preference Eligibles must submit applicable Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service, and provide documentation of 10 point preference described on the back of the SF-15.
  • If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD214 and is claiming eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating you will be discharged/released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your certification as part of your application for this announcement. See the "How to Apply" section of this announcement for information on specific requirements for VOW certifications.

Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems Eligible: Documentation of eligibility as listed in each individual interchange agreement.

Political Appointees: OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50. Please see here.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on 06/06/2025.

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

If claiming eligibility under the VOW Act: The VOW Act requires Federal agencies to treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligibles, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD214. In order to be considered under the VOW Act, the certification must specify that the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package for this job announcement. The certification must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by, or by direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders or higher headquarters. Agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment.

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Kimberley Alston at Kimberley.L.Alston@uscg.mil to obtain an alternative application.

Agency contact information

Kimberley Alston
Address
BASE E-CITY FIRE SAFETY DIVISION -FF
DO NOT MAIL
ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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