Summary

If you have experience providing leadership to firefighters performing emergency duties of a specialized and hazardous nature, and are a knowledgeable, talented, and motivated individual, consider joining the Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS). This position is located in the Division of Fire and Rescue Services, Security and Emergency Response, Office of the Director, Office of Research Services (ORS).

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

You must be currently employed by the National Institutes of Health, serving on a permanent appointment in the competitive service.

Duties

If selected for this position as a GS-0081-09, Lead Firefighter your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

The incumbent leads a platoon of nine firefighters (GS-0081-06/07/08) for emergency response activities from instructions given by the Assistant Fire Chief or by instituting Standard Operating Procedures until the arrival of higher-level supervisors.
Under the direction of the Assistant Fire Chief, the incumbent forwards assignments to subordinates to complete their daily tasks.
Ensures constant monitoring of all in-station alarm systems and communication devices during normal sleeping hours.
Prepares reports for supervisor(s), as required by the Division.
Provides guidance within the National Incident Management System to the Incident Commander on incidents involving chemicals, biological agents, radiological agents, and specialized rescue emergencies.
Implements the DFRS Emergency Response Plan, selects the right equipment, and completes the right procedures.
Ensures the inspections, testing, and calibration of personal/chemical protective equipment.
Leads the staff to ensure compliance with departmental Standard.
Responds to medical emergencies and leads corresponding drills.
When necessary, the incumbent drives and operates all the firefighting equipment, including (1) class "A" fire pumper(s), (2) ambulance, (3) aerial tower/quint, (4) hazardous materials unit, (5) hazardous materials support unit, (6) mass decontamination unit, (7) incident command vehicle, and (8) support vehicles.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date. Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
Employment is subject to the successful completion of the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases. Subject to periodic medical examinations throughout appointment.
If selected, you must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance. If selected, you will be required to work a rotating 24-hour shift, nights, weekends, and holidays.
If selected, you must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license. Pre-employment and/or random drug and alcohol testing maybe required for this position.
You cannot have reached your 37th birthday prior to an initial Federal Firefighter appointment. If selected, you will be covered by a bargaining unit (union).
Must be able to stand for prolonged periods on concrete floors and walk over rough and even terrain/bend/stoop/walk/stand/climb, and work in cramped positions and lift/move heavy items weighing 50 lbs. with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Incumbent must wear a uniform and appropriate safety apparel in accordance with established policies and procedures. Incumbent must successfully complete an annual Job Performance Test.
Incumbent must participate in the department's cardiovascular physical fitness program to include a physical exercise program and annual physical examination commensurate with the incumbent’s duties and responsibilities.
Must possess a current certification by the State of Maryland or the National Registry as an EMT.
Must possess a current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, meeting American Heart Association standards. Must possess a current Automatic External Defibrillator certification.
Must possess a current certification by the University of Maryland or the National Certification Review Board at the Fire Officer II level and Fire Service Instructor II level.
Must possess a current certification by the University of Maryland or the National Certification Review Board at the Fire Inspector II level.
Must possess a current certification as a Hazmat Technician meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120.
Must have successfully completed Radiation Safety in the Laboratory sponsored by the NIH Division of Radiation Safety, Office of Research Services.
Must successfully complete annual Radiation Safety for Firefighters training sponsored by the NIH Division of Radiation Safety, Office of Research Services.
Must possess a current certification by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute or another certified training agency in Confined Space Rescue meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.146.
Must possess a current certification by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute or another certified training agency in Trench Rescue. Must have successfully completed a Pumps and Hydraulics Course.
Must have successfully completed an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course; Truck Company Operations Course; and Aerial Apparatus Operator Course.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-09 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:
1) providing emergency response services on incidents involving fires, emergency, basic life support, or hazardous materials.
2) providing guidance on incidents involving chemicals, biological agents, radiological agents, and specialized rescue emergencies.
3) conducting readiness assessments, inspections, tests, and drills of emergency response and hazardous materials operations.
4) providing leadership and direction to other firefighters.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

In addition to the previous requirements, you must demonstrate possession of the following selective factor to qualify for the position:

Current certification by the State of Maryland or the National Registry as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922322

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
This position may be assigned to work with, handle, receive, or store materials designated as Select Agents and Toxins by the Federal Select Agent Program, and is subject to the terms of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Biological Surety Program (BSP). The NIH BSP requires successful completion of the following:
- A Bioterrorism Security Risk Assessment: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/bioterrorism-security-risk-assessment-form
Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
We may make additional selections for similar positions across the National Institutes of Health within the local commuting area(s) identified in this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at NIH. Clearance of CTAP will be applied for similar positions across NIH.
The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Review our 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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your job-related qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your score on the required assessments. This vacancy will use the following assessment(s): Accomplishment Record

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

Emergency Response
Fire Management
Leadership

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 80 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

Required Documents

RESUME: Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position:

Job title
Employer name
Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated)
Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable)
Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study.

APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed application questionnaire.

ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION:
To be considered eligible, you must submit the following documentation, if applicable to you AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire. If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.

SF-50 - A copy of your most recent competitive career or career conditional SF-50 that shows the effective date of your latest position and the full performance level. You may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from your eOPF.
Visit our site on the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) for more information on eligibility and required documentation.

Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 04/06/2026 to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required.
Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922322
Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.

In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later.

We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at hrss@nih.gov.

If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying please contact Lori Palmer at palmerlom@mail.nih.gov. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date.

Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.

Agency contact information

Lori Palmer

Phone: 301-594-3598
Email: palmerlom@mail.nih.gov

Address: National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be notified of the status of your applications via email. In addition, you can track the progress of your application package through your USAJOBS account.

At the discretion of the agency, you may be contacted via phone or email for an interview or to provide additional information up to several months from the closing date of the announcement. Please ensure you have provided accurate contact information. To remain in consideration, you must respond in a timely manner to our correspondence and requests for documentation or information throughout the hiring process.

Lead Firefighter Job in Bethesda, MD