Summary This position works under the general supervision of the Supervisory Firefighter (Captain) and supervision by the Assistant Fire Chief. The primary purpose of this position is to function as a General Schedule Leader over at least three lower graded staff performing work to control and extinguish fires, rescue persons endangered by fire, and reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards. Responsibilities Major duties: Distributes and balances the workload among employees in accordance with established work-flow or job specialization, assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, and assure that each employee has enough work to keep busy. Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, reference materials and supplies. Checks on work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review and reviews completed work to see that supervisor's instruction on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met. Keeps in touch with the status and progress of work, and makes day- to- day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise, such as backlogs which cannot be disposed of promptly. Gives on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices. Provides information to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance, and personnel needs. Effectively controlling and extinguishing fires, operates various nozzles and hose lines, makes connections to, and operates fire hydrants, performs forcible entries, ventilates structures, carries, raises, and lowers ground ladders, performs, or assists in rescue operations, uses a variety of hand tools, hydraulic tools, portable fire extinguishers, and performs salvage and overhaul. Performs specialized rescues, hazardous materials spill response and serves as a driver operator of motorized firefighting vehicles. Provides stand-by, and other protective measures as required for hazardous operations such as, helicopter landings and liquid oxygen deliveries. This would include response during hazardous weather conditions. As a member of the rescue crew, the incumbent may be involved with the duty of rescue from bodies of water, response to and control of hazardous materials spills, as well as rescue from fire. Operate pumps, foam generators, and other specialized firefighting equipment, determining proper pressures for the type of nozzle or equipment, size of hose, and distance to be covered. Incumbent keeps close watch on water supply and pressure, keeping fire attack and rescue personnel advised so they may act accordingly. Administers Basic Life Support care in accordance with established medical standards/procedures. Incumbent performs initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination to determine priority of patient care based upon initial findings, which may include providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using the automated external defibrillation (AED) and the use of the LUCAS device. Take, record, and monitor patient's baseline vital signs. Incumbent will attempt to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems and to obtain a comprehensive drug history from the patient. Prepares the appropriate and relevant patient documentation to ensure medical requirements are met and accurately reported. Uses and maintains care of emergency equipment such as backboards, suction devices, AED, splints, oxygen delivery systems, and stretchers; properly deposes of biohazard materials; and replaces medical and expendable supplies. Work Schedule: Full time, 72 hrs per week, 144 hrs per pay period, on a schedule of 48hrs on 72hrs off, 48hrs on 72hrs off, and 48hrs on then 48hrs off. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Driver/Operator/Fire Inspector)/PD24220A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/23/2024. 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 8 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 7. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-8 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-7) in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates the particular competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (1) Performs initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination; (2) Takes, records, and monitors patient's baseline vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, and pulse; (3) Manages respiratory and cardiac emergencies to include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bag-valve-mask resuscitation, or automatic external defibrillation (AED); (4) Performs fire inspection duties in areas where hazards are expected to be encountered; (5) Maintains thorough familiarity with the layout and contents of buildings, locations of fire protection systems, and other similar characteristics of the installation; (6) Conducts fire prevention training to hospital staff which includes conducting fire drills, fire extinguisher training, instructing employees in fire safety measures, and conducting Fire Prevention Week activities. Local, State, and Federal fire prevention ordinances and building codes; (7) Inspects medical and psychological facilities, multiple story buildings, administrative buildings, public assemblies, industrial shops, warehouses and residential quarters for fire safety violations and other conditions contributing to more extensive fire hazards; (8) Operates and uses fire extinguishing equipment carried on the apparatus such as foam and dry chemical extinguishing agents; (9) Use of specialized rescue equipment and other fire and emergency skills; (10) Certification and Ability to drive/operate complex fire department firefighting apparatus and equipment. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Decision Making Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication 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 Firefighter/EMT must maintain an adequate level of physical fitness to react quickly and have the stamina to endure the physical exertion and stress of firefighting, they must complete 1 hour of physical activity per day per the NFPA 1500 and annually complete a Fire Department Physical Agility Test outline in NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1583. Fire Department personnel must complete an annual Firefighter physical with Employee Health to be cleared for duty. Incumbent must maintain physical condition to don personal protective equipment consisting of coat, helmet, boots, gloves, bunker pants, and self-contained breathing apparatus, which weighs 75 pounds. Incumbent must wear this equipment when responding to and during all emergency calls regardless of temperature. Incumbent is expected to enter buildings and atmospheres that are unsafe due to fire, oxygen deficiencies, etc. and perform very strenuous types of work carrying heavy equipment and victims. The requirements of the job are such that the incumbent must maintain alertness, self-control and emotional stability when working under conditions of stress, confusion, panic and where physical injury or death are present. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.