Summary The position is located in the VA Butler Medical Center's Fire Department reporting to the Fire Chief. The incumbent serves as the Shift Supervisor of the VA Butler Healthcare Fire Department and is responsible for ensuring compliance with established regulations and procedures and justifying the program to regulatory entities. A wide range of non-firefighting related activities must be prioritized and acted on in a way that does not compromise fire protection. Responsibilities Work Schedule: 24 hour rotating shifts. To be discussed. Position Description/PD#: Assistant Fire Chief/PD02516A Major duties include, but not limited to: Participates in the technical and administrative management, which includes planning and training activities of the Fire Department. Functions as acting Fire Chief or senior duty officer when Fire Chief is not on shift and makes decisions on administrative matters of non-policy nature and in emergency situations as at the fire scene. Serves as shift supervisor or second-in-command when Fire Chief is on duty, provides immediate supervision of shift operations and carries out policies/instructions of the Fire Chief. Reviews work performed by subordinates for the accomplishment of the objectives, work methods used, and adherence to established policies and procedures. Participates in establishing performance standards and prepares formal employee evaluations. Keeps employees informed on policies and management goals. Supervisor for the Butler VA Medical Center Fire Department in accordance with VHA Directive 7718 and the requirements of NFPA 1021 for Fire Officer II, Required to be a current certified Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician. National Registry Emergency Medical Technician or higher. Supervisor responsible for directing and participating in the work of the VA Butler Healthcare Fire Department. Directs Crew to ensure that practice drills, training classes, fire protection inspections, maintenance work are appropriately scheduled, completed, and documented. Prepares reports to the Fire Chief concerning incidents, training, inspections, equipment inventory and other Fire Department activities. Provides technical leadership and direction to the Butler VA Medical Center Fire Department. Assigns firefighters to positions and structures assignments to provide experience and training; directs on-the-job training; advises on performance requirements; and evaluates the performance of work assigned. Explains work requirements; provides for training on difficult or new equipment; and solves technical problems. Reorganizes work to increase effectiveness, productivity, and job satisfaction. Recommends changes to staffing levels, budgets, priorities, and/or services. Assist the Fire Chief with estimating budget requirements and departmental capabilities Assigns work and reassigns subordinates based on special qualifications, departmental capabilities, or resources. Develops performance standards and devises written instructions or procedures for non routine work. Provides annual performance appraisals for subordinates within the fire department personnel. Coordinates work assignments requested of the fire department by other services. (police assists, engineering calls, medical calls, nursing assistance, safety, etc.). Incumbent is the supervisor that has secondary responsibility for all technical and programmatic aspects of the Fire Department. Plans work schedules to evenly distribute work and to meet deadlines or emergency situations. Recommends changes in schedules because of temporary higher workloads or temporary personnel losses. Reports on workload and expected vacancies. Oversees and maintains the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program. Oversees the development of technical data, estimates, statistics, suggestions, and other information useful to the Fire Chief in determining which goals and objectives to emphasize. Is in charge of all emergency response activities at the scene of an incident. Conducts size-up operations at an emergency scene. Acts as the incident commander or as a member of a Unified Command structure with mutual aid fire departments when called out to assist in emergency operations. Communicates activities to the Fire Chief as needed or directed. Coordinates activities associated with emergency response agreements with other entities, including City of Butler Fire Department, Butler Township VFD, and acts as a point of contact to Butler Ambulance Service in the implementation of emergency medical services. Directs the fire department response of equipment and personnel to miscellaneous incidents including medical emergencies, confined space rescues, structural and woodland fires, automobile accidents, hazardous materials incidents, etc., ensuring effective mitigation of the incident in a safe and timely manner. Maintains discipline and order among groups of persons in emergency situations to ensure a successful resolution of any incident. Manages emergency responses In Accordance With (IAW) the Incident Command System (ICS) and NIMS. Accountable for the overall safety and wellbeing of all emergency responders. Oversees crewmembers in response and medical emergency calls. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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/trial period 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) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/23/2025. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Provides immediate supervision of shift operations and carries out policies/instructions of the Fire Chief, 2) Reviews work performed by subordinates for the accomplishment of the objectives, work methods used, and adherence to established policies and procedures, 3) Assigns firefighters to positions and structures assignments to provide experience and training.4) Assist the Fire Chief with Estimating budget requirements and departmental capabilities and 5) Manages the deployment of vehicles with specialized equipment which includes hazardous material response, confined space rescue, high angle rope rescue, and hazmat decontamination equipment.. Selective Placement Factors: NFPA 1021 for Fire Officer II, NFPA 1031 Fire Service Instructor II, PA DoH Emergency Medical Technician, PA Drivers License You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Fire Management Manages Human Resources Planning and Evaluating 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 physical demands of the job range from sedentary paperwork to extreme exertion. The incumbent is expected to be able to accomplish work that involves high level of strength and endurance. The incumbent is required to participate in the physical fitness training program, to meet performance standards on an annual basis, and annual physical examination in accordance with NFPA 1582, NFPA 1583. While wearing personal protective ensembles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), Performing fire-fighting tasks (e.g., hoseline operations, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged time periods. Wearing an SCBA, which includes a demand valve-@type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter mask, which requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads. Exposure to toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, biological (infectious) and nonbiological hazards, and heated gases, despite the use of personal protective ensembles and SCBA. Depending on the local jurisdiction, climbing six or more flights of stairs while wearing a fire protective ensemble, including SCBA, weighing at least 50 lb (22.6 kg) or more and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20 to 40 lb (9 to 18 kg). Wearing a fire protective ensemble, including SCBA, that is encapsulating and insulated, which will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration and can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C). While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, searching, finding, and rescue-dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns to adults weighing over 200 lb (90 kg) to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility. While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, advancing water-filled hoselines up to 2 1/ 2 in. (65 mm) in diameter from fire apparatus to occupancy [approximately 150 ft (50 m)], which can involve negotiating multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and other obstacles. While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, climbing ladders, operating from heights, walking or crawling in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces that might be wet or icy, and operating in proximity to electrical power lines or other hazards. Unpredictable emergency requirements for prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without benefit of warm-up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration. Operating fire apparatus or other vehicles in an emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens. Critical, time-sensitive, complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, that is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions. Ability to communicate (give and comprehend verbal orders) while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA under conditions of high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hose lines and/or fixed protection systems (sprinklers). Functioning as an integral component of a team, where sudden incapacitation of a member can result in mission failure or in risk of injury or death to civilians or other team members. Work Environment: The work is performed in all settings imaginable, encompassing multi-storied health care and office facilities, residential occupancies, warehouses and physical plants. Work may require exposure to extreme weather conditions, noise situation, and hazardous situations. Normal weekly work schedule for position is a rotating 72 hour tour of duty per week, Sunday thru Saturdays 8am to 8am. However, incumbent is required, in this position, to exercise flexibility to rotate from this normal schedule in order to fill in on crews to cover leave. The incumbent will also be assigned the duties of the Fire Chief when the Fire Chief is not on site. Incumbent works in a variety of environments to include high intensity situations, such as extreme heat and smoke environments. Incumbent is required to wear protective ensemble to include self - contained breathing apparatus. 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. Additional Information 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.
