Summary The Battle Creek VA medical Center is recruiting for a Fire Protection Inspector. The Fire Protection Inspector will function under the Chief of Fire within the Fire Department at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, in Battle Creek Michigan. Responsibilities The incumbent's duties may consist of, and are not limited to the following: The incumbent responds as a firefighting crew to all Medical Center emergencies, performs such firefighting duties as determining that nature and extend of the fire, the appropriate action required, laying and disconnecting hoses, directing fire streams, operating firefighting equipment, ventilation of burning buildings, performing evacuations and rescues, administering appropriate emergency treatments, etc. Inspections of electrical systems, connections and equipment, storage of flammable materials in warehouses, shops, therapy areas, etc., the storage of chemicals, oxygen and gases used for medical purposes and for pest and weed control. Conducts scheduled fire and evacuation drills per NFPA 101. Updates and maintains required NFPA and OSHA documentation for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Annual Workplace Evaluation (AWE), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and other annual or triennial medical center inspections. Develop materials and provide situational classroom training on installation fire prevention activities. Address a variety of client groups in fire program methods and goals. Develops prevention messages from actual fire incidents. Interacts with a wide variety of employees and others in all aspects of fire prevention. Responds as a firefighting crew to all Medical Center emergencies. Performs firefighting duties as determined by the nature and extent of the fire and evaluate and take the necessary actions required, such as laying and disconnecting hoses, directing fire streams, operating firefighter equipment, and ventilation of burning buildings. Performs evacuations and rescues. Administer appropriate emergency treatments. Conducts an informational Fire Prevention Program and secures client involvement in fire prevention, detection, and suppression. Emphasizes pertinent fire prevention topics. Work Schedule: 48 hours on shift, followed by 72 hours off shift. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Fire Protection Inspector/PD91181O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2025. 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-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. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (SPF) which is a prerequisite to appointment and represents minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. The SPF for this position is: Current, valid state Driver's License AND Current valid national or State EMT Certification. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (1)inspecting, 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. Applicant MUST be Nationally certified by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or Pro Board as a Fire Fighter 1 & 2, Fire Officer 1, Hazardous Materials Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Fire Inspector 1, Fire Inspector 2 must be obtained within 24 months of hire. AND Minimum EMT Basic through National Registry or State of Michigan. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service Education and Training Fire Management First Response Hazardous Materials Oral Communication 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: Work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for a long period of time, in an emergency. Activities involve prolonged periods of time standing, walking, bending, crouching, and carrying heavy firefighting tools in excess of 50 pounds and related equipment associated with the performance of such duties as maintenance, testing, inspections, drills, suppression, and transport of persons. 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. 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.
