Summary This position serves as a Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Hazardous Materials Technician) for VAMC Martinsburg WV, adjacent Federal agencies, and designed mutual aid partners. Responsibilities Firefighter Duties - 60% Performs firefighting and rescue operations using proper extinguishing solutions and methods of decontamination. Wears protective gear to prevent accidents, illness, or injury due to encounters with such agents as poisonous gases, radioactive materials, and/or hazardous biological products. Performs crash/rescue (i.e., Helicopters) and firefighting in environments wherein the existence of flammables and explosives makes work operations intense and hazardous. Directs water, operates or deactivates mechanisms and systems, performs standby duty, and remains current on any and all developments which could impact upon the difficulty of rescue and fighting fires/through participation in pre-fire planning and fire prevention exercises. Fully participates in the role of hazardous materials first responder performing duties involving hazardous materials detection, establishment of a "safe perimeter", controlling area access during periods of waiting for the arrival of law enforcement personnel, referencing hazard and response information, and using and maintaining typical hazardous materials response equipment. Performs emergency medical first responder duties through the provision of assistance to those who have become injured via (1) the use of direct pressure and/or tourniquets to stop bleeding, (2) checking for blockages to the airway (3) performing CPR, (4) immobilizing patients for transport, and other comparable functions. Performs Basic Life Support Duties - 30% Performs non-invasive emergency procedures. Provides patient physical assessments both initial and ongoing and makes decisions based upon the physical exam with regard to priority of patient care. Records and monitors patient vital signs to include pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. Assesses respiratory and cardiac emergency situations and performs CPR or automatic external defibrillation (AED) as necessary. Treats shock and external bleeding with anti-shock garments and direct pressure respectively, as needed. Performs Hazardous Materials Technician and Materials Operations Duties - 5% Responds to the existence of or the probability for release of hazardous materials with the goal of preventing or establishing control over such release. Plugs, patches, or through other means stops the release of hazardous substances. Identifies hazardous materials/containers, and uses equipment especially designed for monitoring to detect hazardous materials concentrations. Gathers and analyses hazard and response information gleaned from such sources as shippers, manufacturers, and technical sources. Performs Miscellaneous Support Functions - 5% Maintains the fire station and keeps emergency response equipment in good condition. Checks connections and valves; cleans and drains hoses; makes minor repairs to vehicles; test ladders, vehicles, and equipment; washes and polishes trucks and cleans work and office areas. Performs alarm desk watch duties to monitor and receive alarms and alert personnel. Maintains logbooks and receives and relays pertinent information. Work Schedule: 72 hour weeks. 24 hour Rotating shifts Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Hazmat)/PD26192A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Physical Requirements: The work of this position involves extended periods of lifting, heavy moving and restraining of patients. Generally, the work requires recurrent bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning patients. This frequently occurs under adverse conditions or in confined surroundings. Work may involve adverse weather conditions and long periods of time under stress. The person in this position may be required to lift up to 50-100 pounds. May include heavy physical exertion, extreme heat, smoke and dust in enclosed smoke-filled places. On a regular and recurring basis, the person in this position is exposed to infection and contagious diseases, is required to work in all @types of weather conditions, and faces risks and discomforts at the scene of the accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes and dangerous substances, requiring to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. There is also exposure to dangers of high voltage from electrical equipment. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical Requirements: A pre-placement physical is required. 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, 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, 04/20/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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-6 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) 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) responding to hazardous materials incidents, including identification, containment, mitigation, and decontamination operations under established hazmat protocols. (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection; (7) providing basic life support (BLS) care during medical emergencies and inter-facility transports, including patient assessment, airway management, bleeding control, CPR, AED operation, and stabilization prior to EMS transport. The following certifications are required and copies must be uploaded with your application.. Certification as Firefighter I and II (DOD, IFSAC, Pro-Board) Hazardous Materials Operations (DOD, IFSAC, Pro-Board) certification. Certification as Driver Operator Pumper (DOD, IFSSAC, Pro-Board) National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Basic or State of West Virginia (EMT-B-) certification. Preferred Certifications Upon Hire: Fire Inspector I & II 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 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. "Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care."
