Duties

• Respond to fire alarms for all classes of fires, including fires involving chemical, radioactive and biohazardous materials.
• Have full authority at the scene of the accident/injury/illness to direct personnel and movement of equipment in order to effect life saving operations, in accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.
• Analyze emergency life saving medical care and /or rescue victims from all types of structures and motor vehicles.
• Respond to complex hazardous materials releases (chemical, biological, radiological) and provide containment, control, and decontamination of facility, equipment, and personnel.
• Serve as a driver/operator of the motorized pumping engine.
• Drive apparatus to the scene, position apparatus as required by the nature and extent of the emergency, lay hose lines to be used and calculate pressure required for individual lines.
• Use medical terminology and transmit vital medical information concerning victim's condition to receiving hospital or other medical facility.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• 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.)
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination, and pre-employment and random drug testing is required. The pre-employment physical examination requires an high degree of physical fitness, agility, and dexterity for sustained periods.
• You cannot have reached your 37th birthday prior to an initial Federal Firefighter appointment.
• If selected, you will be expected to obtain and/or maintain the following Licenses/Certifications: Hazmat Technician meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120; Class B driver's license;
• Certification by the University of Maryland or National Certification Review Board at the Firefighter II level; CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator; Confined Space and Rescue certification meeting the requirements of OSHA 29 1910 .146.
• If selected, you must pass the Simulated Work Activities Exam to ensure you have the physical ability to perform the firefighting duties required by the position. This exam will be administered yearly to determine fitness for continued employment.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing is required.
• If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• The selectee must be able to work outdoors under all weather conditions.
• You must be able to lift and move heavy items.
• You must be able to stand for prolonged periods on concrete floors and walk over rough and uneven terrain.
• The selectee must be able to bend, stoop, walk, stand, and climb, and work in cramped positions.
• This position requires weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, holiday hours.
• If selected, you will be covered by a bargaining unit (union).
• Please see the "Additional Information" Section for additional Conditions of Employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-7 level: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector as a Firefighter performing the following types of tasks: combating fires requiring the operation of firefighting equipment; rescuing people under difficult and dangerous situations; driving, operating, and positioning on scene firefighting apparatuses of significant complexity; performing initial incident analysis involving hazardous materials; and/or providing pre-hospital basic life support and emergency care that is non-invasive.

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.

Selective Factor(s): In order to meet minimum qualification requirements you must demonstrate possession of the selective factor(s) of this position. Selective factor(s) include(s): You must possess a 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/11326700

Education

Additional information

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

• As a condition of employment, all federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. During the onboarding process, if selected, you must provide proof of vaccination. An official job offer and continued employment is contingent on this requirement. For more information on this requirement, visit the Safer Federal Workforce page on vaccines. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit Vaccines.gov .
• 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.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• You may work in hazardous environments or handle hazardous substances.
• This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
• If selected, additional certifications you may be expected to obtain and/or maintain: Fire Officer I level, Fire Service Instructor I level, Fire Inspector I level, and Trench Rescue.
• If selected, you will be expected to complete the following courses: Pumps and Hydraulics, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Aerial Apparatus Operator, Truck Company Operations, Advanced chemical, radiological, biological response training, advanced chemical, radiological biological agents' behavior and toxicology training.
• 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 a medical qualification assessment, behavioral health screenings, additional training, and an enhanced background investigation or Secret Security Clearance. NIH Select Agent Program https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/safety/laboratory/BioSafety/Pages/select_agents.aspx and policy: https://policymanual.nih.gov/3037
• We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
• Veterans' Preference applies only to Schedule A (disability appointment) and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).
• 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 our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
• Visit our Total Compensation page for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.