Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Internal and Status candidates; VEOA eligibles may apply for consideration who are (a) preference eligibles, or (b) Veterans whose most recent military separation was under honorable conditions after substantially completing at least 3 years of continuous active military service may compete under merit promotion procedures; Current permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees may apply and will be considered in the same manner as a current VA employee.

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The Deputy Fire Chief provides leadership and operational oversight for fire protection, emergency medical services (Basic Life Support), hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, vehicle and elevator extrication, and other emergency services at the VA Black Hills Health Care System
(VHABHHCS), including the Hot Springs campus and a geographically separated site located approximately 90 miles away.

• Coordinates and maintains command and control of emergency responses across both sites.
• Plans and directs emergency operations and response strategies.
• Oversees daily fire safety and prevention practices.
• Conducts recurring proficiency drills, including quarterly ward drills, station drills, and interim measure drills.
• Assists the Fire Chief in developing, implementing, and enforcing departmental policies and standard operating procedures.
• Develops and recommends organizational policy, planning, and procedural initiatives.
• Assists in coordinating and supervising the EMS Program.
• Evaluates employee performance, approves step increases, and recommends awards or disciplinary actions as appropriate.
• Develops and manages monthly work schedules, ensuring equitable assignment of duties and coverage across all shifts.
• Arranges for the replacement of damaged or depleted firefighting equipment and medical supplies.
• Uses government purchase methods to procure supplies and equipment, ensuring compliance with VA and federal procurement policies.
• Prepares and maintains reports on fire protection, prevention, suppression activities, and fire safety inspections (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually).

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm with one 24 hour shift
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Firefighter (Basic Life Support) - Deputy Fire Chief/PD203790
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

VA Whole Health Statement: The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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)
• Possess and maintains a valid state-issued motor vehicle operator's Driver's License.
• VA Firefighters are subject to periodic (e.g., annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position. (See 5 CFR 339.)
• Required to successfully pass annual physical examinations.
• Training, education, and professional development programs in accordance with applicable NFPA standards will be provided as needed to support the minimum qualifications and certifications expected of VA fire department personnel.
• Obtain FAC-COR level 1 within one year of appointment.

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, 01/16/2026.

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-11 position, internal employees must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09, and status and external employees at the GS-10. 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: A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position for each grade level. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. To be eligible for employment as a VA Firefighter, applicants must have obtained the following certifications as required by VHA Directive 7718 dated June 19, 2020 prior to the closing of the announcement. The following accredited certifications must be submitted with your application.

1. Certification as Firefighter II in accordance with NFPA 1001
2. Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, in NFPA 472.
3. Certification as driver/operator pumper in accordance with NFPA 1002.
4. Certification as Fire Officer II in accordance with NFPA 1021
5. Certification as Fire Inspector II in accordance with NFPA 1031 or equivalent Fire Inspector in accordance with NFPA 1030.
6. Certification as National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT)
7. Certification as Hazardous Materials Incident Commander in accordance with NFPA 472
8. Certification as Fire and Emergency Services Instructor II

In addition to the Selective Placement Factor you may qualify based on your experience and as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. For internal VA Black Hills employees to qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09. For status and external applicants to qualify, you must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-10. 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) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.
  • At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience overseeing day-to-day responsibilities for fire safety and fire prevention practices; formulating department policy and operating procedures, implementation, and enforcement of policies; directing firefighter activities; directing practice drills and training classes for firefighters; preparing reports.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Fire Management
• Industrial Equipment Operation
• Managing Human Resources
• Patient Care

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.

Maximum Entry Age: For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit, but have previously served in a covered position may be eligible, provided they meet all applicable qualifications for the position and will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time they reach the age of 57.

Requirements for Motor Vehicle Operation: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test and provide information on their driving record.

Mechanical Equipment Operator Qualifications: This position requires the operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment, mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools. Candidates may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate the specific equipment to which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.

Performance Test: Agencies may require candidates to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the minimum physical abilities necessary to perform safely and efficiently the essential tasks of a particular position. The abilities may be demonstrated through prior satisfactory performance in the same or a similar position, or agencies may choose to use a task demonstration. A task demonstration must be directly related to the essential job tasks, and thus, must consist of a sample of operations or steps that reflect a reasonably faithful representation of those selected job tasks. Any demonstration required must be uniformly applied to all similarly qualified candidates; the level of proficiency required cannot exceed that which is required in actual job performance; and reasonable accommodation must be provided where necessary.

Medical Requirements: Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/fire-protection-and-prevention-series-0081/

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.